3.1 & 3.2A

Bellringer Discussion Self-Assessment (Scale 1-10): Reflect on personal development from conception to adulthood.

Unit 3: Development Overview of Developmental Psychology

• Field of Study: Examines changes in human growth over the lifespan.

Themes and Methods in Developmental Psychology

• Themes:

  • Gradual vs. Abrupt Changes: Differentiates between continuous development (like an escalator) and stage-like changes (like ladder rungs).

  • Nature vs. Nurture Debate: Explores genetics (nature) versus environment/experiences (nurture) in shaping behavior and traits.

  • Stability vs. Change: Investigates traits that persist or evolve over time.

• Methods:

  • Longitudinal Studies: Research following the same individuals across time (e.g., ages 5 to 18).

  • Cross-Sectional Studies: Research comparing different age groups at one point (e.g., ages 5, 10, 15).

  • Experimental Method: Examines if researchers manipulate variables for data collection.

Physical Development: Prenatal, Infancy & Childhood

• Prenatal Development Stages: Zygote → Embryo → Fetus

• Impact of Teratogens: Harmful substances (e.g., alcohol) can cause developmental issues (e.g., fetal alcohol syndrome).

Infants' Abilities and Development

• Newborn Abilities: Equipped with reflexes (e.g., rooting reflex).

• Memory Processing: Infants can form early memories.

• Brain Development:

  • Maturation: Biological growth; brain grows rapidly after birth.

  • Critical Periods: Essential stimulus exposure for normal development (e.g., language).

• Motor Development:

  • Skills:

    • Fine Motor Skills: Small muscle movements (e.g., writing).

    • Gross Motor Skills: Large movements (e.g., walking).

• Developmental Timeline: Babies typically walk by 12-15 months.

Brain Maturation & Memory

• Infantile Amnesia: Lack of recollection of early memories due to hippocampus and frontal lobe maturation.

• Mobile Kicking Experiment: Shows infant memory by recognizing previous mobiles.

Review Questions

• Teratogens: Exposure to harmful agents (e.g., rubella) can have lifelong effects.

• Infant Toys Design: Use face-like images to boost social responsiveness.

• Maturation Examples: Concept illustrations (e.g., walking before running).