week one

Universal Needs of Children from Caregivers

Children across cultures fundamentally require acceptance and love from their caregivers, which forms the basis of their emotional and social development.

Dimensions of Acceptance and Rejection

Perceptions of how caregivers behave towards children can be classified into four key dimensions: warmth and affection, hostility and aggression, indifference and neglect, and undifferentiated rejection, which play a crucial role in a child's sense of security.

Parental Acceptance-Rejection Theory (PART)

This theory explores the psychological and environmental influences on parental behaviors, providing a framework for understanding how acceptance and rejection manifest globally.

Closing the Gap Statement of Intent Key Targets

Launched in 2008, this initiative aims to significantly reduce the life expectancy gap, lower child mortality rates, enhance access to education, and improve employment outcomes for marginalized populations.

Principle of Systemic Reform in Closing the Gap Initiative

The guiding principle of 'Nothing about us, without us' highlights the critical importance of including the voices and experiences of affected communities in reform processes.

Benefits of Understanding Human Development

Comprehending human development aids in setting realistic expectations, formulating appropriate behavioral responses, distinguishing normal variations from significant concerns, fostering self-awareness, and enabling effective advocacy.

Definition of Development

Development encompasses the ongoing changes and continuities in physical, cognitive, and psychosocial dimensions that occur throughout a person's life span.

Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory

This theory focuses on fundamental psychological challenges that individuals face throughout their lives as they seek integration into their social and cultural contexts.

Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory

This perspective emphasizes that cognitive development is profoundly influenced by social interactions and the cultural contexts in which an individual is situated.

Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory

This theory posits that individual development is shaped by the interaction of various environmental systems surrounding the individual, emphasizing the complexity of developmental influences.

Zone of Proximal Development in Vygotsky's Theory

This concept identifies the range of tasks that a child cannot successfully execute independently but can accomplish with the aid of a more knowledgeable individual.

Heritability Estimate

This statistic quantifies the extent to which genetic differences account for variations in traits or behaviors within a specific population, reflecting the influence of genetics.

Implications of Epigenesis in Development

The concept of epigenesis suggests that genetic activity is continuously influenced by environmental factors, demonstrating the dynamic interaction between genetics and the environment.

Punishment in Skinner’s Operant Conditioning

In behavioral psychology, punishment is defined as any stimulus or consequence that effectively reduces the likelihood of a behavioral response occurring in the future.

Attachment in Developmental Psychology

Attachment describes the deep emotional bond that develops between individuals, characterized by mutual affection and the desire for proximity.

Harmful Prenatal Influences on Child Development

A range of detrimental factors, including medicinal and non-medical drugs, maternal diseases, and exposure to environmental hazards, can adversely affect fetal development.

Dynamic Systems Approach to Child Development

This perspective views development as an integrated system formed from the interaction of the mind, body, physical environment, and social relationships.

Cultural Dimensions in Lifespan Development

Cultural dimensions shape values, beliefs, self-esteem, and social norms, thus influencing various aspects of an individual's development throughout their lifespan.

Impact of Maternal Age on Pregnancy Risks

Mothers over the age of 35 face increased risks related to infertility, the possibility of Down syndrome, and other pregnancy-related complications.

Importance of Maternal Environments during Pregnancy

Factors such as socioeconomic status and exposure to violence during pregnancy can pose significant risks to both maternal and child health.