CHAD 60 Midterm 1 Ch. 1-4 SJSU

Grand theory

-been around for a long time

-comprehensive -> addresses theories throughout lifespan

What are the (4) grand theories?

1) Psychodynamic

2) Behaviorist

3) Constructivist

4) Sociocultural

Psychodynamic Theory (Freud)

-widely applied (not as useful anymore)

-irrational, unconscious drives and motives

-often originating in childhood, underlies human behavior

"ID"

Behaviorist Theories (Watson and Skinner)

-positive, negative consequences reinforcements

-learn by associating behavior with consequence

(i.e. stimulus and response) ex. Baby Albert and white bunny

Constructivist Theories (Piaget)

-theory highly relevant (cognitive development)

-focuses on changes in how ppl think over time

-children actively construct their reality thru experience

Sociocultural Theories (Vygostky)

-development results from the dynamic interaction of each person w/ the surrounding social and cultural forces

What are the (4) Modern Theories?

1) Evolutionary

2) Social Learning

3) Information-Processing

4) Systems

a) Dynamic Systems

b) Ecological Systems

Evolutionary Theories

-how evolutionary history and biological drives (survival and reproduction) influence development

Social Learning Theories

-emphasizes the influence that other ppl have over a person's behavior, involving learning by observation and limitation

-adds to Behaviorist Theories

*difference: you can learn other pal's mistakes by seeing it ex. see someone touch a hot stove

Information-Processing Theories

-computer analysis used in processing compares human thinking process to sensory input, connections, stored memories, and output

Systems Theories

a) Dynamic System Theory

b) Ecological Systems Theory

Dynamic System Theory

-evaluates how complex behaviors arise from an interaction of less complex behaviors

Ecological Systems Theory

-evaluates how interaction of various environment contexts shapes development

What are the (4) Ecological Systems?

1) Microsystem

2) Mesosystem

3) Exosystem

4) Macrosystem

Microsystem

Mesosystem

Exosystem

Macrosystem

What are the (3) Data Collection (Research Methods)?

1) Experiment

2) Naturalistic Observation

3) Clinical Interview

Experiment (Research)

-must include a variable and control

Naturalistic Observation (Research)

-researcher does not influence observation

Clinical Interview (Research)

-you have structured questions

-can deviate to certain extent

-interviewee can influence interviewer

What are the (4) Research Designs?

1) Longitudinal

2) Cross-Sectional

3) Cohort Sequential

4) Microgenetic

Longitudinal (Design)

-collects info about group of ppl over time ex. same subject observed throughout life

Cross-Sectional (Design)

-collects info about group of various ages at one time ex. compare 5 yr old to 15 yr old

Cohort Sequential (Design)

-combines longitudinal w/ cross-sectional

Microgenetic (Design)

-focuses on development over short periods (at thresholds of change)

What are the tools of culture inheritance?

1) Culture

2) Material tools

3) Symbolic tools

4) Imitation

Culture

-comprised of a set of material and symbolic tools that are accumulated over time

-these tools are passed down thru social processes and provide resources for a developing child

Material tools

-observable

-manufactured objects and patterns of behaviors

Symbolic tools

-abstract

-systems of knowledge, beliefs, and values

Imitation

-learning to use resources by imitating others

What are the processes of cultural inheritance

1) Social Enhancement

2) Explicit Instruction

3) Symbols and Language

4) Cumulative Cultural Evolution

Social Enhancement

-using available sources

-giving access to tool, but not telling child how to use it ex. Library books

Explicit Instruction

-individuals are taught how to use resources

ex. shaving

Symbols and Language

-learning about things that are not immediately present ex. learn how to have sex by reading it in a book

Cumulative Cultural Evolution

-cultures continue to evolve bc individual may produce variations in the material and symbolic tools that they use

Genetic Inheritance

-transmission of biological characteristics from one generation to the next

Genotype

-the individual's particular set of genes

-microscopic

*genotype codes for phenotype

Phenotype

-the individual's actual traits, behavior, and psychological traits

*you can see the phenotype ex. blue eyes

Human Reproduction

-2 germ cells (egg and sperm) fuse together

-46 chromosomes total (26 from mother and 26 from father)

Homozygous (for genotype)

-person who inherits the same allele from both parents

-individual will express the trait

ex. mom and dad have red hair, child has red hair

Heterozygous (for genotype)

-person who inherits different alleles

-individuals will express dominant, intermediate, to both traits

Mutations

-important source of variation of genotypes

-can be passed along to next generation

-can add new genes to the gene pool

Genetic "Switch"

-mutations can develop throughout lifespan

Plasticity

-whether phenotype can be affected by the environment

Family Studies

-Parent & kin/siblings are 50%

Twin Studies

-same environment and genetics

-identical twins share 99%

Adoption Studies

-same environment, different genetics

-if 2 siblings share same intelligence, assume influenced by environment

Germinal Period

-begins at conception

-lasts until the zygote enters the uterus and becomes implanted

-organism has grown from single-celled to hundreds of cells

-conception to 10 days

Embryonic Period

-begins at implantation

-lasts until end of 8th week

-all major organs have taken primitive shape

-sexual differences have begun

-placenta allows the exchange of nutrients and waste

-susceptible to teratogens

-10 days to week 8

Fetal Period

-begins at 9th week

-lasts until birth

-dramatic growth

-brain and organ systems become complex

-sensory systems is running

Maternal Stress

-mother's stress can have immediate effects of child

-m's stress levels are tied to cortisol levels

-cortisol can then enter the child's environment

Malnutrition

-wrong type of nutrition

-most women take additional vitamins during pregnancy such as folic acid

Undernourishment

-may cause a process of overcompensation

Overnourishment

-women are susceptible to diabetes and can pass along sensitivity of insulin and blood sugar levels

Teratogens

-environment agent that can cause deviations from normal development and can lead to abnormalities or death

ex. drugs, infection, pollution

What are the (6) characteristics of Teratogens?

