AP Psychology Unit 3

Development and Learning Unit 3

Nature

genetic factors

Nurture

Environmental factors

Teratogens

Agents or chemicals that can cause harm if ingested or contracted by the mother

Why do teratogens hurt the baby

The placenta can filter out many potentially harmful substances, however, teratogens pass through this barrier and can affect the fetus in profound ways

What are some examples of teratones

Alcohol,( even in small amounts) psychoactive drugs such as cocaine, heroin,

Reflexes …

All babies exhibit a set of them. Are a specific, inborn, automatic responses to certain specific stimuli.

Rooting reflex

When touched on the cheek, a baby will turn his or her head to the side where he or she felt the touch and seek to put the object into his or her mouth.

Sucking reflex

When an object is placed into a baby’s mouth, the infant will suck on it. (helps baby’s eat.)

Grasping reflex

If an object is placed into a baby’s palm or foot pad, the bay will try to grasp the object with his or her fingers or toes.

Moro reflex

When startled, a baby will fling his or her limbs out and then quickly retract them, making himself or herself as small as possible.

Babinski reflex

When a baby’s foot is stoked, he or she will spread the toes.

Visual cliff

An experience conducted to see if a baby can perceive depth.

What is the visual cliff experiment

when a baby is placed on a surface that is partially covered by see-through material such as glass or plexiglass.

Motor Skills

Abilities that involve using your muscles to make movements. They let you perform actions like walking, writing, throwing, or picking things up

gross motor skills

Large movements that use big muscle groups, such as running, jumping, kicking a ball or lifting your arms.

A baby can roll over at what age, stand at what age and walk at what age? ( aprox)

Roll over = 5 ½ months old. Stand 8-9 months old. Walk around 15 months.

Biopsycholpgical psycholopgist concentrate on..

The nature element in the nature/nurture combination that produces our genrer roles,

Difference between female and male brains, ( for the AP Test too)

On average, females are known to have larger corpus calllosums than Mae brain.

Theoretically this means…

The difference may affect how the right and left hemisphere communicate and coordinate task.

Social cognitive theory

Concentrates on the effects of society and our own thoughts about gender have on role development.

These psychologist focus on…

focus on the internal interpretation we make about the gender messages we get from our environment,( also known as gender schema theory.)

Continuous development

development at a steady rate form birth to death.

Discontinuous development.

Our development happens in fits and starts with some period of rapid development and some of relatively little change.

Growth spurt

quick increase in height and weight that happens during puberty when the body grows rapidly in a short period of time.

Zone of proximal development

The range of tasks a child can perform independently and those tasks a child needs assistance with

Zone of proximal development was a concept invented by…

Psychologist Lev Vygotsky

Erik Erikson was a…

Psychodynamic theorist who created the psychosocial stage theory

Psychosocial stage theory

Consisting of eight stages, each stage centering on a specific social conflict.

1) Trust versus mistrust

Babies first social experience of the world centres on need fulfilment. Babies learn whether or not the world will provide for their needs. Babies needs to learn to have faith in their caregivers and that their needs, ( crying first) are effective. This will cary through the rest of their lives according to Erickson

2) Autonomy vs shame and doubt

Toddlers being to exert their will over their own bodies. Erikson believes that potty training was an early effort at gaining this control. Toddlers also learn to control temper tantrums in this stage.

3) Initiative versus guilt

Chikdren’s favorite word changes from No! to Why? If we trust those around us and feel in control of our bodies, we tend to feel a natural curiosity about our surroundings. We take initiative in problem solving. IF this initiative is encouraged. If those around us make us feel scolded or dumb for asking questions we may feel guilt surrounding curiosity and avoid asking questions in the future.

4)Industry vs inferiority

psychosocial stage (ages 6-12, school age) where children develop competence by mastering academic, social, and physical skills, leading to a sense of accomplishment (usefulness, pride) if successful, or disappointment (feeling inadequate, less capable) if they consistently struggle or receive negative feedback, setting the foundation for self-worth and future challenge

5) identity vs role confusion

occurring during adolescence (12-18), where individuals grapple with developing a coherent sense of self (identity) by exploring roles, beliefs, and goals, or risk feeling confused about their place in the world, leading to insecurity and uncertainty about their future and values.

Success means forging a strong identity, while failure means a weak self-image, impacting future relationships and choices. 

6) Intimacy vs Isolation

a key stage in Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, occurring in early adulthood, where individuals struggle to form deep, meaningful relationships (intimacy) or retreat into loneliness (isolation) due to fear of vulnerability or rejection, balancing personal identity with committed bonds.

7)Generativity vs Stagnation

Erik Erikson's seventh stage of psychosocial development (middle adulthood, ages 40-65), focusing on adults' drive to contribute to the world and guide the next generation. The other end would be, feeling unproductive and disconnected. Successfully navigating this stage involves creating or nurturing things that will outlast the individual, such as through parenting, mentoring, or community involvement, leading to fulfillment, while failure results in self-absorption, boredom, and a lack of purpose, potentially impacting later life well-being. 

8)Integrity vs Despair

the final stage in Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, occurring in late adulthood (65+), where individuals reflect on their lives, choosing between integrity (contentment, acceptance, wisdom from a life well-lived) or despair (regret, bitterness, and feeling that time was wasted).