Week 4: Infants (age 1-2 years)

Question 1

Describe physical changes in infants (how much they grow)

Answer 1

25-30cm and triple their body weight

Question 2

Why do 2 year olds have large heads at this stage

Answer 2

2 year olds have proportionally larger heads to hold their nearly full sized brains

Question 3

What is synaptogenesis? What are the 2 steps involved during this process?

Answer 3

synaptogenesis is the creation of synapses followed by a period of synaptic pruning to make the nervous system more efficient
1. synapses = process that allow a neuron to transmit signals to another neuron
2. synaptic pruning = a process in the brain where extra synapses are eliminated and replaced with complex structures. This allows for the formation of better electrical signals and a more mature brain

Question 4

____________ is flexibility in the brain to recognize different neural pathways and connections
____________ covers individual axons and insulates them for better conductivity

Answer 4

neuroplasticity
myelinization

Question 5

What are the 5 types of reflexes?

Answer 5

1. Adaptive = sucking, important for survival, can persist through life
2. primitive = controlled by primitive parts of the brain, disappears after 3 months
3. rooting = touch on cheek causes them to turn their head to the touch and open mouth, disappears after 6 months
4. babinski = touch on sole of foot causes toes to fan up and out, disappears after 3 months
5. moro = sudden noise or loss of support causes arch of back, legs and arms to go out and back in, disappears after 4-5 months

Question 6

What is the hypothesis of the moro reflex?

Answer 6

that it helps the baby cling to the mother

Question 7

Answer based on consciousness/sleeping patterns:
1. neonates sleep ___% of the time
2. by ___ weeks, babies begin to sleep throughout the night
3. by ___ months, babies are sleeping 14 hours per day

Answer 7

1. 80%
2. 8 weeks
3. 6 months

Question 8

Describe what cry would occur for each signal
1. hunger
2. anger
3. pain

Answer 8

1. hunger = basic cry, rhythmic pattern
2. anger = louder, more intense
3. pain = abrupt onset

Question 9

Describe motor development (loco, nonloco and manipulative) for each period:
1 month
2-3 months
4-6 months
7-9 months
10-12 months
13-18 months
19-24 months
universal

Answer 9

look in notes

Question 10

Describe motor skills in girls vs boys

Answer 10

girls = ahead in motor skills in infancy and specifically manipulative
boys = have more developmental delays and more active

Question 11

exclusive breastfeeding should be done for the first ___-___ months with the WHO recommending breastfeeding until ___ years old

Answer 11

4-6 months , 2 years

Question 12

T/F: breastfed babies are more likely to suffer from common illnesses
T/F: mother infant relationships are better in breast fed babies compared to formula fed

Answer 12

F. less likely
F. they are the same level of relationship

Question 13

1. Canada’s infant mortality rate has (increased/decreased) from ____/1000 to ___/1000
2. the leading cause of death in infants is _____. Explain what this is and how to reduce risks

Answer 13

1. 134/1000 - 5/1000
2. SIDS - sudden infant death syndrome. To reduce risks: sleep on hard surface, smoke free environment, no bedding, sleep near parents for 6 months

Question 14

Explain the 3 sensory components in this stage of development

Answer 14

1. vision/hearing = poor at first but develops rapidly where newborns can hear as good as adults
2. touch/motion = best developed out of all the senses
3. taste/smell = smell has unlimited variations and infants react differently to tastes

Question 15

What are the 2 most important perceptual skills at this stage. explain both

Answer 15

looking = scanning for dark and light contrasts, prefer mothers face
listening = 1 month: recognize single syllables, 6 months: 2 syllable words, 3 months: recognize sound regardless of who says it

Question 16

What stage of Piaget’s cognitive development is present at this stage? explain

Answer 16

sensorimotor = senses are present, motor responses, sensory curiosity about the world

Question 17

Explain each sensorimotor reflex and what age it occurs:
1. primary circular reactions
2.secondary circular reactions
3. coordination of secondary schemes
4. tertiary circular reactions
5. mental representation

Answer 17

1. primary circular reactions = accommodations of basic schemes as baby practices them (grasping, listening, looking). has not linked body actions to results outside of body. 1-4 months
2. secondary circular reactions = baby becomes more aware of events outside their body, imitation can occur, beginning to understand object permanence. 4-8 months
3. coordination of secondary schemes = intentional mean ends behaviour where the baby will go after what they want and can combine 2 schemes (move a pillow to reach you). 8-12 months
4. tertiary circular reactions = experimentation begins, tries new ways of playing and manipulating objects. 12-18 months
5. mental representation = uses symbols to represent objects or events. understands symbol is separate from the object. 18-24 months

Question 18

describe language for each stage

Answer 18

cooing, vowel sounds, babbles, inonation, single words, holophrases, telegraphic speech

Question 19

_________ are word and gestures to form thought
_________ are 2 word sentences

Answer 19

holophrases, telegraphic speech

Question 20

what stage of Freud’s psychosexual theory is present at this stage?

Answer 20

oral = feeding, thumb sucking

Question 21

what stage of Erikson’s psychosocial stage is present?

Answer 21

trust vs mistrust

Question 22

1. what is the attachment theory?
2. describe the 4 types of attachment

Answer 22

1. the ability and need to form an attachment relationship early in life in a genetic characteristic of all humans
2. secure = enjoy physical contact, less fussy, want to be with mothers
   avoidant = avoids contact with parent and shows no preference for parent over other people
   ambivalent = will cry when separated from parent but will not be reassured when returned
   disorganized = confused infant who shows contradictory behaviour - look away when moving towards parent

Question 23

1. what are the 3 characteristics to developing secure attachment to a parent?
2. what are the benefits of attachment?

Answer 23

1. emotional responsiveness
   marital status/SES
   mental health
2. more sociable, positive behaviour, less clingy and less dependent on others, less aggressive, more empathetic and emotionally mature in interactions

Question 24

_________ is a pattern of responding to people and objects in the environment

Answer 24

personality

Question 25

_________ are inborn predispositions such as activity level that form the foundations of _________

Answer 25

temperament, personality

Question 26

what are the 5 dimensions of temperament?

Answer 26

1. Activity level = vigorous vs passive activity
2. positive emotionality = move towards new activities
3. inhibitions = respond with fear or withdrawal to new situations - shy
4. negative emotionality = respond with anger and frustration
5. task persistence = can stay focused and manage attention/effort

Question 27

1. Describe temperament in identical vs fraternal twins
2. _______ temperament in infancy persists throughout childhood

Answer 27

1. identical twins = more alike in temperament
2. stable