Developmental Psychology Flashcards
Critical Period: Definition
Limited time during which something can develop
Sensitive Period
A time when something develops, but there is flexibility within it.
Genotype
Characteristics that are determined by info on the genes
Phenotype
Observable characteristics that are affected by genes & environment
Canalization
Traits that are largely uninfluenced by environment (e.g. developmental milestones)
Range of Reaction
Traits that have boundaries set by genotype, so a range of phenotypes are possible
Secular Trends: definition
Generational differences in growth and development (e.g. changing age of first period)
Gene-Environment Correlation
Niche-picking: we seek out environments that are compatible with our generics
Heritability Index: definition
Used to estimate genetic factors
Ranges from: 0 - +1.00 (higher = more heritability)
3 Mechanisms of Genetic Inheritence
- Dominant/recessive genes: homozygous or heterozygous
- Sex-Linked traits: mostly transmitted on X
- Polygenic inheritence: determined by multiple gene pairs
Huntington’s Disease
Genetic
Caused by autosomal dominant gene
Degenerative CNS disorder
Phenylketoneria (PKU)
Genetic
Recessive gene disorder
Lack enzyme to digest an amino acid, which then becomes toxic and causes I.D
Can be prevented by diet: no milk, eggs, fish, bread
Down’s Syndrome
3 of the 21st chromosome
Causes:
* I.D
* Physical features
* risk of congenital heart disease
* thyroid dysfunction
* impaired vision
* Alzheimers
Prader-Willi Syndrome
Chromosomal
Paternal chromosome 15 DELETED
Causes:
* I.D
* Over eating
* Hypogonadism
* OCD
* Physical features
Klinefelter Syndrome
Only affects AMAB
Caused by an extra X chromosome
Secondary sex characteristics incomplete, often infertile
Turner Syndrome
Chromosomal
Only affects AFAB
All or part of X is missing
Don’t develop secondary sex characteristics
Features:
* infertile
* short
* stubby fingers
* ‘webbed’ neck
Fragile X Syndrome
Weak site on X chromosome
AMAB & AFAB
Features:
* Physical, intellectual, beh challenges
Teratogens: What are they?
An external thing that interferes with typical prenatal development. The impact depends on what stage of development they are introduced
3 Stages of Prenatal Development
- Germinal Period: contraception to implantation
- Embryonic Period: end of 2nd week to end of 8th week. Organs very susceptible to damage here
- Fetal Period: 9th week to birth. Organs less vulnerable, CNS more vulnerable
Common Teratogens (9)
- Alcohol: FAS/FAE
- Nicotine: respiratory, inattention/hyperactivity
- Cocaine: organ deformation, reactive once born, high cognitive impact
- Rubella: low birth weight, heart defects, I.D, gastro, cataracts
- Herpes: brain damage, seizures, I.D, L.D, fatality common
- Cytomegalovirus: can be fatal
- HIV: often premature. 80% die by 10, 20% by 4
- Prenatal Malnutrition: early on can cause abortion, organ abnormalities, later on impacts brain size and birth weight
- Maternal Stress: low birth weight, respiratory, irritability, hyperactivity
What is Premature Birth
More than 37 weeks early
Most survive and catch up to peers
What does ‘Small for Gestational Age’ mean?
Birth weight is below the 10th percentile
At higher risk than premies
What happens during Fetal Distress?
It can happen before or during birth
May lead to a slowing of labour, abnormal substances in the amniotic fluid, irregular heart rate
MMEMC
Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model: 5 Systems
- Microsystem: immediate environment
- Mesosystem: interconnections between microsystems
- Exosystem: environments your not in direct contact with, but still impact you (e.g. partners work)
- Macrosystem: sociocultural context
- Chronosystems: life stages, events that impact development
Rutter’s 6 Family Characteristics of Risk
MSLPMP
- Marital discord
- Low SES
- Large family, overcrowding
- Parental criminality
- Materal psychiatric disorder
- Placement of child outside of home
The Four Infant Reflexes
- Palmar grasp
- Babinski toes
- Moro (startle): back arch, extend legs
- Rooting: turns head when stroked near mouth
What is vision like during infancy?
- The least developed sense at birth
- Prefer facial stimuli
- @1mo discriminate faces
- @2-3mo distinguish colours
- @60mo depth perception
- by 1yo, same as adult
What is hearing like in infancy?
- Just below adults at birth
- Prefer human voice
- Auditory localization: present at birth, disappears @ 2-4mos, returns @ 12mos
What are taste and smell like in infancy?
Can distinguish all four at birth
Preference for sweet flavours
Is early physical maturation beneficial?
It can be for AMAB, but not AFAB
Piaget’s Constructivist Theory: the premise
Learning is a dynamic process in which learners actively construct knowledge through a series of stages by creating and testing their own theories of the world
Piaget’s Theory: Equilibrium
The drive towards cognitive consistency
When consistency is not achieved, disequilibrium occurs
What do we do when disequilibrium happens, according to Piaget?
ADAPTATION
What are the 2 types of adaptation, according to Piaget?
- Assimilation: blend new info into an existing schema
- Accommodation: Modify an existing schema to account for new information
What are the 4 stages of Piaget’s Theory?
- Sensorimotor: birth-2yo
- Preoperational: 2-7yo
- Concrete Operational: 7-12yo
- Formal Operational: 12yo+
Three things of adolescent egocentrism
- Imaginary audience: think everyone is watching them
- Personal fable
- Invincibility complex
Information Processing Theories: what is their premise?
Focus on quantitative changes in cognition
Human processing is similar to a computer
Changes in biological systems and experiences allows children to become better processors
What are the Neo-Piagetian Theories?
A blend of Piaget’s and Information Processing Theories
Include qualitative changes
Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory: what 2 levels does learning occur on?
- Interpersonal
- Intrapersonal: uses overt or covert private speech
Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development: what is it?
The gap between what a kid can currently do alone, and what they could do with support
Scaffolding: building appropriate challenges to support kids in developing skills
What is memory like in childhood?
@2-3mos: cued recall memory
@2-3yo: show episodic memory, but we often forget it
@9-10yo: rehearsal and other memory strategies get used more often
Metamemory develops
What is metamemory?
Knowledge about our own memory processes
What memory gets impacted in adulthood?
Recent LT memory and working memory
Age impacts episodic memory more than semantic or procedural
Spearman’s Two-Factor Theory of Intelligence
All mental tasks require two abilities:
1. General ability ‘g’
2. Specific ability ‘s’
Guilford’s Structure of Intellect Theory
Derived 180 intellectual abilities
1. Convergent Thinking: logical processes, single correct answer
2. Divergent Thinking: flexibility and non-logical processes to derive multiple solutions
Horn and Cattell’s GC-GF Theory
Two types of intelligence
Crystallized Intelligence: acquired knowledge and ability to apply it to situations
Fluid Intelligence: unaffected by experience, underlies ability to reason and adapt to new situations
Carroll’s Three Stratum Theory
- Stratum III: g (general intelligence)
- Stratum II: 8 broad abilities (fluid & crystallized IQ, general memory, learning)
- Stratum I: specific abilities that are linked to 2nd stratum abilities
Cattell-Horn-Carroll Theory of Cognitive Abilities
10 broad cognitive abilities
70 narrow cognitive abilities
Framework for KABC-II and Woodcock-Johnson III
Gardner’s 8 Multiple Intelligences
BILLM SIN
- Linguistic
- Logical-Mathematical
- Musical
- Bodily-Kinesthetic
- Spatial
- Interpersonal
- Intrapersonal
- Naturalistic