PSYCH - Chapter 10

Developmental Psychology

What are the Domains of Development?

• Emotional/Social Development

• Cognitive Development

• Physical Development

everything grows TOGETHER, not in order! all 3 are happening at once!

Explain Emotional/Social Development

how you feel, manage emotions, and interact with others

FEELINGS + RELATIONSHIPS

ex: feeling jealous or happy

ex: learning to control anger

ex: making friends

Explain Cognitive Development

how you think, learn, remember, and solve problems

THINKING

ex: learning to play a new game

ex: solving a math problem

ex: using logic to make a decision

ex: remembering vocab for a test

Explain Physical Development

changes in your body, movement, and health

BODY

ex: learning to walk or run

ex: growing taller during puberty

ex: improving strength or coordination

What are the Fmbryonic and Fetal Stages?

1. Germinal Stage

2. Embryonic Stage

3. Fetal Stage

Explain each one!!

What’s a Zygote?

a fertilized egg → when sperm (male half) + oocyte (female half)

starts to form and gets implanted in the Germinal stage

Germinal Stage

stage where the egg (Zygote) forms and implants in the uterus. “Germinal = Getting started.”

Time: Conception → 2 weeks

Process…

• sperm + egg = zygote

• travels down the fallopian tube

• rapid call division (copying itself over and over again)

• implants to the uterus

Embryonic Stage

stage where the basic body plan and organ forms. “Embryo = Building the Body.”

Time: 2 weeks → 8 weeks

*MOST VULNERABLE STAGE!!

Process…

• heart starts to beat

• brain + spinal cord develop

• arms, legs, fingers begin to form

ex: if exposed to harmful substances (drugs, alcohol, etc.), this can affect organ development

Fetal Stage

where the baby grows, and the system matures. “Fetus = Growth time.”

Time: 8 weeks → Birth

• Focus is on growth, refinement, and preparation for birth

Process…

• movement (kicking)

• organs begin to function

• rapid growth in size and weight

• brain development of more complex abilities

What are the example sizes for the following stages in weeks/months?

• Embryonic 4 weeks

• Embryonic 8 weeks

• Fetus 5 months

Embryonic 4 weeks → size of a poppyseed

Embryonic 8 weeks → size of a raspberry

Fetus 5 months → size of a banana

At the beginning of pregnancy, from ovulation to implantation. How many days is it after fertilization?

9 days

At the beginning of pregnancy, from ovulation to implantation. What happens on Day 0?

1. Ovary releases an egg (oocyte)

2. Fertilization → Sperm meets the egg in the fallopian tube

3. Sperm + Oocyte (egg) combine to make a ZYGOTE

What is an Oocyte?

Female germ cell that is involved in reproduction.

What is Sperm?

Male germ cell that is involved in reproduction

At the beginning of pregnancy, from ovulation to implantation. What happens on Days 1 → 2 → 3-4?

Day 1: First Cleavage, cell division → zygote starts dividing

Day 2: 2-Cell Stage

Day 3-4: 4-Cell Stage → 8 cells, travels towards the uterus

At the beginning of pregnancy, from ovulation to implantation. What happens on Day 4?

Morula Stage: cells form a solid ball called a morula → “ball of cells”

8-cell uncompacted morula → 8 separate, loose cells that are not tightly stuck together yet.

8-cell compacted morula → 8 cells press tightly together and begin to act as a single solid mass.

Explain the Morula Stage (on Day 4, beginnings of pregnancy)

cells form a solid ball called a morula → “ball of cells”

Explain 8-cell Uncompacted Morula (on Day 4 → Morula Stage, beginnings of pregnancy)

8 separate, loose cells that are not tightly stuck together yet.

Explain 8-cell Compacted Morula (on Day 4 → Morula Stage, beginnings of pregnancy)

8 cells press tightly together and begin to act as a single solid mass.

At the beginning of pregnancy, from ovulation to implantation. What happens on Days 5-6?

(Early) Blastocyst Stage: the ball (morula) becomes a blastocyst (hollow structure)

Inner Cell Mass: becomes the baby

Trophoblast: becomes placenta/support system

Blastocyst Stage (on Days 5-6 → Early Blastocyst Stage)

A hollow ball of cells that forms a few days after fertilization, with different parts starting to specialize.

“hollow ball stage”
ex: Think of a water balloon — it has an outer layer and fluid inside.

