Dev Psych Exam 1

Continuous Stage Theory

the view that human growth and change is a slow, ongoing, and cumulative process rather than a sudden shift.

Discontinuous Stages Theory of Development

Views change as qualitative—moving through rigid, distinct age-specific steps or plateaus

Stability

The ability to stay the same and keep past knowledge: Helps you focus, control impulses, and keep old memories. In the brain, it protects existing pathways. In personality, it links to emotional control, order, and reliability

Plasticity

The ability to change and learn; Helps you explore new ideas, adapt to changes, and grow. In the brain, it forms new neural connections. In personality, it links to an open mind and outgoing behavior

John Locke

Tabula rasa; Emphasized importance of environment in
raising children

Tabula Rasa

Children are a blank slate, coined by John Locke

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Children are noble savages

Normative Approach

Proponents were G. Stanley Hall and Arnold Gesell; studies human growth by comparing an individual's traits and behaviors to average, expected milestones for a specific age group

G. Stanley Hall

Founder of child-study movement; helped reform public schooling

Arnold Gesell

Used normative approach to help parents understand development

Alfred Binet

Mental Testing Movement: Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test

Sigmund Freud

Psychoanalytic Perspective and Psychosexual theory

Psychosexual Theory

Coined by Freud; Three components of
personality (id, ego, and
superego) become integrated
through development

Id

I want to do that now; base human desires

Superego

It is not right to do that; voice of reason

Ego

Compromise of the Id and Superego

Erik Eriksson

Continued the Psychoanalytic perspective, and developed the Psychosocial theory, which divided development into 8 stages and extended study into old age

John Watson

Used Pavlov’s classical conditioning on humans in the Little Albert Study

Little Albert Study

Albert was shown soft animals and had no fear. Then whenever he was shown the white rat, Watson made a loud noise causing Albert to cry. The Albert began to cry whenever he saw many animals, meaning that this fear was generalized. This fear was conditioned in Albert

Bobo Doll Study

Children were divided into aggressive group and non-aggressive group. Children modeled the behaviors they were shown. Children were more influenced by same-sex models. Shows that direct reinforcement is not required for learning, and observation alone is enough

Albert Bandura

Emphasized modeling, or observational learning

Jean Piaget

Children actively
construct knowledge
and skills as they
manipulate and explore
the world

Urie Brofenbrenner

Created the ecological systems theory and the bioecologiccal model

Ecological Systems Theory

Human development is shaped by 5 nested, interacting environmental systems:

1. Microsystem

2. Mesosystem

3. Exosystem

4. Macrosystem

5. Chronosystem

Microsystem

The innermost layer of immediate, direct contact. This includes family, school, peers, and neighbors

Mesosystem

The connections and interactions between a person's microsystems. For example, how a child's parents interact with their teachers.

Exosystem

External settings that do not involve the individual directly but still influence them. For example, a parent's workplace or local community board

Macrosystem

The outermost cultural, societal, and economic values, laws, and belief systems.

Chronosystem

The dimension of time. This includes sociohistorical events or major life transitions, such as parental divorce.

Naturalistic Observation

a research method where psychologists and other scientists study humans or animals in their real-world, everyday environments without interfering or changing any variables

Structured observation

a quantitative research method where researchers watch and record specific, predefined behaviors using checklists or coding schemes

correlational research design

a non-experimental quantitative method used to measure the relationship between two or more variables without any manipulation or control by the researcher

Experimental design

the structured plan and procedure used by researchers to test hypotheses and find cause-and-effect relationships by controlling, manipulating, and measuring variables

Longitudinal Study

a research method that tracks the same individuals or variables repeatedly over an extended period

Ethnography

a qualitative research method where a researcher immerses themselves in a group's natural environment to observe and understand their culture, behavior, and social interactions

Case study

an in-depth, detailed examination of a real-world subject—such as a person, group, organization, or event—within its natural setting

