Unit 1 Child Development

Differential susceptibility

The idea that some people are more affected by their environment, both positively and negatively, than others.

5 perspectives that arose from the study of the lifespan- focus on multidirectional

• Lifelong
  Development happens throughout the entire life, from birth to death.

• Multidirectional
  People experience both gains and losses throughout life.

• Multidimensional
  Development involves physical, cognitive, and social-emotional changes.

• Plastic
  People can change and adapt through learning and experience.

• Contextual
  Development is influenced by culture, family, society, and life experiences.

Science of human development

The scientific study of how people grow, change, and remain the same throughout the lifespan, from conception to death.

Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological systems approach- focus on microsystem

The microsystem is the innermost level of Bronfenbrenner's theory. It includes the people, activities, and relationships that directly influence a person's daily life. (Family, Friends, School and teachers)

Cohort

A group of people who are born during the same time period and share similar historical and social experiences.

Social construction examples

An idea, belief, or concept that is created and shaped by society and culture rather than being purely natural or biological.

• Gender roles (beliefs about what behaviors are appropriate for males and females)

• Race categories (the meaning and importance attached to racial groups varies across societies)

• Money (has value because society agrees it does)

• Marriage customs (different cultures define and practice marriage differently)

• Beauty standards (ideas of attractiveness vary across time and cultures)

Correlation vs causation

• Two variables are related or occur together.

• One variable directly causes a change in another

Nature vs. nurture debate- what would each side say about a topic?

The debate over whether human development is influenced more by heredity (nature) or environmental experiences (nurture).

Nature perspective:

• Intelligence is largely inherited through genes.

• A person's cognitive abilities are influenced by their biological makeup.

Nurture perspective:

• Intelligence is shaped by education, parenting, nutrition, and life experiences.

• A stimulating environment can improve intellectual development.

Plasticity in development

The capacity for people to change, adapt, and develop throughout life as a result of experiences, learning, and environmental influences

3 grand theories of development

• Psychoanalytic (personality and unconscious motives)

• Cognitive (thinking and reasoning)

• Behavioral/Social Cognitive (learning through environment and observation)

Classical conditioning vs operant conditioning

Learning through association between two stimuli that causes an automatic response.

Learning in which behavior is strengthened by rewards (reinforcement) or weakened by punishment.

Freud’s psychosexual stages

Five stages of personality development (Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, and Genital) in which pleasure is focused on different parts of the body at different ages.

Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development- definition and understand examples

The gap between what a person can do independently and what they can do with help from a more skilled individual.

A child solving a puzzle

• Alone: Can complete a 20-piece puzzle.

• With a parent's hints: Can complete a 50-piece puzzle.

• The 50-piece puzzle is in the child's ZPD.

Evolutionary theory- why are people afraid of snakes?

The view that behaviors and traits develop through natural selection because they help individuals survive and reproduce.

Example: Humans often learn to fear snakes quickly because avoiding dangerous snakes helped ancestors survive.

What premise is Erikson’s psychosocial theory based on?

Erikson's theory is based on the premise that personality develops through eight psychosocial stages across the lifespan, with each stage involving a conflict that influences future development

Eclectic perspective- what does this mean? Is it preferred by developmentalists?

An approach that draws on multiple theories and viewpoints rather than relying on a single explanation of development.

Most developmental psychologists prefer the eclectic perspective because human development is too complex to be explained by one theory alone.

According to Piaget, what do you need to understand in order to understand someone’s behavior?

Behavior reflects cognition. To understand what a person does, you must understand how they think.

Social learning theory

A theory proposed by Albert Bandura stating that people learn behaviors through observation, imitation, and modeling of others.

Gamete

A reproductive sex cell (sperm or egg) that contains half the genetic material needed to create a new individual.

Zygote

The single cell formed when a sperm fertilizes an egg, containing a complete set of chromosomes.

How many pairs of chromosomes do humans have?

Humans have 23 pairs (46 total) chromosomes, receiving 23 from each parent.

Stem cells

Undifferentiated cells that can divide and develop into many different kinds of specialized cells in the body.

Monozygotic twins vs dizygotic twins- difference in how they develop

Monozygotic (identical) twins: Twins formed when one zygote splits into two embryos; genetically identical.

Dizygotic (fraternal) twins: Twins formed from two separate eggs fertilized by two separate sperm; genetically similar like regular siblings.

genotype/phenotype definitions

An individual's genetic constitution; the genes they inherit.

The observable traits or characteristics of an individual, produced by the interaction of genes and environment.

Trisomy 21

A genetic condition in which a person has three copies of chromosome 21 instead of the usual two.

This condition is known as Down syndrome.

Epigenetics- what is the definition of epigenetics? What kinds of lifestyle factors can influence epigenetic changes?

The study of changes in gene expression caused by environmental and lifestyle factors without altering the DNA sequence itself.

• Diet/Nutrition (what you eat)

• Exercise and physical activity

• Stress

• Sleep habits

• Exposure to toxins (such as cigarette smoke, pollution, or certain chemicals)

• Alcohol and drug use

• Prenatal environment (conditions experienced during pregnancy)

Germinal, embryonic, fetal periods

(0-2 weeks): Fertilization, cell division, implantation.
(2-8 weeks): Major organs and body structures form.
(8 weeks-birth): Growth, maturation, and refinement of body systems.

Age of viability for a fetus

The point in prenatal development, usually around 24 weeks, when a fetus can potentially survive outside the womb with medical assistance.

Teratogen

Any environmental factor, substance, or condition that can cause birth defects or negatively affect prenatal development.

Trimesters- what are they?

The three stages of pregnancy, each lasting about three months, during which the fetus undergoes distinct phases of growth and development.

Proximodistal

A pattern of growth in which development occurs from the center of the body outward toward the extremities.

Easiest birthing position for a woman

There is no single best position; many women find upright positions (such as squatting, standing, or sitting) easier because gravity helps labor and delivery.

C-section disadvantages

Longer recovery, greater surgical risks (infection, bleeding), longer hospital stay, and increased risk of complications in future pregnancies compared with vaginal birth.

postpartum depression

A form of depression that occurs after childbirth and involves persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, and emotional distress that interfere with daily functioning and caregiving.

Cephalocaudal

A pattern of growth in which development occurs from the head downward to the feet.