chapter 9

Developmental psychology

studies how organisms change over time as the result of biological and environmental influences.

Nature

the effects of heredity

Nurture

the influence of environment

Identical twins

a pair who started life as a single fertilized egg, which later split into two distinct individuals. They have exactly the same genes

Fraternal twins

a pair who started life as two separate fertilized eggs that happened to share the same womb. 50 percent of gene material in common

Continuity view

development is gradual and continuous like walking up a hill with no distinct levels.

Discontinuity view

development is like climbing a set of stairs. There are distinct levels. Certain aspects of physical development appear to take place in stages

Prenatal period

the developmental period before birth

Zygote

a single sperm fertilizes a single ovum (egg) to create a zygote

Embryo

in humans, the name for the developing organism between the embryonic stage and birth

Fetus

in humans, the term for the developing organism between the embryonic stage and birth

Placenta

the organ interface between the embryo or fetus and the mother. The placenta separates the bloodstreams but it allows the exchange of nutrients and waste products

Teratogens

potentially harmful substances from the environment (ex. Viruses, drugs, other chemicals) can affect prenatal development (types. Disease, drugs, smoking/cocaine, alcohol, FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome)

Fetal alcohol syndrome

characterized by intellectual disability, possible physical malformations

Critical period

an early stage in life when an organism is open to specific learning, emotion, or socializing experiences that occur as part of normal development and will not recur at a later stage

Neonatal period

in humans, the newborn period that extends through the first month after birth

Infancy

birth to age 2

Attachment

the enduring social-emotional relationship between a child and a parent or other regular caregiver

Imprinting

some animals instinctively become attached to the first moving object they see and hear

Contact comfort

stimulation and reassurance derived from the physical touch of a caregiver

Maturation

natural growth or change that unfolds in a fixed sequence, relatively independent of environment (sitting, crawling, walking)

Schemas

generalizations based on experiences by fitting them within an existing schema

Assimilation

understand new experiences by fitting them within an existing schema (fit new info in previous schema)

Accommodation

process of modifying schemas to fit new experiences when familiar schema does not work (change schema)

Sensorimotor stage

the first stage in Piaget’s theory, during which the child relies heavily on innate motor responses to stimuli

Mental representation

the ability to form internal images of objects and events

Object permanence

the knowledge that objects exist independently of one’s own actions or awareness.

Preoperational stage

the second stage in Piaget’s theory, marked by well-developed mental representation and the use of language

Egocentrism

In piaget’s theory, the self-centered inability to realize that there are other viewpoints besides one’s own

Animistic thinking

a preoperational mode of thought in which inanimate objects are imagined to have life and mental processes

Centration

a preoperational thought pattern involving the inability to take into account more than one factor at a time

Irreversibility

the inability in the preoperational child, to think through a series of events or mental operations and then mentally reverse the steps

Concrete operational stage

the third of Piaget’s stages, when a child understands conservation but still is incapable of abstract thought

Conservation

the understanding that the physical properties of an object or substance do not change when appearances change but nothing is added or taken away

Mental operations

solving problems by manipulating images in one’s mind

Theory of mind

an awareness that other people’s behavior may be influenced by beliefs, desires, and emotions that differ from one’s own

Temperament

an individual’s characteristic manner of behavior or reaction - assumed to have a strong genetic basis

Zone of proximal development

the difference between what a child can do with help and what the child can do without any help or guidance

Adolescence

in industrial societies, a developmental period beginning of puberty and ending (less clearly) at adulthood

Puberty

the onset of sexual maturity

Primary sex characteristics

the sex organs and genitals

Secondary sex characteristics

gender-related physical features that develop during puberty, including facial hair and deepening voice in males, widened hips and enlarged breasts in females and the development of pubic hair in both sexes

Formal operational stage

the last of Piaget’s stages, during which abstract thought appears

Alzheimer’s disease

a degenerative brain disease usually noticed first by its debilitating effects on memory

Selective social interaction

choosing to restrict the number of one’s social contacts to those who are the most gratifying

Denial

refusing to believe the individual is sick

Anger

patient displays anger that they are sick “why me!”

Bargaining

making a deal, in return for a cure, they will fulfill promises

Depression

generally depressed affect includes sleep, loss of appetite, etc.

Acceptance

patient realized death is inevitable and accepts fate

Trust vs mistrust

will you be loved and taken care of or will you be rejected?

Autonomy vs self doubt

learning to stand up to people and to take a chance or experiencing doubt of having gone too far – “shame on you!”

Initiative vs guilt

-finding out what kind of person you will become - Example - dress up time -(there is an over concern with sexual matters, wanting the attention of the opposite sex parent. Ex - little girl imagining her mother in the garbage can.)

competence/industry vs inferiority

-learning to do things well vs. experiencing feelings that you are no good and that you cannot do things.

