Developmental Psych Test 2

what are the 2 types of development during infancy?

cephalocaudal and proximodistal

what is cephalocaudal growth?

growth starting at the head and moving downward

what is proximodistal growth?

growth starting at the center of the body and moving outward

what is one example of the cephalocaudal trend in infant growth?

a baby can hold their head up before they can walk

what is one example of the proximodistal trend in infant growth?

a baby can wave their arms before they can pick up small objects

what is the average weight of an infant at birth?

7.5 pounds

what is the average length of an infant at birth?

20 inches

how does weight typically change from birth to age 1?

birth weight triples

what is the average weight of a 2 year old child?

26-32 pounds

what is the average height of a 2 year old child?

32-35 inches

how much does a child’s weight change each year?

increases by 5-7 pounds each year

how much does a child’s height change each year?

increases by 2-3 inches each year

how do body tissues change during childhood?

muscle tissue increases, fatty tissue decreases

how do bones change during childhood?

they harden

what is puberty?

the developmental process by which the body becomes capable of reproduction due to hormonal and physical changes

what is the average age for the start of puberty in boys?

12

what is the average age for the start of puberty for girls?

11

what are the 3 key characteristics occurring during puberty?

sex hormone production, growth spurt, and sexual maturation

what are the sex hormones produced by males during puberty?

androgens, such as testosterone

what are the sex hormones produced by females during puberty?

estrogens, such as estradiol

how do males’ height change during puberty?

increases 4 inches per year

how do females’ height change during puberty?

increases 3.5 inches per year

what are some physical issues associated with early-maturation for girls?

obesity, insulin resistance, hormonal issues, acne, limits adult height

what are some physical issues associated with early-maturation for boys?

limits adult height, sports injuries, acne, and rapid weight gain,

what are some psychological issues associated with early-maturation for girls?

depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, societal pressure, teasing, risk-taking behaviors

what are some psychological issues associated with early-maturation for boys?

societal pressure, suppressing emotions, risk-taking behaviors, emotional regulation

what are some physical issues associated with late-maturation for girls?

lower bone density, delayed growth spurt, less body fat

what are some physical issues associated with late-maturation for boys?

delayed growth spurt, reduced muscle mass, lower bone density

what is the brain’s weight at birth?

25% of adult brain weight

what is the brain’s weight at 2 years?

75% of adult brain weight

what is the frontal cortex like during infancy?

it’s very immature, restricting infants’ planning, self-control, and self-regulation

visual vs. auditory cortex during infancy

visual cortex is immature, auditory cortex is strong

what is shaken baby syndrome?

serious brain injury caused by forcefully shaking an infant

what does shaken baby syndrome cause?

swelling, bruising, or bleeding in the brain

what is used to measure electrical activity in infants’ brains?

EEGs and fMRIs

what is an enhanced environment?

a setting for infants containing intense physical, social, and sensory stimulation

how do enhanced environments influence infant brain development?

they strengthen neural connections,

what is a deprived environment?

a setting for infants that lacks opportunities for learning, social interaction, and exploration

how do deprived environments influence infant brain development?

they delay brain development, causing problems with cognitive and emotional development

what is myelination?

the process of coating axons with myelin, which increases speed of signal transmission between neurons

how does myelination impact brain development?

it improves the efficiency of brain communication, improving the development of motor skills, learning, critical thinking,

what is an example of how myelination impacts brain development?

a child learning to ride a bike improves coordination as motor neurons become myelinated, improving communication between the brain and muscles

what is synaptic pruning?

the process in which the brain eliminates unused/weak synapses while strengthening important ones

how does synaptic pruning impact brain development?

it makes neural networks more efficient

what is an example of how synaptic pruning impacts brain development?

it helps infants speak clearly by keeping the connections for the sounds they actually hear, and eliminating connections for sounds they do not hear regularly

what are dendrites?

branches of neurons that receive signals from other neurons

how do increased dendritic connections impact brain development?

improves neural communication, allowing for better learning, memory, and problem-solving

what is an example of how dendritic connections impact brain development?

a child exposed to reading, storytelling, or musical instruments develops more dendritic connections in the areas of the brain that handle language, memory, or auditory processing

what is brain plasticity?

the brain’s ability to adapt and reorganize in response to experience

how does plasticity impact brain development?

improves learning, adaptation, recovery from injury, problem-solving, and emotional regulation

what is an example of how plasticity impacts brain development?

a child exposed to rich sensory and social experiences develops stronger connections, while a child in a less stimulating environment may develop fewer connections

what is experience-expectant plasticity?

