Unit 6 Flashcards
Developmental Psychology
Developmental Psychology
The study of how humans change over the course of their lives. Through maturation- or reaching full functionality physically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially.
Continuity
Development is gradual and continuously happening.
Discontinuity
Development is set into very distinct stages.
Socialization
The process through which individuals learn and adopt the norms, values, and behaviors of their society.
Genes
The instruction manuals that determine our traits and characteristics. They are made up of DNA and are passed down from our parents.
Chromosomes
Structures found inside our cells that carry our genes. Humans have 46; 23 from each parent. They contain the DNA that determines our traits and characteristics.
Dominant
Traits that are more likely to be expressed or observed in an individual, even if they only inherit one copy of the gene associated with that trait. If a dominant trait is present, it will usually be seen in the individual’s physical appearance or characteristics.
Recessive
Genes that are only expressed or observed when an individual inherits two copies of the gene, one from each parent. If a person inherits a recessive gene for a certain trait, it will only be seen in their physical appearance or characteristics if they don’t have a dominant gene for that trait.
Sex-Linked Recessive Characteristics
Traits that are controlled by genes located on the sex chromosomes, specifically the X chromosome. Since males have one X and one Y chromosome, while females have two X chromosomes, certain traits carried on the X chromosome can be more commonly expressed in males. This is because if a male inherits a recessive gene on his X chromosome, he doesn’t have a second X chromosome to potentially mask the expression of that gene.
Conception
Sperm united with ovum in fallopian tube.
Zygote, Embryo, Fetus
Zygote- attachment to uterine wall: 2 weeks (known as the germinal period). Embryo- primitive organs and limbs develop: 2-8 weeks. Fetus- tremendous growth from 8 weeks to birth.
Monozygotic Twins (Identical) and Dizygotic Twins (Fraternal)
Identical: 1 egg, 1 sperm; split into two identical zygotes. Fraternal: 2 eggs, 2 sprem; both zygotes grow separately.
Critical Period
First three months (trimester) of development. The organs (brains, heart, etc…) and limbs are forming. Vital for the mother to get proper nutrition and stay healthy at this time.
Teratogen
Chemical, virus, or drug that causes a birth defect. The placenta screens out most, but not all hazards.
Cystic Fibrosis
Fluid in the lungs.
Sickle Cell Anemia
Blood disorder.
Tay-Sachs
Neurological disorder (death of nerve cells).
PKU
Cannot break down the amino acid, phenylalanine.
Down Syndrome
Extra chromosome 21 (trisomy 21).
Miscarriage and Stillbirth
Miscarriage- natural ending of pregnancy. Before 20 weeks. Fetus was not developing properly and could not survive. Stillbirth- after 20 weeks.
Age of Viability
Age at which a baby can be born prematurely and still survive (22-26 weeks).
Newborn Reflexes- grasping, startle, rooting, stepping, sucking, Babinski
Grasping- automatically closing their fingers around objects that touch their palms. Startle (moro)- when a baby is unexpectedly startled, they react by extending their arms, opening their hands, and arching their back. Rooting- when a baby’s cheek or mouth is touched, they will turn their head and open their mouth. Stepping- when you hold them upright and let their fett touch a solid surface, they’ll instinctively start making stepping movements. Sucking- when something touches their lips or the roof of their mouth, they automatically begin to suck. Babinski- when the sole of a baby’s foot is stroked, they spread their toes out.
Cephalocaudal Trend and Proximodistal Trend
Cephalocaudal- head to foot direction of growth and motor development. Proximodistal- center-outward direction of growth and motor development.
Newborn Motor Milestones
Raising head- 2-4 months, rolling over- 2-5 months, sitting up with support- 4-6 months, sitting without support- 6-7 months, crawling- 7-8 months, walking- 8-18 months.
Vision in Newborns
Least developed. Mostly black and white vision until 2 months. Mostly nearsighted vision until 2 months. Fixed vision at about 7-10 inches.
Visual Cliff
Gibson and Walk Research. Clear table with a faux cliff- when child begins to crawl, they begin to have depth perception.
Babbling and Telegraphic Speech
Cooing- around two months; vowel noises. Babbling- around 6 months; consonant sounds. One-word speech- around age 1; one word demands. Telegraphic speech- around 1 and a half; short phrases. Whole sentences- preschool age to year 6; solidify this ability.
Baby Talk
The high pitched voice that caregivers and adults use around infants. Helpful in soothing the infant and forming a bond. Once the baby begins to babble, stop baby talk.
Chomsky and LAD
Language Acqusition Device- a hypothetical model that allows children to learn language very quickly. An instinctive mental capacity to learn language.
Overregulation
Rules of language are applied too regularly at the early stages of learning.
Under-Extension and Over-Extension
Under- incorrectly using a word to describe only one object. Over- incorrectly using a word to describe a larger set of objects.
Infantile Amnesia
Not remembering events before age 2 or 3. Early memories before age 2 or 3 seem to be implicit- so babies can learn to grasp, crawl, and walk. Explicit memories do not occur until after age 2 or 3- when babies’ hippocampi are more advanced and the language development is more conscious.