1) susceptibility depends of developmental stage

2) effects are likely specific to particular organ

ex. Thalidomide (prescribed for morning sickness in the 60s)

3) individuals vary in their susceptibility to teratogens

4) mother's physiological state influences susceptibility to teratogens ex. age, nutrition, hormonal balance

5) greater concentration leads to greater risk ex. cup of coffee everyday

6) teratogens may have little to no effect on mother

ex. alcohol have no effect on mother, but will effect baby

Neonate (new born infant)

-1 - 3 months

-development is rapid

-activity level increases

-gain about 6 pounds and grow more than 4 inches

-head circumference grows

Apgar Scale

-measures physical condition

-used to screen children at risk

-not an evaluation of behavior or intelligence

Brazelton Scale

-assesses physical condition

>reflexes and muscle tone

-assesses behavioral condition

Behavioral Development Reflexes

-specific automatic (involuntary) responses to specific types of stimulations

>sucking

>grasping

>stepping

>eye-blink

>rooting

>moro

>babinski

Coordinated Actions

-Newborns

>3 hour schedule

-2.5 months

>4 hour schedule

-7-8 months

> approximate adult schedule

Temperament

-emotional and behavioral characteristics that are consistent across situations

-personal style

Thomas and Chess' (9) Temperament Traits

-activity levels

-adaptability

-rhythmicity

-approach-withdrawals

-responsiveness

-reaction

-mood

-perseverance

-distractibility

Thomas and Chess' (3) Dimension Temperaments

1)easy babies - adaptive, content

2)slow-to-warm-up babies - mild, tend to withdraw from new situations

3) difficult babies - irritable, tend to respond negatively to new situations

What are the 3 temperament traits?

1) Flexible

2) Fearful

3) Feisty

Flexible

-40% kids flexible

-generally cheerful, regular rhythms

-quick to adapt

-low intensity

-low sensitivity

-easily taken advantage by other children

-needs special attention, expresses desire for attention quietly

Fearful

-cautious temperaments

-slow to adapt, resistant to new things

-withdraws

-behavior: stays close to caregiver, very attached

Feisty

-most fun, most difficult

-active, intense, distractive, sensitive, irregular, moody

*to care for feisty: use redirection - empathy followed by redirection of attention

Neuron

a nerve cell

Synapse

the tiny ago between the axon of one neurons and the dendrite of another

Axon

the main protruding branch of a neuron; it carries messages to other cells in the form of electrical impluses

Myelin Sheath

an insulating material that forms a sheath around certain axons and speeds the transmission of nerve impulses from one neuron to the next

Dendrite

-arms reaching out to other neurons

-the protruding parts of neurons that receives axons of other cells

Neurogenesis (1st stage)

-happens in prenatal development

-creation of new neurons

-rare to create more neurons after prenatal development

Synaptogenesis (2nd stage)

-occurs after prenatal stage

-creation of new synaptic connections

-continues thru adolescence

-very rapid in first 3 months, then tapers off and resurges during adolescence

Myelination

-process of insulating axons

-promotes faster and more efficient transmission

-allows neurons to get stronger and thicker

Synaptic Pruning

-death of unused neurons and synapses

-creates more room for current neurons to become more robust

-streamlines signal processing

Sensation and Perception

-all sensory systems are functioning @ birth

-some are more developed than other

ex. sight is not fully developed at birth

Taste and Smell

-systems are one in the same

-to measure reaction, look for facial expression

-sweet: pertrude lips

-bitter: gaping mouth

-sour: wincing

Hearing

-measure reflex and reaction

-auditory brainstem response (performed in U.S. hospitals)

ex. experiment of "ba" and sucking pacifier

-infants perceive phonemes before they begin producing/making those sounds

-learn in utero

-fetuses can hear in utero starting at 6 months

-newborns recognize mother's voice

-NB recognize native language

-infants initially are sensitive to speech sounds used by all world's languages ex. ba and pa

-but with growth and experience, infants lost sensitivity to sounds that are not used by their native language

Habituation

-decreases/boredom with stimulus

Dishabituation

-detect difference = increase

Periods of Development

Prenatal - 0 Years

Infancy - 0 to 3 years

Early Childhood - 3 to 6 Years

Middle Childhood - 6 to Puberty

Adolescence - Puberty to Adulthood

What are the (4) domains of development?

1) Social

2) Emotional

3) Physical

4) Cognitive > 3&4 include Brain development, they often go together

Context of Development

Neighborhoods

Family

Schools

Cultural beliefs

SES= Socioeconomic status

What are the central issues to development sciences?

Nature v. Nurture

Innate v. Learned

Plasticity

Continuity

Individual Differences

Nature v Nurture

Biology v. Experience

-what are the origins of individual difference

Innate v. Learned

-are certain skills and abilities innate?

-are they present in all human beings?

Plasticity (Developmental Science)

-whether certain abilities change over time

Continuity

-how certain abilities change over time

Individual Differences

-what traits/characteristics make you unique?

-when did these traits/characteristics emerge?

-will these traits/characteristics persist over time?

What is a theory?

-a framework for explaining patterns and problems of human development

-based on the ideas and assumptions that are generalized from collections of observations

What purpose do theories serve?

-produce hypotheses

-offer practical guidance

-generate discoveries