Developmental Psychology

Question 1

What is developmental psychology?

Answer 1

Changes that take place across development

Question 2

What are the 4 ways to study development?

Answer 2

• Cross-Sectional Design
• Longitudinal Design
• Cohort Design
• Cohort Sequential Design

Question 3

What is cross-sectional design?

Answer 3

Study individuals of different ages (e.g 2,4,6)

Question 4

What is longitudinal design?

Answer 4

Study the same individuals over time (e.g at 2, at 4, at 6)

Question 5

What is Cohort design?

Answer 5

Study individuals born in different years at the same age (e.g 2yo (2000), 2yo (2002) etc)

Question 6

What is Cohort sequential design?

Answer 6

Study individuals born in different years over time (e.g child born in 2000 at 2,4,6 and child born in 2002 at 2,4,6..)

Question 7

What are the four key issues of development?

Answer 7

• Nature vs Nurture
• Stability vs Change
• Qualitative vs Quantitative
• Critical and Sensitive Periods

Question 8

When does the germinal stage occur?

Answer 8

Conception - week 2

Question 9

When does the embryonic stage occur?

Answer 9

Week 2-8

Question 10

When does the foetal stage occur?

Answer 10

Week 8-Birth

Question 11

What happens during the embryonic stage?

Answer 11

Embryo is secured to the uterus
NS begins to function
Rapid growth of head and brain -(50% of length)

Question 12

What happens during the foetal stage?

Answer 12

Organs differentiate and begin to work

Question 13

What is the cerebral cortex associated with?

Answer 13

Memory
Language
Thinking

Question 14

When does the cerebral cortex begin to develop?

Answer 14

The cerebral cortex develops from week 9 (specialised by mid pregnancy)

Question 15

What are teratogens?

Answer 15

Any environmental agents that cause birth defects

Question 16

What happens during the prenatal period?

Answer 16

• Brain development: Brain nearly doubles in size (wk 16-28)
• New behaviours: awake more, coordinate movement, control of bodily functions
• Aware of sensory input: distinguish between voices, remember songs and sounds, sensitive to light

Question 17

What is transnatal learning?

Answer 17

Learning that occurs during prenatal period that is remembered in the postnatal period

Question 18

What is a neonate?

Answer 18

An infant in the first 28 days after birth

Question 19

Characteristics of a neonate?

Answer 19

• Head is large compared to body

* Posses fontanels (soft spot)

Question 20

What are neonate reflexes?

Answer 20

Automatic, inborn behaviours that occur in response to stimuli

Question 21

What is the rooting reflex?

Answer 21

Turn check and open mouth in response to stroke

Question 22

What is the sucking reflex?

Answer 22

Infant will suck on something placed in mouth

Question 23

What is the grasp (palmar grasp) reflex?

Answer 23

Fingers close on object placed in hand

Question 24

What is the stepping reflex?

Answer 24

Infant attempts to walk when soles of feet touch flat surface

Question 25

What is the Moro (startle) reflex?

Answer 25

Infant grabs at air in response to removal of support for head and neck

Question 26

Why does the neonate have reflexes?

Answer 26

• Some have a survival value (rooting/Moro?)

* Allows for bonding between parent and child (sucking/grasping)

Question 27

What size is the brain at 2 years old?

Answer 27

75% of adult brain size

Question 28

What size is the brain at 5 years old?

Answer 28

90% of adult brain size

Question 29

What is brain lateralisation known for?

Answer 29

• Language (often LH)

* Sex differences

Question 30

What is a neonates visual acuity?

Answer 30

1/30th of adults

Question 31

Why is the perception of faves necessary?

Answer 31

To form an emotional attachment to a specific person

Question 32

What is infantile amnesia?

Answer 32

The unlikelihood of remembering many events before the age of 3

Question 33

What is object permanence?

Answer 33

Understanding that objects exist when you can’t see them