Unit 1 Human Development Study Guide

what is human development?

the scientific study of how humans develop from conception until death

what is the goal of human developmental studies?

1. to determine how and why development occurs

2. the focus on all kinds of people from all kinds of places with all kinds of backgrounds

what are the challenges of studying human development

1. challenges to describe universal contrasts and changes

what is the major task of developmental psychologies

to discover and inform others of the sameness and differences in people and their human development and behaviors

plasticity

traits can be changed

multi-disciplinary

multiple disciplines studying human development

multi-cultural

differences in culture

multi-contextual

histories, cultural traditions, economic challenges

multi-directional

gains and losses of developing

butterfly effect

a small change that can impact everything, conversely a large encounter that creates a small difference

cohort effect

variations in health, behavior, or traits among groups of people based on their shared birth year or life experiences.

prenatal development

from conception to birth

infancy and toddlerhood

birth to 2 years old

early childhood

3 years old to 6 years old

middle childhood

6 years old to 12 years old

adolescence

13 years old to 19 years old

early adulthood

20 years old to 39 years old

middle adulthood

40 years old to 65 years old

late adulthood

65 years old to death

3 factors that influence development

1. conception/heredity

2. environment

3. growth/maturation

environmental factors (terrotogens) that influence development

drugs/alcohol, viral diseases, smoking, anti depressants, culture, etc.

conception

uniting of sperm and egg

gametes

sex cells

zygote

results from the combination of egg and sperm

phenotype

physical traits

genotypes

genetic pairing percentages

dominant traits

outweigh recessive traits

recessive traits

will be outweighed

heterozygous

different pairing

homozygous

same pairings

after conception: germinal stage

zygote (immediately after conception)

after conception: embryonic stage

embryo

after conception: fetal stage

fetus

fontanel

skull has not fully fused together on either side yet

vernix caseosa

white, cheesy, greasy-like substance that protects the baby from amniotic fluid

molding

elongation of the head which seem huge and cone shaped from traveling down the birth canal

bowed-leg/pigeon toed

slightly turned inward but naturally straightens out

lanugo

dark hairy covering that eventually washes off

weight

average weight is 7.5 lbs

umbilical cord

former connection to mother for nourishment but when cut, dries and drops off and the space becomes the belly button

reflex

instinctive, innate behavior which promotes survival

the Moro/startle reflex

result of a loud sudden noise or movement

the babinski reflex

the big toes bends back and the other toes fan out when the sole of the foot is firmly stroked

the stepping reflex

the baby takes steps or dance when the feet touch a solid surface

the tongue thrust reflex

the baby pushes the tongue out when something is placed on it

the sucking reflex

occurs when an object is placed in the mouth and the infant sucks

the rooting reflex

occurs when the lips are touched and the infant turns and prepares to suck

the swimming reflex

occurs when the infant is placed in water and making swimming like movements

plantar reflex

curling the toes around an object that is place in the center of the toes

palmar reflex

curling the fingers around an object that is placed in the palm of the hands

sneezing reflex

an effort to clear the throat when foreign objects transition in the throat

eye blink reflex

occurs when an object comes suddenly towards the eyes causing blinking

Wilhelm Wundt

-1879

-Credit for first research lab

-Timing of Mental Processes

-School of Structuralism: how the human mind is structured and functions

Charles Darwin

-1828, 1836; 1872

-Galápagos Islands, Uni of Cambridge

-Theory of Evolution, applying evolution and human nature to psychology

Mary Calkins

-1905

-Research on Memory

-first female president of the APA in 1905

Rogers, Carl and Maslow, Abraham

-School of Humanism: explored human growth via a need for love and acceptance and the drive for self actualization ascending the hierarchy

John Watson, Frederic Skinner

-1930s

-Behaviorism, Operant Conditioning, positive/negative reinforcement

-Use of the Skinner Box

John Dewey and William James

-1900’s

-Functionalism: functions of the mind/body—how mental activities help individuals fit into the environment

cerebrum

-largest part of human brain (bumpy indentations)

-higher brain functions

-enables humans to plan and to postpone

-divided into 4 sections called lobes

hypothalamus

governs eating, drinking, and sexual arousal

pituitary glands

apart of nervous and endocrine systems, releases growth hormones

pons

bridge for signals between the cerebrum, cerebellum, and spinal cord

medulla

heart/pulse rate, autonomic functions, respiration, circulation

brain stem

regulates breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and sleep cycles

cerebellum

balance, motor functions, coordination

midbrain

bridge between upper and lower systems

thalamus

sensory relay center

ventricles

houses cerebral spinal fluid (fluid=absorbs shock)

corpus colloquy

connects left and right hemispheres

frontal lobe

governs movement

parietal lobe

controls somesthetic functions such as touch

occipital lobe

governs vision

left temporal lobe

houses speech and hearing centers

right temporal lobe

controls ability to do math

Freud

-psychoanalytic/emphasized unconsciousness

-used stage approach

Erickson

-neo-freudian

-psychoanalytic stage approach

-addressed entire lifespan

Pavlov

-behaviorism: classical conditioning

-linked stimulus/response conditioning

Skinner

-behaviorism: operant conditioning

-positive and negative reinforcement

Bandura

-social learning

-positive/negatives outcomes and consequences

what is the 1st step of the scientific method

Pose a question

what is the 2nd step of the scientific method

develop the hypothesis

what is the 3rd step of the scientific method

design the investigation

what is the 4th step of the scientific method

collect the data to text the hypothesis

what is the 5th step of the scientific method

statistically analyze the data

what is the 6th step of the scientific method

draw conclusions, explain the results, and replicate the investigation

what the 7th step of the scientific method

reveals the findings/make them public