Independent variable

What you change

Dependent variable

What you observe

Phenotype

directly observable characteristics

Genotype

Complex blend of genetic information that determines characteristics

Zygote

Fertilized egg

Has 46 chromosomes
• 22 pairs of identical matched autosomes, 1 pair of sex chromosomes

Embryo

the early growth stage of a living thing that starts just after a sperm joins an egg

Monozygotic (identical) twins

Result when one zygote that has started to duplicate separates into two clusters of cells
• Share 100% genetic makeup
• Occur due to environmental factors
• Account for 1 in 350-400 births worldwide

Dizygotic (fraternal) twins

Result from release and fertilization of two ova
• No more genetically alike than ordinary siblings
• Genetic and environmental factors increase likelihood
• Account for 1 in 33 U.S. births; differs across cultures

Homozygous

alleles from both parents are alike

Heterozygous

alleles from parents are different

Trisomy 21

Down Syndrome; Three copies of chromosome 21 (rather
than two)
• Intellectual disabilities, memory and speech
problems
• Poor motor development
• Distinct physical features
• Birth defects common

XYY

Jacob’s Syndrome; Taller than average, severe acne, large teeth
• Intelligence, sexual development and fertility normal

XXX

Taller than average, lower intelligence
• Sexual development and fertility normal

XXY

Klinefelter Syndrome; Physiology resembling females, incomplete development of sex organs
• Sterility and impaired verbal intelligence

XO

Turner Syndrome;
Short stature, webbed neck, incomplete development of sex organs
• Sterility and impaired spatial intelligence

Amniocentesis

a prenatal diagnostic procedure where a small sample of amniotic fluid is withdrawn from the sac surrounding the fetus to test for genetic conditions, birth defects, or infections

In vitro fertilization

a medical process where eggs are taken from a person's ovaries and combined with sperm in a laboratory dish to create an embryo

Ova role in fertilization

released once approx. every 28
days
• In some cases multiple can be
released

provides half of the genetic material, essential nutrients for early growth, and protective barriers to ensure only one sperm fertilizes the egg

Sperm role in fertilization

300 million produced per day
• 300 to 500 make it to uterus
• Can live for six days

contributes half of the genetic material, a centriole to help cell division, and a triggering signal to start development

Germinal Stage

(2-4 weeks) Zygote multiplies and forms a blastocyst
• Blastocyst implants into uterine lining
• Structures to feed and protect begin to develop

Embryonic Stage

(4-10 weeks)

• Grows from 1/4 in. to 1 in.
• Brain and spinal cord appear
• Heart, muscles, ribs, backbone, and digestive tract form
• External body parts appear
• Sense of touch develops; embryo can move

Fetal (First Trimester)

(11-12 weeks)

3 inches long
• Nervous system, organs, and muscles become connected
• New behaviors appear
• Sex organs are evident

Fetal (Second Trimester)

(13-26 weeks)

• 12 inches, 1.8 lbs
• Rapid growth
• Most neurons are developed around 17 weeks
• Eyes sensitive to light; fetus reacts to sound
• Vernix and lanugo protect fetus’s skin

Fetal (Third Trimester)

(27-40 weeks)

20 inches, 7.5 lbs
• Lungs mature
• Neurons increase connections
• Sensory and behavioral capacities expand
• Antibodies transferred from mother to fetus

Vernix

a white, creamy, waxy substance that coats a baby's skin in the womb during the last trimester of pregnancy

Lanugo

a soft, fine, unpigmented hair that covers a developing fetus in the womb

Teratogen

any substance, infection, or physical condition that can disrupt embryonic or fetal development and cause birth defects or pregnancy loss

Ex:

Substances/Abuse

Radiation

Pollution

Infection Disease

Effects of maternal age, diet, exercise, stress on pregnancy

Advanced Maternal Age: higher risk of complicated pregnancy and birth defects

Diet: lack of complete nutrition can lead to complicated pregnancy or birth defects

