unit 4, 5 6 Flashcards
What sensory system is most developed at birth?
Hearing — already quite acute at birth; develops in the last trimester.
What is the visual acuity of a newborn?
About 20/600 — meaning they can see at 20 feet what adults see at 600 feet.
When do infants typically reach adult vision (20/20)?
Around 9 months of age
What is binocular vision and when does it develop?
The ability to use both eyes together — develops around 2–4 months.
What is depth perception and how is it tested in infants?
Depth perception is the ability to judge distance.
Tested using the Visual Cliff (Gibson & Walk, 1960).
What did the Visual Cliff study show?
Crawling infants avoid the “deep” side — suggesting they perceive depth.
What is the preference technique in infant research?
Presenting two stimuli and measuring which one the infant looks at longer — indicates preference.
What is the “externality effect”?
Young infants focus on the outer edges of a figure rather than internal features — fades after ~1 month.
When can infants recognize facial expressions?
Around 5–6 months, they react differently to happy vs. angry faces.
What is gross motor development?
Large body movements (rolling, sitting, crawling, walking, jumping).
What is the cephalocaudal trend?
Development proceeds from head to toe (e.g., head control before leg control).
What is the proximodistal trend?
Development proceeds from center to extremities (e.g., shoulders before fingers).
When do most babies start walking alone?
Between 10–17 months of age.
What is fine motor development?
Small movements — especially hand and finger control.
What are the palmar and pincer grips?
🖐 Palmar grip: full hand (present early)
✌️ Pincer grip: thumb + forefinger (around 9–10 months)
What is myelination and why is it important?
Myelin insulates neurons → faster communication.
Essential for motor skill development.
What does Piaget’s Sensorimotor Stage describe?
Birth–2 years: infants build knowledge through sensory experiences and motor actions.
What is a schema according to Piaget?
An organized pattern of thought or behavior used to interpret experiences.
What is a circular reaction?
A behavior that is repeated because it produces a pleasurable result.
Primary vs. Secondary Circular Reactions?
Primary: focused on baby’s own body
🎯 Secondary: focused on external objects
What is object permanence?
Knowing that objects still exist even when out of sight.
When is object permanence fully developed?
Around 18–24 months.
What is the A-not-B error?
anfants search for an object where it was previously found (A), not where they saw it last (B).
What are tertiary circular reactions?
Trial-and-error experiments to explore new outcomes — 12 to 18 months.
What is mental representation?
The ability to form mental images and solve problems internally — around 18–24 months.
What is Bowlby’s Attachment Theory?
Attachment is biologically programmed and necessary for survival.
What is the critical/sensitive period for attachment?
Between 6 months and 3 years.
What are Bowlby’s 4 attachment phases?
Pre-attachment (0–2 months)
Early attachment (2–7 months)
Attachment (7–24 months)
Partnership (2+ years)
What is the “Strange Situation” test?
Ainsworth’s 7-stage study observing how babies respond to separation and reunion with caregiver.
What are the 4 attachment types in the Strange Situation?
A. Avoidant
B. Secure
C. Resistant (Ambivalent)
D. Disorganized
Describe secure attachment (Type B).
Uses caregiver as a safe base, shows distress when separated, comforted upon return.
Describe avoidant attachment (Type A).
Little interaction, ignores caregiver on return.
Describe resistant/ambivalent attachment (Type C).
Clingy, distressed, but not easily comforted — may show anger.
Describe disorganized attachment (Type D).
Confused, contradictory behaviors — often linked to abuse or trauma.
What is the maternal deprivation hypothesis?
Bowlby’s theory that early separation or poor attachment can lead to emotional and cognitive problems.
What did Harlow’s monkey study show?
Comfort (contact) is more important than food in forming attachment.
What is the holophrase stage?
Around 12–18 months — single words stand for full ideas (“milk!”).
When does the vocabulary explosion typically happen?
Around 18 months — rapid word learning begins.
What is the nativist theory of language (Chomsky)?
Language is innate; humans are born with a Language Acquisition Device (LAD).
What is the interactionist theory of language?
Language development is a result of both biological capacity and social interaction.
What brain areas are involved in language?
Broca’s area: language production
Wernicke’s area: language comprehension