brain development that expects certain experiences in order to develop normally

when does experience-expectant plasticity occur?

during critical periods

what is an example of experience-expectant plasticity?

exposure to language is needed to develop normal language

what is experience-dependent plasticity?

brain changes that occur from individual, unique experiences throughout life

when does experience-dependent plasticity occur?

across the lifespan

what is an example of experience-dependent plasticity?

learning to play an instrument

how do pattern and organization changes during adolescence impact brain development?

it increases neural communication and processing speed

how do changes in the prefrontal cortex advance adolescents’ cognitive ability?

affects reasoning, planning, decision-making, self-control, and language formation

why do adolescents often feel intense emotions that are hard to regulate?

the limbic system develops faster than the prefrontal cortex

how does limbic system (amygdala) development impact adolescent's’ emotions?

intense emotions, emotional awareness, focus on self-image, sensitive to social feedback

what is corpus callosum?

thick bundle of nerve fibers connecting the right and left hemispheres of the brain, allowing them to share information efficiently

what does the left hemisphere of the brain control?

logical thinking

what does the right hemisphere of the brain control?

emotion and creativity

what happens to corpus callosum during adolescence?

it becomes more myelinated, improving communication between hemispheres

how does corpus callosum development contribute to adolescents’ development?

improves cognition, emotional regulation, and coordination

how long do newborns sleep each day?

16-17 hours in 2-3 hour periods

how long do infants sleep at 6 months?

6 hours during the night, regular nap patterns

what is shared sleeping?

when an infant sleeps in close proximity to a caregiver (same bed or room)

what is sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)?

the sudden, unexplained death of an infant during sleep

what age is risk for SIDS highest?

2-4 months

what are 3 risk factors for SIDS?

low birth weight, exposure to cigarette smoke, soft bedding

what are 3 recommendations for safe sleep?

place babies on backs to sleep, firm mattress, empty crib

when do infants experience REM sleep?

50% of their sleep is in REM state

why is REM sleep important for infants?

stimulates brain development, learning, and sensory processing

how much sleep do children need?

11-14 hours per night, plus one daytime nap

how much sleep do adolescents need?

9.5 hours per night

what does the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend for breast-feeding?

only breast-feeding in the first 6 months, then breast-feeding an d solid food in the second 6 months

what are the benefits of breast-feeding?

ideal nutrition, immune protection, brain development, bonding

where is undernutrition more common?

low-income areas

what are the negative consequences of undernutrition?

low weight and height, delayed puberty, delayed learning, weakened immune system, low energy, negative emotional affects

what is a responsive feeding style?

when a caregiver responds to the child’s hunger/fulness cues, supporting independence while providing healthy structure

how does a responsive feeding style impact the child?

good self-regulation of hunger and fullness and a more positive relationship with food

what is a restrictive feeding style?

when a caregiver strictly controls or limits the child’s food intake, often ignoring their cues

how does a restrictive feeding style impact the child?

poor self-regulation of hunger and fullness and a more negative relationship with food

what is food neophobia?

the reluctance or refusal to try new foods

how can obesity affect physical development?

can cause strain on bones/muscles/joints, early puberty in girls, late puberty in boys

how can obesity affect cognitive/brain development?

can influence learning, memory, and impulse control

how can obesity affect social/emotional development?

can cause low self-esteem, depression, and social isolation

what are possible consequences of childhood/adolescent obesity?

type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, sleep apnea, attention difficulties, depression, anxiety

what are some current trends in nutrition choices and preferences among children?

highly processed and sugary foods, sugary beverages, social media/ads, cultural foods, and convenience

what is the ideal exercise standard for children?

2 hours per day

what is the realistic exercise standard for children?

often much less than 2 hours due to a decline in school PE programs

which environmental factors can affect physical activity?

home environment, school, community/neighborhood, cultural norms

which 5 behavioral strategies can parents employ to promote healthy living for children?

modeling healthy behavior, creating structured routines, positive reinforcement, education, involving children in decision-making

what is the dynamic systems view of motor development?

the idea that motor development occurs through the interaction of biology, environment, and perception

what is an example of the dynamic systems view of motor development?

a toddler learns to walk when their legs are strong enough, the floor is safe, and they are motivated to move

how can infant reflexes be described?

unlearned responses to stimulation that are important to survival

what are the 9 common infant reflexes?

rooting, swimming, moro, babinski, gag, stepping, sucking, grasping, blinking

what is the rooting reflex?

when you touch a baby’s cheek or mouth, they will turn their head toward the touch and open their mouth