Exercise: Moderate exercise is beneficial for both mother and child

Stress: High stress can lead to complex pregnancy and/or negatively impact child’s health

Stage 1 of Labor

STAGE 1
• Longest stage of labor (12-14 hours for firstborn, 4-6
hours for later birth

Dilation

Opening

Effacement

Thinning

Transition Stage

Cervix opens completely

Stage 2 of Labor

Delivery of the baby!
• 50 minutes for first baby, 20 minutes for
later births
• Uterus still contracts, natural urge to push
• Baby emerges head first

Stage 3

• Delivery of placenta
• 5-10 minutes
• 1 ½ lbs

Apgar Scale

• Score of 0,1, or 2 given for five characteristics
• Performed 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth

Unmedicated Childbirth

Little to no medical intervention
• Classes
• Relaxation and breathing techniques
• Labor Coach/Doula

Medicated Birth

Birth with Medical Intervention

Ex:

Fetal Monitors, Medications (Analgesics and Anesthetics)

Vaginal Birth

The delivery of the baby through the vagina (birth canal)

Can be spontaneous, Induced (medications), or assisted (using instruments like the suction cup or forceps)

Cesarean delivery

Child is surgically removed from mother through incision

Fetal Monitoring

Very non-invasive, belt placed around mother’s abdomen that tracks a baby's heart rate and rhythm to evaluate well-being during pregnancy and labor

Anoxia

Oxygen deprivation
• Squeezing of umbilical cord
• Placenta abruptio
• Placenta previa
• Treatment by cooling

Placenta abruption

serious pregnancy complication where the placentaprematurely separates from the inner wall of the uterus before delivery.

Placenta previa

a pregnancy condition where the placenta attaches low in the uterus and blocks all or part of the cervix

Epidural

a regional injection into the lower back that numbs the lower half of the body to block pain

Forcep delivery

an assisted vaginal birth where a doctor uses smooth, metal instruments shaped like large spoons or tongs to gently guide a baby out of the birth canal

Vacuum extractor

a medical device used during vaginal delivery to help guide a baby through the birth canal when pushing needs assistance

Rooting reflex

Touching the side of the cheek, baby turns their head towards that and opens their mouth: for feeding

Moro reflex

Startle reflex

Sucking reflex

Sucking reflex

an automatic, involuntary survival response where a baby starts sucking whenever an object—like a nipple or finger—touches the roof of their mouth

Palmar grasp reflex

Grab onto things placed in their hands

Babinski reflex

When you stroke the bottom of feet, toes spread out and then fold

Stepping reflex

Take little steps when held upright with feet touching the ground

States of arousal for newborns

• Regular (NREM) Sleep- 8-9 hours
• Irregular (REM) Sleep- 8-9 hours
• Drowsiness
• Quiet Alertness- 2-3 hours
• Waking activity and crying- 1-4 hours

Touch Sensory capacity at birth

Newborns highly sensitive to pain
• Hands, feet, and around mouth
• Can distinguish between different shapes
• Breast milk and gentle touch relieve stress

Taste and Smell Sensory Capacities at Birth

Can distinguish between tastes
• Exposure to flavors in utero and in breast milk
can influence taste preferences

Reasons babies cry

Hungry, Tired, dirty diapers, uncomfortable

Hearing sensory capacity at birth

prefer speech sounds to nonspeech sounds
• Prefer mother’s native language and voice
• Prefer complex sounds over single tones

Vision sensory capacity at birth

20/600 visual acuity at birth
• Prefer bright colors and distinct, simple shapes and patterns

Postpartum depression

10-15% of all parents, listlessness, or resentment towards baby

Postpartum anxiety

Can feel like something will happen

Postpartum OCD

Where you have so much anxiety, you engage in compulsions to “prevent” them

Postpartum psychosis

Loss of reality, mood changes, extreme insomnia, confusion

Psychosocial theory

Developed by Erik Erikson, divided development into 8 stages and extended study into old age