Lifespan Development Chapters 1-3

Science of Human Development

Studies change over time - using the scientific method

Nature

traits each individual inherits genetically from parents (at conception)

Nuture

All environmental influences that affect development

Equity

Allow everyone the same experience even if they need to have different treatment (within reason)

Epigenetics

Study of how the environment impacts genes and genetic expression

Differential susceptibility

Idea that people vary in sensitivity (dandelion vs. orchid)

Critical period

When a particular type of development must happen if it is ever going to happen

Sensitive period

When a certain type of development is most likely to happen, although it could still happen later (when development should happen or would happen best)

Ecological-systems approach

People should be considered in all the contexts and interactions that constitute a life

Urie Bronfenbrenner

Developed the ecological-systems approach

Microsystems

Impact an individual directly (family, classroom, friends)

Exosystems

Impact one away from microsystem and filters down to impact the individual (school system, mass media, community)

Macrosystems

Large, all encompassing systems (economic patterns, social conditions, cultural values)

Chronosystem

Time of when an impact is being studied

Mesosystems

How each layer of systems impact one another

Cohort

Specific age group that experiences the world climate together

Cohort Effect

specific age groups develop habits based on what they have experienced in the world (Covid, Great Depression)

Peer group

Those in direct contact of you

Socio-economic status (SES)

A person’s social class that determines their opportunities (education, job, wealth, access to healthcare)

Difference = Deficit Error

Just because people do things differently does not make one way wrong

Culture

The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a large group of people and is passed socially from one generation to the next

Ethnic group

people whose ancestors were born in the same region and is determined by ancestry

Jean Piaget

Cognitive Development with 4 stages (sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational)

Sigmund Freud

Pyschosexual development with 5 stages (oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital)

Erik Erikson

Psychosocial development with 8 stage (Trust vs. Mistrust, Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt, Initiative vs. Guilt, Industry vs. Inferiority, Identity vs. Role Confusion, Intimacy vs. Isolation, Generativity vs. Stagnation, Ego Integrity vs. Despair.)

Social Learning

Albert Bandura (Bobo doll experiment)

Classical Conditioning

Ivan Pavlov (Pavlov’s Dogs)

Operant Conditioning

B.F. Skinner (Rats in Skinner’s box with positive and negative reinforcement)

Scientific Observation

watching and recording participants

Lab study

Controlled environment and can question participants

Field research

Environment cannot be impacted, but people act more naturally

Coding

Making sense of the observational data collected

Diad

Relationship between two people

Independent variable

Influences the dependent variable and is tested by the results of the dependent variable

Dependent variable

changes due to the independent variable

Cross-sectional research

People differ in age, but are similar in other important characteristics (common and fast)

Longitudinal research

Same individuals are followed over time and their development is repeatedly assessed (expensive and long)

Attrition

The drop out rate of participants in a longitudinal research study

Cross-sequential research

Combining cross-sectional and longitudinal studies (Every time longitudinal data is collected, a new longitudinal study is started from the beginning)

Correlation Coefficient

A number between +1 and -1 that indicates the degree of relationship between 2 variables

Deoxyribonucleic acid

DNA

Chromosome

One of the 46 molecules of DNA

Gene

The basic unit for the transmission of heredity

Genome

The full set of genes

Polygenic

A trait that is influenced by more than one gene (Ex: hair)

Multifactorial

A trait that is affected by many factors, both genetic and environmental in expression (Ex: intelligence)

10 Days

After conception, there are about 10 days before implantation occurs

Monozygotic

One zygote splits within hours (identical twins)

Dizygotic

Two eggs are fertilized (fraternal twins)

Conjoined Twins

Zygote does not fully split

Allele

A variation that makes a gene different

Genotype

An organism’s entire genetic inheritance or genetic potential

Phenotype

The observable traits

X-linked

Refers to a gene carried on the x chromosome (Males are more likely to show these conditions)

Gamete

A reproductive cell

Dizygotic Female

Female releases two eggs in one cycle

Implantation

The process beginning about 10 days after conception

Germinal Stage

First two weeks of pregnancy

Embryonic Stage

Weeks 2-9 of pregnancy

Fetal Stage

Weeks 9-38 (or delivery) of pregnancy

Age of Viability

Week 22; the fetus has a chance of surviving if born

Germinal stage vulnerabilty

60% of developing organisms fail to grow or implant

Embryonic stage vulnerability

20% of all embryos are aborted spontaneously

Fetal stage vulnerability

5% of all fetuses are aborted spontaneously

Birth vulnerability

31% of all zygotes grow and survive to become a newborn

Teratogen

Harmful agent to a pregnancy (drugs, alcohol, radiation, loud noise, bacteria, extreme jostling)

Doula

Birth assistant, not medically trained, advocate for the mother’s comfort

Epidural

Shot given in the spine to numb the nerves below the waist

Cesarean Section

C-section, incision through the abdomen to deliver the baby; should only be used in emergencies

Birth Positions

Stool/crouching, table, water

Stool/Crouching Birth

Pros: Gravity assisted, natural position

Cons: Can not have epidural, doctor can’t see what’s happening

Water Birth

Pros: Relaxes muscles, gravity assisted, slower transition for baby

Cons: Can not have epidural, higher risk for infection, doctor can not see what is happening

Table Birth

Pros: Can have epidural, can have all the monitors, allows doctors to see what is happening

Cons: Not gravity assisted

Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW)

Less than 3lbs, 5oz

Extremely Low Birth Weight (ELBW)

Less than 2lbs, 3oz

Reasons for LBW

Premature or small for gestational age (SGA)

Apgar Scale

Assessment given at 1 and 5 minutes after birth; assesses appearance, pulse, grimace, airways, and reflexes

Baby Pulse

rapid and consistent

Newborn Appearance

Not purple

Newborn respiration

Clear airways, crying

Newborn Grimace

Upset appearance

Newborn relfexes

reflex and muscle tone

Moro Relfex

startle reflex in babies

Palmar reflex

Hand or foot closes if palm is pushed on

Babinski Relfex

Fanning of toes

Rooting reflex

Touch on baby’s cheek and they turn their head to suck

Average Birth Weight

7lbs

2 Year olds

Shed baby fat, visible neck, flatter feet, dimples at knuckles

1 Year olds

Baby fat, not very visible neck, rounder feet

Frontal Lobe

Decision making

Parietal Lobe

Determines where the body is in space

Temporal Lobe

auditory

Occipital Lobe

Vision

Perception

Sensation + experience; The mental processing of sensory information when the brain interprets a sensation

Sensation

The response of the sensory system when it detects a stimulus

REM sleep

Rapid eye movement sleep, a stage of sleep characterized by flickering eyes behind closed lids, dreaming, and rapid brain waves

Cortex

The outer layer of the brain in humans and other mammals

Neurons

Nerve cells in the central nervous system, especially in the brain

Percentile

A point on a ranking scale of 0 to 100

Binocular vision

The ability to focus the two eyes in a coordinated manner in order to see one image. Begins at about 14 weeks