Chapter 3 & 4 Prenatel Development, Birth, and First Three Months of Life

Stage 1 of Prenatel Development (GERMINAL) 8-10 days

Conception until implantation in Uterine wall; Zygote divides & moves through fallopian tubes; 1-4 totipotent stem cells; 8-10 Implantation

Stage 2 of Prenatel Development (EMBRYONIC) 2nd-8th week

Major organs take shape, amnion (sack around the baby) develops, placenta develops & umbilical cord, sensitive period for prenatal development

Stage 3 of Prenatel Development (FETAL) 9th- to birth

hardening of bones, development of organ systems, fetus rapidly grows in size, digestive & respiratory systems working

Teratogens

external agents such as, drugs, alcohol, radiation, etc.. that can disrupt fetal development

Prenatal environmental influences

maternal stress, nutrition, and infections

Brain growth in the first 3 months

skulls grows to accomodate rapid brain growth; skull seperares from fontanels (soft spots) and bones are seperated allowing movement; skull expands & forms shape around brain

Myelination

wrapping neurons in a fatty tissue that allows the acceleration of neural signals

experience-expectant

anticipate experiences that are fairly universal; brain is prewired for these experiences with relevant synapses in place

Synaptic Pruning

dying off of neural connections that aren’t being used

experience-dependent

brain development created in response to specific experiences

Temperment

emotional & behavioral characteristics

Executive functions (hot vs. cold)

hot (affective) and cold (cognitive) domains

Secondary intersubjectivity refers to infants' complex ability (perhaps unique to humans) to interact with others by:

simultaneously paying attention to the caretaker and another object.

Violation of Expectation studies are used with infants to understand their knowledge about different concepts. In this methodological paradigm, when infants look longer at a stimuli researchers conclude that they

are surprised because it is not what they expect to happen.

This type of cell fires when an individual sees or hears another perform an action, just as if the individual were performing the same action themselves, and may be an important component of learning through imitation and observation.

mirror neuron

Ainsworth's attachment style "secure" attachment is seen to predominate over the insecure attachment styles in many cultural communities around the world. However, there is cultural variation in how common "avoidant" and "resistant" attachment styles are across communities. This could be due to ___________.

all of the above

A child is working on a puzzle that is a bit too difficult for them to do alone. Their big sister comes over and suggests that they try to organize the pieces with edges and work on the outer edge of the puzzle first. The child tries this method and then is quickly on their way to making progress on the puzzle. The child has also internalized this interaction and will repeat this method next time they begin a puzzle even without the helper. According to Vygotsky, this interaction best illustrates

in the zone of proximal development.

A researcher compares the motor skills of two infants. One can grasp a Cheerio using a thumb-and-forefinger grasp, while the other can only rake objects with the entire hand. What is the best conclusion?

The first infant has achieved a more advanced stage of fine motor development.

Parents become concerned because their 11-month-old has not yet started walking. Which response is most consistent with research on physical development?

There is considerable normal variation in the age at which infants begin walking.

A developmental psychologist argues that infants' motor skills improve through gradual refinements rather than abrupt changes. Which developmental issue is the psychologist emphasizing?

Continuous versus discontinuous development

According to Bowlby's ethological theory, infants form attachments because:

attachment behaviors evolved because they increase infant survival.

An 18-month-old consistently places toy dogs and real dogs into the same group despite differences in appearance. This behavior best demonstrates:

Categorization.

A researcher wants to determine whether infant emotions are universal across cultures. Which approach would be most appropriate?

An etic approach

Etic Approach

looks at behaviour from the outside of a given culture, and attempts to find trends that can be generalised, universal behaviours.

Emic Approach

functions within certain cultures, aiming to identify behaviours relative to to that culture

During a game of peekaboo, an infant and caregiver play peekaboo by coordinating their attention toward one another while also focusing on the game, vocalizing, and responding to one another. This interaction best illustrates:

intersubjectivity

According to Freud's drive reduction theory, why do infants become attached to caregivers?

Caregivers reduce biological drives such as hunger.

How did Harlow's monkey studies challenge Freud's drive reduction theory?

Monkeys preferred soft cloth mothers over wire mothers that provided food.

A child becomes upset when the caregiver leaves but is quickly comforted upon reunion and then returns to exploring the room. According to Ainsworth, this pattern is most consistent with:

secure attachment.

During the Strange Situation, an infant ignores the caregiver upon reunion and continues playing without seeking comfort. Which attachment classification best fits this behavior?

Avoidant

A researcher finds that infants from different cultures show different rates of secure attachment classifications. Which conclusion is most appropriate?

Cultural differences may influence how attachment behaviors are expressed.

An infant recognizes themselves in a mirror by touching a sticker placed on their own forehead rather than the mirror. This behavior suggests:

development of self-recognition.

An infant reaches for a toy just beyond their grasp. After several unsuccessful attempts, the caregiver moves the toy closer, allowing the infant to grasp it independently. Which interpretation best reflects modern views of motor development?

Experience and environmental support can facilitate motor development.

A developmental psychologist concludes that infants possess more sophisticated cognitive abilities than Piaget originally proposed because researchers now use looking-time methods rather than only search tasks. This conclusion is primarily based on evidence from:

violation-of-expectation studies.

A parent worries because they read that their infant's brain is "losing connections" through synaptic pruning. Which response is most accurate?

Synaptic pruning removes rarely used neural connections, making the brain more efficient.

An infant repeatedly reaches for toys and practices crawling throughout the day. Which explanation best describes how these experiences influence neural development?

Frequently activated neural pathways become stronger through repeated use.

A researcher explains that one part of a neuron receives information from neighboring neurons while another part sends signals to other cells. Which pairing is correct?

Dendrites receive information; axons transmit information.

Two infants are raised in different environments. One receives frequent opportunities to explore and interact with caregivers, while the other has very limited stimulation. Which outcome is most consistent with what we know about early brain development?

The infant with more enriching experiences is likely to develop stronger neural connections in frequently used pathways