Copy of Unit 3 Part 1_ Developmental Psychology

Unit 3: Developmental Psychology

  • Focus: Examines physical, cognitive, and social changes throughout the lifespan.

  • Key Areas: Prenatal development through adulthood, attachment, and parenting styles.

  • Course Relevance: 15-25% of exam content.

Summary Outline

  • A. Life Span Approach

  • B. Research Methods

  • C. Heredity-Environment Issues

  • D. Developmental Theories

  • E. Dimensions of Development

      1. Physical

      1. Cognitive

      1. Social

      1. Moral

  • F. Sex Roles, Sex Differences

A. Life Span Approach

  • Developmental Psychology: Studies changes throughout life

  • Emphasis on continual change in physical, social, and cognitive aspects.

B. Prenatal Development

  • Zygote Formation

    • Zygote created from fertilized egg within 2 weeks.

    • Becomes an embryo after ~10 days, attaches to the uterine wall.

    • Organ development begins and heart starts to beat.

    • A fetus develops after 9 weeks, bearing more human-like features.

  • Teratogens

    • Substances harmful to the embryo, including alcohol and drugs.

    • Can lead to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) with physical and mental abnormalities.

    • Various factors affect prenatal development like maternal illness, genetics, and environment.

C. Newborn Phases

  • Automatic Responses for Survival:

    • Moro Reflex: Startle response leads to arm movement.

    • Rooting Reflex: Baby turns head to seek nourishment.

    • Crying: Essential for meeting needs.

  • Habituation in Infants:

    • Reduced interest in repeated stimuli, prefer new stimuli.

    • Infants show a preference for human faces and sounds.

D. Infancy and Childhood

  • Brain Development at Birth: Most brain cells present, but nervous system immature.

  • Maturation: Biological growth processes lead to behavioral changes (e.g., standing before walking).

  • Universal Motor Development Sequence:

    • Rolling over, crawling, then walking.

  • Infantile Amnesia: Few memories before age 3.

Typical Development Milestones

  • 2 Months: Follows moving objects with head.

  • 9 Months: Sits alone, starts verbalization.

  • 1 Year: Walks while holding onto support.

  • 2 Years: Runs, begins simple phrases.

Attachment in Childhood

  • Importance of Caregiver Bonds for security and safety.

  • Konrad Lorenz’s Imprinting: Young creatures form attachment based on who/what they recognize.

  • Secure vs Insecure Attachment: Individuals with secure attachments show confidence and better social skills.

E. Adolescence

  • Transition from childhood to adulthood, marked by puberty.

  • Identity Formation: Exploring roles and developing self-concept.

  • James Marcia's Identity Statuses:

    • Four outcomes: Moratorium, Foreclosure, Achievement, and Diffusion.

F. Adulthood

  • Life events like marriage and parenthood shape development.

  • Aging: Increased susceptibility to illnesses, cognitive decline, impact on mobility.

G. Research Methods

  • Longitudinal Studies: Following the same individuals for long periods reveal developmental changes.

    • Advantages: Sensitive to developmental shifts.

    • Disadvantages: Time-consuming, possible dropout.

  • Cross-Sectional Studies: Comparing different age groups at a single time point.

    • Advantages: Quick to conduct.

    • Disadvantages: Potential group differences not accounted for.

H. Nature vs. Nurture

  • Heredity-Environment issues: Emphasizes the interplay between genetics and experience.

I. Developmental Theories

  • Freud: Psychosexual Development

  • Piaget: Cognitive Development Stages

  • Erikson: Psychosocial Stages

J. Conclusions on Sex Roles and Gender Differences

  • Gender characteristics influenced by biology (e.g., chromosomal differences).

  • Notable differences in aggression, social behavior, and attachment styles based on gender.