Psychology 3.1/3.2

Development, and the field of Developmental Psychology, study the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social changes that occur as we age. What are some themes that you can see across different ages? Prenatal Development Early Childhood Development Middle Childhood Development Adolescent Development Early Adult Development Middle Adult Development Older Adult Development Developmental Psychology is concerned with BOTH chronological development, and thematic development. The major themes that stretch across our lifespan that we will touch on are: Nature vs. Nurture Continuity vs. Discontinuous Stability vs. Change Nature vs. Nurture Are we shaped by our genetics, or our environment? Nature Biological influences (genes, DNA) Nurture Environmental influences (family, culture, education) Continuity vs. Discontinuous We all know, have experienced and seen the fact that change occurs over time in life. Is this change/development in one’s life continuous or discontinuous? In other words, is a person’s development a gradual accumulation of knowledge, behaviors, and skills, or is it more of an abrupt change through stages? Do we have sudden breakthroughs of growth and development, or is it gradual? What is the scale of development that we are using to measure? Stability vs. Change Do our early traits that define us remain the same, or do we change over time? If someone is shy, does this shyness trait remain stable throughout life? Or does the degree to which someone is shy change over time? Do people that we once knew and were close with seem different after a long period of time, or do they seem like the same person you became friends with so long ago? What is the extent to which we CAN change these things about ourselves? Cross Sectional Studies Type of observational study where you collect data from many different individuals at a single point in time. Longitudinal Studies Type of correlational study in which the same individuals are repeatedly examined over time in order to detect changes that have occurred through the passage of time. It is very important for women to not consume alcohol, drugs, tobacco, or anything like that while pregnant. The fetus receives nutrients and oxygen from the mother, and the placenta screens out many substances that can be harmful. Even still, some slip past. Teratogens Agents, such as viruses and drugs, can damage an embryo or fetus. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Severe condition that results from the pregnant mother drinking alcohol during the pregnancy. The fetus receives oxygen and nutrients from the placenta, so ANY alcohol in the bloodstream reach the fetus. This has an epigenetic effect, leaving changes on the DNA that are abnormal. Stunts development, physically, cognitively, and socially. There are typical facial features associated with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, such as small eyes, and a thin upper lip. Can cause learning disabilities, and problems knowing how to behave socially. Other factors Stress Malnourishment Maternal illness Critical Period/Sensitive Period A specific window of time in early development, where a child’s brain is extremely receptive to external stimuli. It is critical that the child learns important skills during this time. Language, vision, attachment to primary caregivers. Because the brain is so sensitive during this time, the person’s future can be aided or harmed during this time. Access to a proper environment during this time greatly impacts future development. Things like interactive learning, being read to, having caring adults present, all lead to rich development. In contrast, if a child is not given proper attention, nutrition, etc, the child may have difficulty growing up, as the brain may have to focus on survival rather than learning and building relationships. Imprinting Phenomenon in which animals form a strong bond with the first animal they see after being born. Sometimes, the animal will imprint on an inanimate object. The process of bonding is more complex in humans, and is not as simple as this. What are newborns able to do naturally after birth, and what do they need to learn to do? These physical developments act as milestones to track development of the child. Newborn babies have many reflexes that help them survive. A few of them are the “startle” reflex, when a babies arms and legs stretch out and then clench up when startles, or the “grasping” reflex. Reflex-Rooting When a babies mouth, or corner of their mouth is touched, they will turn towards the touch and open their mouth, looking for food. Visual Cliff Apparatus A test designed to see if babies have depth perception or not. A baby would crawl across a platform, and there would be a glass covered portion of the platform, indicating a steep drop. The experiment was to see if the babies would crawl across the “drop” or not. A potential issue with this experiment is that the child may see the drop, but they have not yet learned the consequences of falling. Habituation Decreased responsiveness with repeated stimulation. Babies are wired to respond to social responsiveness. When shown the two images on the right, an overwhelming majority gave more attention to the left most image, the one closer resembling a face. Maturation The orderly sequence of biological growth. Babies will rock before they crawl before they walk. We see the most rapid brain growth from the ages of 3 to 6. The part of the brain involved in rational planning is developed. Fine motor skills The use of small muscles, mostly in your hands, used for precise movement. These skills take a while to develop. Gross motor skills The use of large muscles and whole-body movements. Example: walking Adolescence The transition period from childhood to adulthood, spanning from puberty to independence. This time can be quite different among different people, and among different cultures. In western cultures, the emphasis on individualism along with the lengthened time of adolescence can cause the teenage years to be difficult. In the US, 3 in 4 friendships that began in 7th grade will dissolve by 8th grade. In other cultures, adolescence is looked back on as an important time of learning and growing without the responsibilities of adulthood. How do you feel about the balance of freedom in your teenage years? Until Puberty, your brain cells are constantly building connections. Once Puberty hits, your brain will begin the process of pruning. Pruning is the process of selectively getting rid of unnecessary or unused neurons. The most important change in the brain of teenages is the development of the prefrontal cortex. The development of the prefrontal cortex lags behind the limbic system, making it difficult to regulate emotions. This leads to teenagers engaging in risky behavior. Teenage brains are biased towards immediate rewards. Puberty Period of physical maturation, in which a person reaches sexual maturity and is essentially able to reproduce. Marked by hormonal changes, leading to changes in mood. Adolescent Growth Spurt A relatively short period of time during adolescence, in which there is a rapid change in height and weight. A part of the puberty process. Menarche The first menstrual period a female experiences. Spermarche The first time a male experiences ejaculation, marking the start of male sexual maturity. Primary and Secondary Sex Characteristics Primary Physical traits directly involved in reproduction The defining feature in distinguishing between males and females. Secondary Physical features that typically distinguish sexes, but are not directly involved in reproduction. Early Adulthood Generally 20’s and 30’s Middle Adulthood 40’s to about 65 Late Adulthood 65 until… Physical changes are more difficult to generalize throughout adulthood rather than childhood. Physically ability, strength, reaction time, mobility, flexibility, and cardiac output, declines imperceptibly beginning in your mid-twenties. Physical decline speeds up rapidly towards the end of middle adulthood. Before this, physicality has more to do with exercise habits than age. During middle adulthood there is a rapid decline in fertility, especially for women. Women around the age of 50 go through menopause. Men experience a drop in fertility as well. Menopause The natural process when a woman stops menstruation. Old age also takes a toll on several other functions: Our senses become less sensitive. Vision rapidly declines in late adulthood. Our lens becomes less transparent, reducing the amount of light getting to the retina. Our overall health takes a toll. The body’s immune system weakens, making older adults more susceptible to life threatening illnesses. Because of the years of building up antibodies however, older adults are much less susceptible to getting the common cold, or the flu. The brain slows down rapidly. Brain regions begin to atrophy as we age leading to problems with memory among other things. The prefrontal cortex also begins to atrophy, leading to older adults to begin making more impulsive decisions. This is why grandparents sometimes say some crazy things at family gatherings. Exercise slows aging both mentally and physically. Adults who exercise consistently show faster mental processing speed than those who do not. Exercise can slow progression of Alzheimer’s. Exercise also stimulates Neurogenesis, the development of new brain cells, while simultaneously reducing brain shrinkage. Physical activity is important.