Wk 1, 2, & 3 Developmental Psych Flashcards
What is developmental psych?
Study of how behaviour changes over the life span
Change can occur due to:
-physical maturation (nature)
-shaped by experience (nuture)
-combination of both
3 Areas of study in developmental psych
-physical development: body changes
-cognitive development: perception
-psychosocial development: personality
4 intersections of nature and nurture
- Gene-environment interactions: impact of genes on behaviour depends on the environment
- Nature via nurture: nature can drive us to select and create particular environments
- Gene expression: some genes only ‘turn on’ to specific environmental events
- Epigenetics: nurture can change the way your genes function without actually altering the genetic code itself
What are the 4 stages of early experience in the womb?
- zygote
- blastocyst
- embryo
- foetus
What is a zygote and what stage is it?
egg and sperm (first)
what is a blastocyst and what stage is it?
cluster of cells that start to divide and multiply (5-9 days)
what is an embryo and what stage is it?
formation of body structures e.g. tissues and organs (to 8 weeks)
what is a foetus and what stage is it?
the unborn offspring that has major body organs (last)
what is a sensitive period in early experience?
particular environment exposure at a particular developmental point
what are ‘teratogens’
any agent that can cause a birth defect and disrupt development
what are some examples of teratogens?
-radiation
-chemicals
-nicotine
-alcohol
-recreational drugs
What is the period of greatest susceptibility?
embryonic period
What survival instincts are infants born with?
reflexes
What do infants need to learn to coordinate movement?
motor behaviours
what are the 4 major milestones of infant motor development
- sitting up
- crawling
- standing unsupported
- walking
What are 2 factors influencing motor development?
- physical maturation of body and brain
- cultural and parenting practices
What is adolescence?
transitonal period between childhood and adulthood
What do the pituitary gland stimulate?
physical growth and the reproductive system releases sex hormones (oestrogens and androgens)
When does the pituitary gland stimulate?
adolescence
What is puberty?
sexual maturation resulting in potential to reproduce
Maturation includes changes in what 2 characteristics?
-primary sex characteristics
-secondary sex characteristics
what are primary sex characteristics?
physical features such as reproductive organs and genitals
what are secondary sex characteristics?
sex-differentiating characteristics that do not relate directly to reproduction (breast enlargement, deepening voices, pubic hair)
What is menarche?
start of menstruation
What is spermarche?
first ejaculation
When does adulthood occur?
after reaching full physical and sexual maturation, usually in early twenties
What is cognitive development?
how we acquire the ability to learn
What are the 3 ways in which cognitive development theories differ?
- stage-like changes (sudden spurts) or continuous change (incremental)
- domain-general (changes affect all areas) or domain- specific (changes develop independently across different areas)
- Source of learning is physical experience or social interaction
What theorist was the first to present a comprehensive account of cognitive development?
Jean Piaget (1896-1980)
What type of theorist was Piaget?
stage-theorist