Ch 4 Human Development

Developement

pattern of change in humans from conception through life span

Physical processes

changes in a person’s biology ; Hormonal changes, motor skills, weight

Cognitive processes

changes in mental functioning ; Thoughts, intelligence, language

Socioemotional processes

changes in personal relationships, emotions, and personality

Germinal Stage

(first 2 weeks) before zygote attaches to the uterus

Embryonic Stage

(weeks 3-8) cells divide and turn into bone, muscle, and body organs (heart, lungs, spinal cord)

Fetal Stage

(2 months - birth) eyes and eyelids (6 months), muscle exercise

Teratogen

any agent that causes birth defects (herpes, alcohol, chemicals)

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

heavy drinking during pregnancy (first 2 weeks especially)

Physical: short stature , flattened nose, short eye slots

Psychological: degrees of mental retardation and hyperactivity

Crack babies

more impulsive, less adapting to stress and more behavioral probelms

Maturation

physical development of the brain and body

Newborn Babies

1. grasping- touch palm, fingers grasp

2. sucking- touch mouth, auto sucking

3. stepping- barely touch feet to floor, act like walking

4. startle- clap hands, arms flail

Motor Skills (Newborn)

Near body parts develop before far parts

Parts near head develop before parts closer to feer

1. sitting up (5 ½ months)

2. crawling (10 months)

3. walking (1yr)

Brain (Newborn)

synaptic connections increase rapidly in 1st 2 years

By age 4: 80% of its adult size

Piaget’s Theory

children need active involvement

2 Active Processes

1. Assimilation

2. Accomodation

Assimilation

child uses old method to deal with new situation

Accommodation

changes old method to adjust to new situation (learn to not eat all objects)

Piaget’s 4 Stages of Cognitive Development

1. Sensorimotor Stage (birth-2yrs)

2. Preoperational Stage (2-7yrs)

3. Concrete operational stage (7-11yrs)

4. Formal operational stage (11-15yrs_

Sensorimotor Stage

(birth-2yrs) learn about world by connection sensory experience to motor actions

(birth-8months)- out of sight out of mind

After 8 months:

Object performance - realizing that objects exist even if no contact with them (see, hear, touch)

Preoperational Stage

(2-7yrs) learn to use symbols (words, images) to solve simple problems; talk about things not present

Lack of consideration- quantity remains the same despite changes in shape

Egocentric thinking

seeing and thinking of the word from only your point of view (preoperational stage: difficult seeing others view point)

Concrete operational stage

(7-11yr) can perform logical mental operations on concrete (physical) objects; develop conservation

Formal operational stage

(11-15yr) ability to think about and solve abstract problems logically; consider possible outcomes and consequences of actions

Erikson’s Theory

Human personality develops in eight stages spanning from birth to death, with each stage defined by a core social or psychological conflict

Trust vs. Mistrust (birth-1.5yr)

if the baby’s basic needs are met (food, warmth)

core question: can I trust the world?

Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (1.5-3yr)

discover own will and independence; unless punished

core question: is it okay to be me?

Initiative vs. Guilt (3--5yr)

assume more responsibility; irresponsible = guilt

core question: is it okay for me to do, move, and act

Industry vs. Inferiority (6-puberty)

focus on knowledge and intellect; may feel incompetent'

core question: can I be good at things?

Infancy attatchment

close emotional bond between infant and caregiver; distress occurs when separated

Imprinting

infant animal attachment; ducks- first moving objects; monkeys- softer touch

Secure attachment

plays happy alone; friendly to other caregivers around; upset when caregiver leaves - comforted by their return; better socio-socio-emotinal outcomes

Avoidant attachment

no cry/upset when caregiver leaves - avoids them when return

Ambivalent attachment

very upset when caregiver leaves; both seek and reject caring contact when return

Authoritarian parenting

firmly limits and controls child

child: weak social skills, low self esteem,

Authoritative parenting

encourages independence, but still limit behavior

child: high self-esteem, socially competent and self reliant

Permissive parenting

submit to child’s desires, place few limits and little punishing

child: more aggressive and immature

Adolescence (12-18)

Physical:

• rapid skeletal and sexual maturation

• girls start puberty 2 years before boys

Brain:

• frontal lobe continues to develop (until age 25)

• clean up of unused neurons and connections

Cognitive

• beginning of formal operational thinking

• think of human nature, good vs. evil, hypocrisy

Adolescent egocentric

“invincibility” ; feel vulnerable but then to weight benefits of risky behavior more

Identity vs. Identity confusion

who you are, where your going?

Adulthood

Physcial:

• athletic performance peaks in mid 20s

• 40-50s skin sags/w wrinkles

• shrink in height

• females reach menopause (early 50s)

• senses (vision, hearing, smell) start to become less sharp

Cognitive:

• mental processing speed decreases

• recalling new info declines during early and middle adulthood; but recognizing new info remains stable

• crystallized intelligence- accumulated knowledge increases

• fluid intelligence- ability to reach abstractly decreases

Socioemotional:

• Intimacy vs. Isolation: (early adulthood) find intimate relationship

• Generativity vs. stagnation (middle adulthood) help out next generation

• Integrity vs. despair (late adult) assess life accompishments