Unit 3 Development and Learning

Module 3: Development & Learning in AP Psychology

Page 1: Introduction to Developmental Psychology

• Developmental psychology studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the lifespan.

Page 2: Learning Target Checklist

• Enduring themes in developmental psychology: Nature vs. nurture, continuity vs. stages, stability vs. change.

• Research design methods: Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies.

• Physical development: Impact on behavior and mental processes from prenatal stages to adulthood.

• Sex and gender: Influence on socialization and aspects of development.

• Cognitive development theories: Implementation in behavior and mental processes.

• Language and communication: Development processes and key components.

• Learning processes: Classical conditioning, operant conditioning, social learning, and cognitive factors.

Page 3: Module Overview

• Themes & Methods: Explores the themes of developmental psychology and research methodologies used in the field.

Page 4: Major Issues in Developmental Psychology

• Nature vs. Nurture: Interaction of genetic inheritance and experience in development.

• Continuity vs. Stages: Gradual vs. abrupt changes in development.

• Stability vs. Change: Persistence of traits and changes through aging.

Page 5: Research Methods

• Longitudinal Studies: Follow and retest the same group over time.

• Cross-Sectional Studies: Compare people of different ages at a single point.

Page 6: Module—Physical Development

• Discusses critical physical development events at various stages, including prenatal and postnatal development.

Page 7: Prenatal Development Chart

• Periods of Development:

  • Ovum: Weeks 1-2.

  • Embryo: Weeks 3-8 (major structural defects possible).

  • Fetus: Weeks 9-38 (major functional defects and development).

Page 8: Learning in the Womb

• Preliminary insights into fetal learning capabilities and memory formation during gestation.

Page 9: Influences on Prenatal Development

• Teratogens: Agents causing harm to the fetus, including illnesses, medications, drugs, and environmental factors.

  • Examples: Zika virus, genetic mutations, hormone dysregulation, poor diet, stress, and exposure to harmful substances.

  • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Physical and cognitive abnormalities from alcohol exposure.

Page 10: Physical Effects of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

• Indicators of fetal alcohol syndrome displayed in newborns, including microcephaly and specific facial features.

Page 11: Common Teratogens and Their Effects

• List of Teratogenic Agents:

  • Rubella: Blindness and heart defects.

  • Alcohol: Fetal alcohol syndrome.

  • Nicotine: Miscarriage risks and developmental issues.

  • Caffeine: Risk of miscarriage or low birth weight.

Page 12: Fertility and Birthrate Statistics

• Current global birth rate and miscarriage prevalence. Factors influencing fertility include stress, diet, genes, environment, and age.

Page 13: Newborn Reflexes

• Automatic Reflexes: Essential responses for survival, such as rooting, sucking, and grasping. Habituation is also noted.

Page 14: Reflexes in Newborns

• Table of Newborn Reflexes: Eye blink, rooting, sucking, swimming, and their functions in infant survival.

Page 15: Maturation

• Maturation: Biological growth processes influencing behavior changes independent of experience.

Page 16: Critical Periods

• Critical Periods: Optimal times for acquiring certain skills; lack of exposure results in difficulties later.

Page 17: Critical Period Videos

• Multimedia resources related to critical periods in development.

Page 18: Motor Development

• Universal sequence of motor skills, with emerging physical coordination as infants exercise their growing muscles.

Page 19: Depth Perception

• Visual Cliff Experiment: Analyzes infants' understanding of depth perception through non-verbal cues.

Page 20: Konrad Lorenz & Imprinting

• Imprinting: The process in which young animals form attachments during critical periods, particularly concerning their caretakers.

Page 21: The Teenage Years

• Adolescence: Transitional period involving physiological and emotional changes.

Page 22: Primary vs. Secondary Sex Characteristics

• Hormonal Changes: Estrogen and testosterone trigger physical changes during puberty, affecting growth patterns and traits.

Page 23: Onset of Puberty

• Key markers for puberty onset: menarche for girls at age 12.5, spermarche for boys at age 14.

