Module 45: Developmental Issues, Prenatal Development, and the Newborn

Question 1

Developmental Psychology

Answer 1

A branch that studies physical, cognitive, and social development across a life span

Question 2

What are the 3 major issues?

Answer 2

Nature & Nurture, Continuity & Stages, Stability & Change

Question 3

Nature & Nuture

Answer 3

Genes predispose both our shared humanity & individual differences
- not one or the other but the interaction together

Question 4

Continuity & Stages

Answer 4

Stage: Sees development as a sequence of genetically predisposed stages/steps.
- provides a beneficial basis

Continuity: states that people develop in a continuous process over time and are constantly changing/shaping themselves.

Question 5

What were the stage theorists & what did they propose?

Answer 5

Jean Piaget –> Cognitive Development
Lawrence Kohlberg –> Moral Development
Erik Erikson –> Psychosocial Development

Question 6

Stability & Change

Answer 6

Stability provides our identity, it enables us to depend on others and be concerned about the healthy development of children
-Stability is the notion that a person’s personality traits are persistent and constant throughout a person’s lifetime.

Change can provide a brighter future - lets us adapt & grow with experience
- Change suggests that people’s personalities adjust over time due to environmental factors/interactions.

Question 7

Zygotes

Answer 7

A fertilized egg (enters 2 week period of rapid cell division and discerns what role it is supposed to take on)

Question 8

Embryos

Answer 8

The developing human organism starting 2 weeks after fertilization till the 2nd month of pregnancy.

Question 9

Placenta

Answer 9

The outer cells of an embryo that provides nutrients and oxygen from the mother to the embryos

Question 10

Fetus

Answer 10

Developing human starting from week 9 till birth

- most of the body parts have developed/organs

Question 11

Who does the Fetus prefer listening to?

Answer 11

The mum

- mimicks the mothers speaking rhythm in its cries/whines

Question 12

Teratogens

Answer 12

“monster makers”

• chemicals or viruses that slip through the placentas screening and causes harm to the embryo or fetus during development

Question 13

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Answer 13

(FAS) Physical & Cognitive abnormalities in children as a result of heavy drinking during pregnancy

• disproportionate head, abnormal facial features, birth defects, behavior, and intelligence problems
• could lead to alcoholism/addiction later in their life.
• alcohol has an epigenetic effect

Question 14

Habituation

Answer 14

Decreasing responsiveness after repetitiveness

As infants gain familiarity with repeated exposure to a visual stimulus, their interest wanes, and they look away sooner.

Question 15

What do infants pay attention to first?

Answer 15

The Face

Question 16

Moro Reflex

Answer 16

Hold baby up w/o holding their neck and their arms will flail out

A child with flail their limbs (arms & legs) outwards, throw their head back, and/or cry when they get frightened by a loud noise or movement. After extending the child will bring their limbs back towards their body.
Aids in developing walking skill
Survival instinct that allows children to grasp their mother if they start to fall

Question 17

Grasping Reflex

Answer 17

If a person strokes the inside of a child’s palm the baby will wrap their fingers around the finger or object stroking their palm.
We have it from our ancestors - provides safety and a way to hold on to the child/ stand them up/lift them up
Sign of nervous system development - crucial to developing motor skills

Question 18

Rooting Reflex

Answer 18

A child will turn their head and open their mouth in search of food as a result of touching their cheek or corner of their mouth.
Occurs as an instinctual motion to aid babies in eating before they have the capability to move on their own.

Question 19

Sucking Reflex

Answer 19

Touching the roof of the child’s mouth triggers the baby to starts sucking.
Occurs as an instinctual motion to aid babies in drinking before they have the capability to do so on their own.

Question 20

Babinsky Reflex

Answer 20

Stroking the sole of a child’s foot will result in the child’s toe bending towards the body (extension) and the other toes fanning out.
Indicates a healthy nervous system