Psych 111 - Developmental Psych

Universal Development

All humans develop in a certain way

Ecological Development

Environment and Culture affect human development.

Teratogens

Dangerous things exposed to fetus while in the womb

Cause later development issues in the child.

Critical Period

Time that it is believed that if a behavior isn’t picked up, then it will never be learned.

Sensitive Period

Time where it is easier for children to pick up behavior/traits

If period is missed, it can be learned later.

Stage Theories

Previous Stages must be completed before moving to the next stages

Habituation

Babies Habituate (Get used to) stimulation. So, they stop responding/get bored of it. Needs new stimulus.

Infantile Amnesia

Rapid brain growth causes people to forget memories from when they were an infant.

Prenatal Sound Development

Scientists show that fetuses prefer their mother’s voice. Their heartrate slows. Proving that babies do have some sense of hearing in the womb.

Prenatal Smell & Taste Development

Fetuses can smell and taste through amniotic fluid. Result of mother’s diet. Tastebuds are apparent.

Prenatal Vision Development

Their vision is TERRRRIBLE. Sense of vision nonexistent because they live in a dark sac. They can sense light and shadow though.

Prenatal Touch Development

Babies use touch to explore the world around them, can’t rely on vision because it’s awful.

Brain Growth

Brain doesn’t grow in size but in complex patterns.

Frontal Lobe is the last thing to develop (~25 y.o.)→ Responsible for reasoning.

Parenting Styles

• Authoritarianism

• Permissive

• Negligent

• Authoritative

• Parent styles mimic the way parents themselves were raised. 2 parents with different parenting styles can cause confusion within the child.

Authoritarianism

• Consequences for rule breaking are exaggerated & disobedience is punished harshly

  • Children go crazy when they experience freedom for the first time.

Permissive

• Few rules established, little to no punishments for rule breaking.

• Parents act like friends rather than a parent.

Authoritative

• Confrontive & Interactive Style

• rule breaking met with a conversation that determines whether or not consequences occur.

Attachment Styles

• Emotional Bond between infant & caregiver.

  • Separation Anxiety

  • Appears at around 13 months

  • Partially genetic & learned

1. Strange Situation

2. Secure

3. Avoidant

4. Ambivalent/Anxious

5. Disorganized

Strange Situation

Child in a safe environment with parent, parent leaves child in the room and stranger comes in to soothe.

• How does the child respond with a stranger?

• How does the child respond when the caretaker returns?

Secure Attachment

• When caretaker returns, child goes to parent and is soothed if distressed

• Or acknowledge return of parent if they aren’t distressed

• 60% of children

• Positive Future Outcomes

Avoidant Attachment

• Caregiver returns but child ignores them and continues with whatever they were doing

• 20% of children

Ambivalent/Anxious Attachment

• Distressed when caregiver leaves and returns

• 15% of children