prenatal development + themes and history

developmental psychology

• a method for studying human nature, not necessarily revolving around children; how do we change and evolve overtime and why

• human’s entire lifespan

what are the 7 themes of child development? name and explain them

1. nature versus nurture: these two factors (biology, like genetics + environments, physical and social, like the communities we live in, the homes we grow up in) interact to shape developmental process

2. the active child: infants shape their own development through selective attention; choose what to engage in example: prefer mother’s face → more time spent with mother → strong bond

3. continuity versus discontinuity: gradual change versus stage-like changes

4. mechanisms of change: neural, genetic, behavior, microbiome

5. the sociocultural context

6. individual differences

7. research and children’s welfare

plasticity

• Ability of brain/behavior to change with experience

• NOT fixed → environment matters

• Occurs in sensitive periods (e.g., language, vision)

Why it matters:

→ Explains recovery, learning, and vulnerability

Example: language, learning musical instruments, etc.

why would developmental researchers be interested in the prenatal period?

• it is a critical phase where environmental and biological factors set the foundation for lifelong physical, cognitive, and emotional health

factors which place fetus at rick and what structures provide protection?

1. teratogens: environmental agents that can harm fetus; cause damage only if they are present during a sensitive period of prenatal development

2. fetal programming: negative effects of prenatal experience, affecting adulthood

3. maternal age, nutrition, disease, maternal emotional state, poverty, stress, STDs

4. protection → placenta: developed in the uterus, providing oxygen and nutrients (still susceptible to drugs and environmental pollutants)

describe what fetuses can do (learning, sensation, etc).

In the womb…

• can hear

• light filtered through abdominal wall

• movement in womb

• whatever mother eats, it seasons the amniotic fluid

… which leads to newborns recognizing rhymes and stories presented before birth + prefer sounds, tastes, and smells that are familiar to their prenatal experience

what is an example of fetal programming?

• example: dutch hunger winter study: prenatal famine exposure → affected long term health (increased rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease in adulthood, etc.)

what is a weird sample

Western Educated Industrialized Rich Democratic

Fourth Trimester

first 3 months after birth (newborn period)