Baby Brains- 3/18/10125

Overview of Human Development

• Human development is a comprehensive field of psychology, focusing on growth from cradle to grave.

• Developmental psychology revolves around key milestones and predictable stages of human development.

• The course will emphasis on child development, as it is engaging and allows for a deeper understanding of early cognitive milestones.

• Mentions that development spans all ages, with options for more advanced courses in human development.

Importance of Research in Child Development

• There is a prominent child study laboratory available for undergraduate research experience.

• The lab is located in the basement of the site building and provides hands-on opportunities to interact with children and collect data.

• Dr. Anne Kupfer oversees the lab, which was founded by renowned psychologist Dr. Nancy Eisenberg.

• Undergraduates can gain research skills, garner letters of recommendation, and gain insight into practical applications of developmental psychology.

Developmental Theories: Jean Piaget

• Piaget is a key figure in developmental psychology, known for his stage theory of cognitive development.

• His theory emphasizes that children develop in predictable stages focusing on cognition.

• Piaget's first stage is the Sensorimotor Stage (birth to 2 years):

  • Infants interact with the world through sensory experiences (touching, grasping, mouthing).

  • Key milestone: Object permanence – understanding that objects continue to exist even when out of sight.

  • Example: Infants do not seek hidden objects because they believe they no longer exist.

Understanding Cognition in Infancy

• Recent research challenges Piaget's notion of no cognition in infancy, suggesting infants have more cognitive abilities than previously thought.

• Studies (like the pacifier study) show that infants can recognize previously felt items visually, indicating memory and cognitive processing.

• Magic tricks and object permanence experiments demonstrate infants' understanding of basic physical laws and deception.

Stages of Cognitive Development

1. Sensorimotor Stage

   • Milestones include the development of object permanence and early problem-solving skills.

   • Develops through active physical interaction with the environment.

2. Preoperational Stage (2-7 years)

   • Child begins to use symbols (words, images) and engage in pretend play.

   • Characteristics:

     • Egocentric thinking: children cannot easily see perspectives other than their own.

     • Not yet able to understand conservation—realizing quantity remains the same despite differing shapes of containers.

   • Example: A child believes taller, skinnier glass has more liquid than shorter, wider glass, despite both containing the same amount.

3. Concrete Operational Stage (7-11 years)

   • Ability to think logically about concrete events and understand the concept of conservation emerges.

   • Capable of inductive reasoning and understanding rules of operation, but thinking is still tied to concrete objects.

   • Children develop a clearer sense of perspective-taking and the ability to infer intentions of others.

4. Formal Operational Stage (12 years and up)

   • Abstract logic and reasoning ability develop.

   • Capacity for hypothetical thinking and systematic planning emerges.

   • Mature cognitive processes allow for advanced problem solving and consideration of multiple perspectives in complex scenarios.

Theory of Mind

• Development of theory of mind involves realizing that people have different thoughts, feelings, and perspectives.

• Research highlights that young children often fail to recognize that others can have knowledge different from their own (egocentrism).

• Band-aid study and juice box study demonstrate growth in understanding perspective-taking and intentions as children age.

• Children begin demonstrating social awareness and moral reasoning as they approach later stages of development.

Moral Development in Infants

• New findings suggest even infants have innate preferences for prosocial behavior and a sense of morality.

• Studies indicate babies can differentiate between helpful and unhelpful actions and preferentially respond to characters displaying kindness.

• Research by Karen Wynn at the Yale Baby Lab explores how these preferences manifest as early as three months of age.

Bias and Society in Development

• Infants display an inherent tendency towards bias based on trivial similarities (e.g., food preference), raising questions about the roots of social bias.

• Despite these innate tendencies, societal influences can moderate these biases as children grow older.

• Education and social interactions play a critical role in shaping moral understanding and social behavior.

Conclusion

• The complex interplay of cognitive, emotional, and social development reflects both innate human tendencies and the impact of the environment.

• Understanding these processes can provide insight into fostering positive development in children and addressing biases inherent in human nature.