Page 24: Changes in Middle Adulthood

• Physical declines including muscular strength, sensory abilities, and hormone levels affecting sexual activity.

Page 25: Late Adulthood Changes

• Discussion on the declining immune system and sensory perceptions in late adulthood.

Page 26: Elements of Aging

• Effects of aging on health, cognitive processes, and the benefits of exercise in mitigating decline.

Page 27: Successful Aging Factors

• Biological, Psychological, and Social-Cultural Influences: Factors promoting successful aging include genetics, mental outlook, and support networks.

Page 28: Module on Gender & Sexual Orientation

• Exploration of distinctions defining sex vs. gender and their implications.

Page 29: Understanding Sex vs. Gender

• The definition of sex derived from biological traits, and gender as the social roles associated.

Page 30: Module on Cognitive Development

• Focus on cognitive development processes, informed by historical theories.

Page 31: Jean Piaget's Contributions

• Piaget’s research emphasized children's systematic cognitive growth and adaptation through exploration.

Page 32: Piaget's Schema

• Definition of schemas and the use of assimilation and accommodation in cognitive development.

Page 33: Organizing Cognitive Development

• Analyses how intellectual progression is shaped by experiences through development stages.

Page 34: Piaget's Learning Process

• Practical example of schema adaptation through interaction with the environment.

Page 35: Stages of Cognitive Development

• Piaget’s four stages: Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, and Formal Operational.

Page 36: Piaget's Theory Summary

• Overview of Piaget’s model of cognitive development and its applications.

Page 37: Sensorimotor Stage

• Early cognitive stage marked by learning through sensory experiences and lack of object permanence until 6-8 months.

Page 38: Preoperational Stage

• Characteristics include egocentrism, lack of reversible operations, and imaginative play.

Page 39: Transition to Cognitive Growth

• Characteristics of the evolution of children's cognitive thought processes.

Page 40: Concrete Operational Stage

• Logical thinking develops using tangible objects; mastery of conservation concepts emerges.

Page 41: Formal Operational Stage

• Development of abstract reasoning abilities and hypothesis evaluation emerges by adolescence.

Page 42: Summary of Cognitive Stages

• Overview of the age range and key milestones associated with each cognitive development stage.

Page 43: Lev Vygotsky's Contribution

• Importance of social interactions in cognitive development; introduction of "scaffolding" concept.

Page 44: Zone of Proximal Development

• Vygotsky's idea of optimal learning environments between independent and guided learning experiences.

Page 45: Learning Development Process

• Contrast of learning methods based on Vygotsky’s and Piaget’s theories.

Page 46: Factors in Learning and Development

• Comparisons between Vygotsky’s social perspective and Piaget’s cognitive approach to learning.

Page 47: Intelligence Studies

• Discusses research findings on intelligence traits, revealing the balance of crystallized and fluid intelligence over time.

Page 48: Understanding Language

• Definition of language and its purpose in human communication.

Page 49: Language Development Theories

• Overview of Noam Chomsky’s Nativist, B.F. Skinner’s Behaviorist, and Vygotsky’s Sociocultural perspectives.

Page 50: Language Elements

• Breakdown of components of language such as phonemes, morphemes, semantics, and grammar.

Page 51: Language Development Timeline

• Stages in developmental language acquisition from infancy through early childhood behaviors.

Page 52: Early Language Skills

• Sequential stages of language development from 0-2 years.

Page 53: Language Acquisition Process

• Infant language development progresses through phases of sound recognition and speech formation.

Page 54: A World Without Sound

• Description of how visual communication systems could replace spoken language in different contexts.

Page 55: Animal Communication

• Evidence of animal thought and communication forms reflecting cultural learned behaviors.

Page 56: Module Social-Emotional Development

• Exploration of emotional bonds within attachment theory frameworks.

Page 57: Ecological Systems Theory

• Bronfenbrenner’s framework explaining how environmental systems overlap to influence development.

