Developmental Psychology Exam 3 (copy)

What is stunting?

Stunting is when something or someone is shorter than they should be. It is tested and determined by the global average. You would need to be two standard deviations below the average (Median) to be considered below average or stunted. Stunting is pretty rare in the United States. Part of why it is not common is that in North America there are more middle class people than in other countries. Being poor in the U.S. is not the same as being poor in Ethiopia.  but pretty common in some other countries. There are some problematic correlates when it comes to stunting. Notably in Southeast Asia. 

Our brains reach 90% of full size by age 6 

What is the corpus callosum?

Connects the left and right hemisphere of the brain.

What is the cerebellum?

It controls balance and motor movements. 80% of the neurons are placed in the cerebellum.  

What is the hippocampus?

The part of the brain involved in transferring information from short to long term memory. 

What does the reticular formation do?

Controls attention 

What is infantile amnesia?

Most humans do not remember episodes from our lives from the first three years. This may be due to the immaturity of the hippocampus. 

The four hypotheses about the cause are 

1. Language

2. Hippocampal growth

3. Stress (freud) 

4. Individual vs. collectivism  

How in nurishment in developed countries?

Many children in developed countries have nutritional deficiencies despite an abundance of food. Highly processed food is the cheapest, but most unhealthy. 

The reason why people eat the way they do is because of cost (and to some extent convenience) 

The farm bill determines how the government substadizes farmers to grow one crop over another. The United States government has chosen to subsidize corn, wheat and soybeans and so that is what farmers grow in abundance. Unfortunately, these are not the healthiest crops for the human organism to live on.

What is the main cause for decreased death rate (in developing countries) for early childhood?

Reduction in illness 

What are the statistics on Left vs Right handed?

90% of people in the world are right handed and 10% are left handed in the developed nations. Some countries work to lower left handedness such as China. 

Cognitive early childhood development notes

What are the general critiques of PIaget’s theory?

1. Piaget underestimated children’s cognitive abilities

2. Development is more continuous and less stage-like 

What are the three deficits that someone in the preoperational stage would face?

1. Conservation 

2. Egocentrism

3. Classification 

What is Piaget’s Three Mountain’s Task? How does performance on this task indicate ecogentrism? 

The three mountains task is related to theory of mind. The child will be asked what they would see from a perspective on the model three mountains. If they answer correctly (or at least different from their current position) then they are not (as) egocentric.

How is cultural learning taking place in early childhood?

Early childhood is when we begin to learn culturally specific behavior patterns. Children will develop habitats based on the behavior of the people in charge in their lives or their families. Food is a key way manners are taught for children. 

Is preschool beneficial for children?

Yes, but only if they are sent to a good one. Low quality preschools are more harmful to children than waiting until kindergarten to begin their education.  Self directed learning is when children are encouraged to pursue what they are interested in and they control how their day goes. 

What/where are the most effective preschools?

They are in Japan and value collectivist values (social) The most effective preschools (when measured against common standards) emphasize social development (Cooperation, sharing etc) over subjects like reading and math. 

Note: The SCOPEs preschool study is the most famous treschool study done. It was a longitudinal study (40 years) and was done to suggest that preschool should be available and free for all children. 

The United States is one of the very few developed countries that does not provide free preschool 

What is animism?

Children will interact with animals like they are people. 

What is grammar?

Universal structure for rules of language.  

What are pragmatics?

Cultural or social language. 

Social and Emotinal early childhood development notes 

Note: Emotional regulation rises during early childhood. 

What is the prefrontal cortex?

This is the part of the brain that helps you make decisions and regulate emotions. It is not fully developed until about 25 years of age. 

Erikson’s social and emotional stages covered so far. 

Stage 1: trust vs mistrust 

Stage 2: autonomy vs shame/self-doubt (increase independence of development shame/doubt) [Erickson thought children should lean towards autonomy] 

Stage 3: Initiative vs. guilt (take initiative control/power but seeking too much power creates guilt) 

What is cultural morality?

In early childhood morality is culture bound and is primarily a “morality of self- interest” where the child considers dilemmas from a reward/punishment standpoint. 

What are gender schemas?

Social scripts created by cultural values. Early childhood is when the greateste emphasis is placed on gender socialization. Dad are more concerned that sond don’t do “girl” activities and moms don’t want their daughter to do “boy” activities. Peers also play a significant roel in gender socialization. 

What are the four types of parenting style and the dimesnions for them? 

1. Authoritative parenting

2. Authoritarian parenting 

3. Permissive parenting 

4. Disengaged parenting 

All of which are determined by demandingness vs. responsiveness. Authoritative has been proved to be the best for younger children. Authoritarian parents create less confident, creative and socially skilled children. Permissive parenting is corelated with immaturity and lack of control. Disengaged is correlated with impulsive and problematic behaviors.  

Note: PR. Skinner believed that reinforcement is stronger than punishment

Who is Margret Mead? 

Margret Mead was a gifted anthropologist who wrote extensively about non-western cultures and noticed patterns. These patterns are global in regard to social development. 

Aside from potentially minor skill deficits there are no psychological issues on only children. You do not need to have siblings to develop normal social and emotional development.