Inner Cell Mass (on Days 5-6 → Early Blastocyst Stage)

A small group of cells inside the blastocyst that will become the baby

“becomes the baby”

ex: Like the yolk inside an egg — it’s the part that actually develops into the organism.

Trophoblast (on Days 5-6 → Early Blastocyst Stage)

Outer layer that helps form the placenta and supports the embryo

“become support system → placenta”

ex: Think of it as the shell or wrapper that protects and nourishes the baby.

At the beginning of pregnancy, from ovulation to implantation. What happens on Days 6-7?

Zona Pellucida: protective shell

Hatching (happens first): The blastocyst breaks out of its outer shell (zona pellucida) so it can attach to the uterus

The Blastocyst reaches the uterus and starts attaching to the uterine wall.

Hatching (on Days 6-7 → Late Blastocyst Stage)

The blastocyst breaks out of its outer shell (zona pellucida) so it can attach to the uterus.

ex: Like a chick hatching from an egg — it has to break the shell to survive and grow.

Zona Pellucida (on Days 6-7 → Late Blastocyst Stage)

A protective outer layer (shell) around the egg and early embryo.

At the beginning of pregnancy, from ovulation to implantation. What happens on Days 8-9?

Implantation: The blastocyst is now fully attached and starting to burrow into the uterine lining.

What’s happening?…

• The blastocyst is no longer just sticking — it’s now embedding into the uterus

• The trophoblast (outer layer) helps it dig in and form early support structures

• The embryo is getting ready to receive nutrients from the mother

Epiblast: becomes the embryo

Hypoblast: supports early development

Epiblast (on Days 8-9 → Implantation of the Blastocyst → lasts days)

The group of cells that will become the baby (embryo)

“Epi = embryo”

ex: the main part of the seed that grows into the plant

Hypoblast (on Days 8-9 → Implantation of the Blastocyst → lasts days)

The group of cells that helps form support structures (like the yolk sac)

“Hypo = helper”

ex: the nutrients/soil support around a seed → helps growth but doesn’t become the plant

Implantation (on Days 8-9)

The blastocyst is now fully attached and starting to burrow into the uterine lining.

What are Gonads? What are the 2 different ones?

How the male and female reproductive systems develop from the same starting structure in an embryo

• Müllerian duct (female)

• Wolffian duct (male)

Explain the Müllerian Duct and what it does/happens.

If the embryo develops as a FEMALE

• Gonad becomes ovaries

• No male hormones are produced

• Müllerian duct stays

• Includes the Fimbria, Oviduct, Uterus, and Vagina

Explain the Wolffian Duct and what it does/happens.

If the embryo develops as a MALE

• Gonad becomes testes

• testes produce hormones (testosterone)

• Müllerian duct disappears

• Includes Vas Deferens and Seminal Vesicle

Sensitive Periods → be able to explain what happens at each stage

Times during development when the baby is most vulnerable to harm (like drugs, alcohol, illness)

Following stages to explain…

• Embryonic Stage (weeks 3-8)

• Knowing what each body part has its own sensitive window

• Fetal Stage (week 9-birth)

From Sensitive Periods, what happens in the Embryonic Stage (weeks 3 - 8)?

MOST DANGEROUS to encounter

Since a baby’s organs are forming, this can cause major structural defects

ex: heart defects, limb problems, and brain damage

From Sensitive Periods, explain when each body part can be effected (its sensitive window)

From the Chart:

• Heart → sensitive early (weeks 3-6)

• Arms/Legs → (weeks 4-8)

• Eyes + Brain → sensitive for a LONG time

• Genitals → later development

From Sensitive Periods, what happens in the Fetal Stage (weeks 9 - birth)?

organs are already forming functional problems (not structure)

now its about growth and function → learning issues + vision/hearing problems

What is Motor Development? What are the 2 different ones?

How your body movement and coordination develop over time

• Cephalocaudal Pattern

• Proximodistal Pattern

What is the Cephalocaudal Pattern? (from Motor Development)

development happens from the head down to the feet (head → toe)

“Cephalo = Head”

What develops?… head control → neck strength → arms → legs (lasts)

ex: babies can use their arms before they can walk

ex: babies can lift their head before they can sit

What is the Proximodistal Pattern? (from Motor Development)

development happens from the center of the body to outward (center → outward)

“Proximal = Close to Center”

What develops?… torso (core) → arms/legs → hands + fingers (lasts)

ex: babies control their shoulders before their hands

ex: they can wave arms before they can pick up small objects

ex: fine motor skills come later…

Cognitive Development

The development of a child’s thinking, learning, and understanding skills

Jean Piaget!!