Page 58: Parenting Styles by Diana Baumrind

• Diverse parenting approaches categorized based on responsiveness and demand levels.

Page 59: Effects of Parenting Styles

• Describe how various parenting styles can influence child behavior and social outcomes.

Page 60: Origins of Attachment

• Discusses attachment's importance for infants in social referencing with caregiver presence.

Page 61: Harry Harlow's Monkey Experiment

• Presentation of findings on attachment and contact comfort from surrogate mother experiments.

Page 62: Ainsworth's Strange Situation Experiment

• Method for measuring infant attachment styles through separation and reunion scenarios.

Page 63: Temperament Defined

• Overview of individual differences in emotional reactivity and behavioral patterns present from infancy.

Page 64: Culture’s Impact on Parenting

• Cultural influences on values, beliefs, and child-rearing practices indicative of distinct parenting styles.

Page 65: Formation of Social Connections

• Concepts on parallel and pretend play in child development and implications for socialization.

Page 66: Social Clock Concept

• Description of how social events dictate progression throughout various adulthood stages.

Page 67: Emerging Adulthood

• Define emerging adulthood, characterized by young adult transitional experiences of independence.

Page 68: Parent & Peer Relationships

• Examination of how parental influences and peer relationships change during adolescence.

Page 69: Erik Erikson & Psychosocial Development

• Stages of psychosocial tasks defined by Erikson, focusing on challenges at different life stages.

Page 70: Summary of Erikson's Stages

• Breakdown of Erikson's eight stages reflecting critical psychosocial tasks across the lifespan.

Page 71: Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

• Analysis of long-term impacts of childhood traumas on emotional and social development.

Page 72: Identity Formation

• The progression from individual self-exploration to integrated identity during adolescence.

Page 73: James Marcia's Identity Status Theory

• Identification of four identity statuses related to commitment and exploration implications for adolescents.

Page 74: Biological and Cognitive Influences on Development

• Discussion of biological and cognitive parameters shaping learning and conditioning processes.

Page 75: Classical Conditioning Overview

• Foundational definitions and processes pertaining to classical conditioning and associative learning.

Page 76: Pavlov's Experiments

• Initial studies showcasing the response patterns in the conditioning of dogs via Pavlov’s research.

Page 77: Classical Conditioning Principles

• Key terms such as stimulus generalization, discrimination, and response extinction outlined.

Page 78: Little Albert's Case Study

• Watson’s study demonstrating the conditioning of fear responses in children towards stimuli.

Page 79: Biological Constraints on Learning

• Examination of natural predispositions affecting learning capabilities and their connection to survival instincts.

Page 80: Operant Conditioning Defined

• Describestheories and practices detailing how consequences affect repetitive behaviors.

Page 81: B.F. Skinner and the Skinner Box

• Focus on Skinner’s methodologies and findings surrounding reinforcement and behavior modification.

Page 82: Reinforcement Types Defined

• Reinforcement concepts established, including positive and negative reinforcement with everyday examples.

Page 83: Schedules of Reinforcement

• Analyze the effectiveness of continuous vs. partial reinforcement schedules on learned behavior acquisition.

Page 84: Punishment Overview

• Definitions of positive and negative punishment and their effects on behavior modification.

Page 85: Methods for Behavior Modification

• Review of strategies such as shaping, reinforcement, and punishment to influence behavioral changes.

Page 86: Social Learning Theory

• Principles of observational learning examined through Bandura’s Bobo doll experiment outcomes.

Page 87: Constraints on Learning and Behavior

• Discusses the effects of cognitive processes on learning capabilities beyond behavioral responses.

Page 88: Prosocial and Antisocial Effects of Observational Learning

• Investigation into how modeling affects individual behavior negatively or positively across generations.

Page 89: The Impact of Media on Behavior

• Review of studies linking exposure to violent media with subsequent aggression and desensitization effects.

Page 90: Biological and Cognitive Influences on Learning

• Summary of how cognitive expectations shape associative learning while addressing biological constraints.

