psych-development-2025-03-06T17:15:31.979Z

Housekeeping and Exam Details

• Exam Date: Next week, for in-person students on Friday at 12 PM in the Regent Theatre.

• ID Requirements: Bring a government ID or UCard (if on phone, place it under seat for checking when submitting the exam).

• Prohibited items: No visible phones during the exam, ensure you are not in possession of it.

• Writing Instruments: Bring a pencil (Scantron exam again), an eraser, and possibly multiple pencils.

• Other Sections: Writing on the following Saturday (15th) with same setup and room - check syllabus for details.

• Exam Format: 62 questions in total, 60 counted; 20 questions each from three covered topics (Learning & Memory, Lifespan Development, Guest Lecture).

Class Announcements

• Importance of Core Research Module: Completing it is vital for passing and can impact final grades significantly. Students are encouraged to meet to discuss progress if they've received outreach.

• Guided article reviews are expected weekly until the end of the semester. Act on invites to participate in research for credit, being mindful of timing and availability.

Developmental Psychology Overview

• Topic of the Day: Lifespan Development

• Definition: Developmental psychology studies physical, cognitive, and social changes throughout the lifespan, focusing on how behavior and mental processes evolve.

• Central Questions Addressed by Developmental Psychology:

  • Continuity vs. Discontinuity: Is development quantitative (gradual) like a starfish growing larger, or qualitative (stages like caterpillar to butterfly)?

  • Sources of Development: Nature vs. Nurture debate on genetic vs. environmental influences.

  • Plasticity: The potential for development to change due to experiences or interventions.

  • Individual Differences: Understanding why people differ despite similar contexts.

  • Active vs. Passive Development: Whether children actively contribute to development or passively receive it based on external influences.

Research Designs in Developmental Psychology

• Cross-Sectional Studies: Compare different age groups at one time. Pros include quick results and broader samples but risk cohort effects (unique experiences of age groups affecting results).

• Longitudinal Studies: Follow a single group over time. Pros include tracking real developmental trends; cons involve time consumption, participant attrition, and potential historical confounds.

• Example: Analyzing social skills across ages could overlook the cohort effect of unique circumstances experienced during certain life periods (e.g., COVID-19).

Prenatal Development

Stages of Prenatal Development:

1. Germinal Period (conception to 2 weeks): The zygote forms and begins to divide.

2. Embryonic Period (3 to 8 weeks): Named an embryo, significant brain and organ development occur, sensitivity to harmful agents (teratogens) is high.

3. Fetal Period (9 weeks to birth): Now termed a fetus, rapid growth and organ functioning begins, viability established around 28 weeks.

Teratogens:

• Definition: Agents that cause harm during prenatal development (e.g., drugs, diseases).

• Impacts: Varying effects depending on timing and type of teratogen exposure, with certain periods being more vulnerable than others (e.g., embryonic period).

Physical Development and The Brain

• Brain Development: Rapid growth, synaptogenesis occurs, neurons form trillions of connections. The brain reaches 90% of its adult weight by age five.

• Milestones: Development occurs from head to foot and from the inner body outward. Individual timelines for milestones vary greatly.

Adolescence and Young Adulthood

• Adolescence: Transition from childhood to adulthood, starts with puberty. Associated with increased independence and complexity in social interactions.

• Physical Development: Peak physical capabilities seen in young adulthood (20-40) with declines thereafter (vision, hearing, reaction times).

• Lifespan and Life Expectancy: Lifespan is the maximum years possible (120+ years); life expectancy has increased significantly due to advancements in healthcare and living conditions.

Cognitive Development: Jean Piaget

Piaget's Theory:

• Schemas: Frameworks for understanding the world that undergo assimilation (fitting new info into existing schemas) or accommodation (changing schemas to fit new info).

Stages of Cognitive Development:

1. Sensorimotor Stage (0-2 years): Infants learn through sensory experience and actions (object permanence develops).

2. Preoperational Stage (2-6 years): Development of symbolic thinking and egocentrism; struggles with abstract thought.

3. Concrete Operational Stage (6-12 years): Logical reasoning about concrete events and understanding of conservation of substances.

4. Formal Operational Stage (12+ years): Ability to think abstractly and logically in hypothetical situations.

Socio-Emotional Development

Parenting Styles (Diana Baumrind):

• Authoritative: High demand, high responsiveness—best outcomes for children.

• Authoritarian: High demand, low responsiveness—less favorable outcomes, potential for lowered self-esteem.

• Permissive: Low demand, high responsiveness—can lead to immature behaviors.

• Neglectful: Low demand, low responsiveness—significant negative impact on development.

Attachment Theory (Mary Ainsworth):

• Strange Situation: Evaluates types of attachment based on child’s reaction to caregiver's presence or absence.

  • Secure Attachment: Healthy exploration and response to caregiver’s absence.

  • Insecure Attachments:

    • Avoidant: Indifference to caregiver.

    • Resistant: Clingy and resistant to comfort.

    • Disorganized: Confused or fearful behavior toward caregiver.

Development of Moral Reasoning (Kohlberg):

• Levels of Moral Reasoning:

  • Preconventional: Focus on rewards and punishment.

  • Conventional: Emphasis on societal rules and laws.

  • Postconventional: Judging based on abstract ethical principles.

Conclusion

• These various domains of development intersect and inform the broader understanding of human growth and behavior throughout the lifespan. As students prepare for examinations and discussions, considering the interplay of physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional factors will be critical.