Identify vs role confusion

feeling like somebody, realizing your unique self vs. not knowing who you really are.

Intimacy vs isolation

establishing close relationships vs. experiencing loneliness and isolation.

Generativity vs stagnation

caring, producing, loving, creating, parenting vs. not caring.

Integrity vs despair

being able to look back on your life and conclude that it was special and had meaning - summing up one’s life cycle – an acceptance of death. vs. experiencing despair because life is short now and there is no time to start a new - experiencing a longing for what might have been.

Preconventional morality

birth to age 9; judgments are based on the consequences of behavior

Conventional morality

age 9 to adolescence; judgments are made in terms of whether an act conforms to conventional standards of right or wrong

Postconventional morality

rarely occurs before adolescence and is found most often in adults; moral judgments reflects one’s personal values, not conventional standards

What was the main finding of the Minnesota Twins study?

it found that personality, intelligence, and social attitudes are largely determined by heredity, rather than environment

Contrast the continuity view with the discontinuity/stage view.

development is gradual and continuous like walking up a hill with no distinct levels vs development is like climbing a set of stairs. There are distinct levels.

List four types of teratogens and explain their effects on a developing embryo or fetus.

disease (can be born with AIDS, physical defects from rubella), drugs (can be born addicted or premature), smoking/nicotine (can cause respiratory problems, social attention problems), and alcohol (can kill brain cells, FAS, birth defects)

Example of physical development

height/weight, motor development/coordination, reflexes, perceptual development

Example of social development

development of attachment, self-esteem, temperament, parenting styles, 8 stages, child care

Example of cognitive development

Piaget, Kohlberg

What concept is Konrad Lorenz associated with? What does it mean?

imprinting; some animals instinctively become attached to the first moving object they see and hear

What were the 2 major findings of Harry Harlow’s research on attachment/love?

attachment is based on the warm, comforting contact from the mother and there were devastating effects that occurred with monkeys that did not form attachments

Mary Ainsworth secure attachment

most infants use her mother as a home base, leaving her side to explore, but then periodically returns for comfort/contact. When the mother returns from separation, infant is happy to see her

Three types of insecure attachment

(1) avoidant; avoids or ignores mother upon return (2) anxious-ambivalent attachment; upset when mother leaves, switches between clinging and angrily rejecting mother upon return (3) disorganized/anxious-avoidant; behavior is inconsistent, disturbed, and disturbing

Is temperament learned or innate?

innate

Describe the four parenting styles and their positive and negative effects on children.

authoritarian (strict), authoritative (between two extremes), permissive (affectionate), and uninvolved (emotionally detached)

What did Erik Erikson believe was the most important factor in personality development?

social relationships

Discuss the different issues faced by adolescents (identity)

being formed; preoccupied with body image

Discuss the different issues faced by adolescents (peer pressure)

people spend more time with peers

Discuss the different issues faced by adolescents (relationship with family)

decreases

Discuss the different issues faced by adolescents (cultural differences)

more difficult for minority adolescents

List at least 2 strategies that elderly people have discovered to help age successfully.

to remain active and to remain close to people

What did they find in the Minnesota Twins study?

personalities are more determined by heredity

Do all psychologists believe in only continuity view or discontinuity theory?

no

What is the correct order of a fetus, embryo, and zygote?

zygote, embryo, fetus

Zygote planting on the wall takes how many days?

10 days

Cells that eventually form the organ system of the infants start developing at what phase?

embryonic stage

What is the stage that is a 7 month period from 8 weeks of conception to birth?

fetus

Outer layer

nervous system, skin

Middle layer

muscle, bones, internal organs

Inner layer

digestive system, lungs, and glands

What are bad substances in the environment that can hurt babies when a mother is pregnant?

teratogens

What is the thing that is most significant about infant vision?

human faces

Baby reflexes

rooting(means sucking), moro(means startle), and babinski(means the toes fan when the bottom of foot is touched)

When do baby reflexes disappear?

3-4 months

If you are a doctor at a hospital, what’s the most important thing you can do for a baby?

touch them

Who is associated with imprinting?

konrad lorenz

What is an example of physical development?

height, weight, coordination, eyesight, motor development, reflexes, perceptual development

What are examples of social development?

attachment, self-esteem, temperament, parenting styles, 8 stages of development, childcare

What are examples of cognitive development?

piaget, kohlberg

Who is the woman associated with the strange situation?

mary ainsworth

Old idea infants body with mother because

she feeds milk

Daycare

can be very good for children if developmentally enriching and a good program if it sucks then thats horrible