Page 91: Social Power & Connectedness

• Exploration of gender differences in social interactions and their implications in developmental contexts.

Page 92: Autism Spectrum Disorder Overview

• Insight into the prevalence of ASD and associated symptoms alongside diagnostic trends.

Page 93: Moral Reasoning Theory by Lawrence Kohlberg

• Overview of stages of moral reasoning as outlined by Kohlberg, linking morality and character development.

Page 94: The Heinz Dilemma Scenario

• Application of Kohlberg’s moral reasoning framework through a classic ethical dilemma analysis.

Page 95: Biofeedback Mechanisms

• Examination of biofeedback systems and their implications for physiological and psychological adjustments.

Page 96: Cognitive Perspectives on Motivation

• Delve into intrinsic and extrinsic motivations affecting individual pursuits and behaviors.

Page 97: Sense of Control in Development

• Discuss coping methods and strategies individuals engage along with the importance of personal power.

Page 98: Brain Regions and Language Processing

• Illustrate key brain areas responsible for language comprehension and production, including aphasia types.

Page 99: Control Mechanisms in Behavior

• Definition and analysis of problem-focused and emotion-focused coping styles.

Page 100: Growth of the Brain During Development

• Delve into the growth patterns of neural networks during critical developmental phases in the womb.

Page 101: Environmental Influences on Brain Development

• Highlight how interactions with stimulating environments foster neuronal growth and connection development.

Page 102: Memory Development Patterns

• Insight into the recollection abilities of early childhood and the gradual loss of infantile amnesia.

Page 103: Effects of Early Puberty

• Characterize consequences of early onset of puberty regarding social and personal development in teens.

Page 104: Cognitive Development Changes in Adolescence

• Discussion on neuronal pruning, rational development, and reasoning skills in adolescents.

Page 105: Sexual Development and Gender Identity

• Differences in gender expression and development experiences influenced by biological anomalies.

Page 106: Aggression and Gender Differences

• Examine how physical and relational aggression exhibit through gendered behaviors stemming from physiological differences.

Page 107: Ethics in Gender Behavior Studies

• Discourse on gender role expectations and societal constructions inferring behavioral understanding.

Page 108: Gender Expression and Identity Formation

• Definitions concerning gender identity, gender expression, and current societal views on non-binary statuses.

Page 109: Sexual Orientation Basics

• Outline of sexual orientation types and the faculties influencing their development across various biological and cultural contexts.

Page 110: Alfred Kinsey's Research Impact

• The breadth of Kinsey’s contributions to understanding human sexuality, reshaping societal perceptions of sexual behavior.

Page 111: The Physiology of Sexual Behavior

• Investigate the interplay of hormones in driving sexual behavior across an individual’s lifespan.

Page 112: The Psychology of Sexual Behavior

• Insight into how cognitive processes influence sexual dynamics and outcomes based on societal constructs.

Page 113: STIs and Sexual Health Risks

• Discuss the implications of STI awareness, prevention methods, and societal knowledge surrounding sexual health.

Page 114: Producing Variations in Sexual Behavior

• Examine factors like impulsivity and lifestyle choices impacting teen sexual behaviors and attitudes.

Page 115: Identifying Factors Predicting Abstinence

• Illustrate determinants correlating high intelligence, religious commitment, and family structure to rates of sexual initiation.

Page 116: Biological and Behavioral Indicators of Identity

• Explain the varied biological and social markers influencing one’s behavioral and identity facets.

Page 117: Critiques of Piaget’s Cognitive Development Theory

• Summarization of concerns surrounding child developmental timelines and the age of cognitive maturity.

Page 118: Roots of Moral Action

• Discusses how moral reasoning builds upon intuitive feelings and the essential self-control required for principled behavior.

Page 119: Cognitive Decline Across the Lifespan

• Analysis of cognitive changes, including Alzheimer's disease effects on memory and reasoning.

Page 120: The Case Study of Genie

• Review Genie’s story to explore critical periods of language acquisition and the importance of social interaction in linguistic development.