• Memory (remembering things)

• Problem-solving (figuring things out)

• Language (understanding and using words)

• Attention (focusing)

*Assimilation and Accommodation

What are the 2 different Cognitive Developments? aka Sources of Continuity?

• Assimilation (fit into what you know)

• Accommodation (changing your thinking)

Both mean how your brain handles new information → categorization

Who is Jean Piaget?

Father of Cognitive Psychology

he believed that kids go through stages of thinking

What is Assimilation?

using what you already know to understand something new

“You don’t change your thinking, you just add it.”

ex: a child sees a zebra and calls it a “horse.”

ex: seing a new type of dog and still calling it “dog”

What is Accommodation?

changing your thinking because new information doesn’t fit

“you adjust your mental rules.”

ex: realizing whales aren’t fish → updating your knowledge

ex: learning a zebra is not a horse → creating a new category

What are Piaget’s 4 Stages of Cognitive Development?

1. Sensorimotor Stage (birth - 2 years)

2. Preoperational Stage (2 -7 years)

3. Concrete Operational Stage (7 - 11 years)

4. Formal Operational Stage (12+ years)

Sensorimotor Stage

birth - 2 years

learn through senses and actions

ex: Object Performance > Habituation → Possible Event → Impossible Event (be able to explain this and each term too!!)

ex: baby looks for a toy hidden under a blanket

Object Performance

things exist even if you can’t see them

ex: baby looks for a toy hidden under a blanket

Habituation

watches the event over and over again

“Getting used to it.”

ex:

• A baby hears a loud sound and looks

• The sound repeats again and again

• Eventually, the baby stops reacting → they got used to it

Possible Event

An event that makes sense in the real world and follows normal physical rules.

“Possible = normal / could happen.” “NOT surprised”

ex: a ball rolls down a hill

ex: a toy stays on top of a table without falling

Impossible Event

An event that breaks the normal rules of how the world works.

“Impossible = shouldn’t happen.” “surprised”

ex: A ball rolling through a wall → impossible → baby stares longer

Preoperational Stage

2 -7 years

use language and imagination, but NOT thinking logically yet

“pretend stage”

• difficulty understanding conversations

ex: thinking a taller glass has more water (even if it has the same amount of water)

ex: Three-Mountain Tasks: child is asked what another person sees → they describe what THEY see instead

Egocentrism Conversations!!

Theory of Mind!!

Egocentric Conversations

A child can’t see things from another person’s point of view

can only see their own perspective

ex: two children having a conversation but each child is talking about two different things

Theory of Mind

understanding that other people have their own thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that may be different from yours

“People can think differently from you.”

ex: Fasle-Belief Task!!

False-Belief Task

A test to see if a child understands that other people can have beliefs that are wrong.

ex: (Sally-Anne Task)

1. Sally puts a ball in a basket 🧺

2. Sally leaves the room

3. Anne moves the ball to a box 📦

4. Sally comes back

Question: Where will Sally look for the ball?

Correct answer

• Basket (because that’s what Sally believes)

How kids respond:

• Under ~4 years old: say “box” (they answer based on reality)

• 4–5 years and older: say “basket” (they understand Sally’s belief)

Formal Operational Stage

12+ years

ability to think abstractly, logically, and about hypothetical situations

ex: a teen solving an algebra equation

ex: a teen debating a moral issue

Social Development

how people learn to interact with others and build relationships

ex: understanding social rules

ex: communicating with others

ex: making friends

ex: relationships with others

Who was Lev Vygotsky?

A psychologist who believed that learning happens through social interaction and culture

What are the 3 different Social Developments?

• Joint Attention

• Social Referencing

• Imitation

Joint Attention

the ability to focus on what another person is focused on

• This helps babies learn to share experiences with others

• builds communication skills and language development

ex: A baby looks at a toy, then looks at you, like they’re saying
👉 “Do you see this too?”

Social Referencing

The ability to understand other people’s emotions and use them as guidance

• teaches emotional understanding

ex: baby looks at parent before reacting to something new

ex: baby sees a stranger, looks at their parent → parent smiles = baby feels okay

→ parent looks scared = baby gets upset

Imitation

The ability to do what another person does, how to act by copying others

• teaches social norms + builds connections with others

ex: a baby sticks out their tongue after seeing an adult do it

ex: toddler pretends to talk on a phone because they saw a parent do it