3.1-2a Prenatal, Infancy,and Childhoid
Developmental Psychology
Studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span
Major Developmental Debates
Nature vs Nurture
Continuity vs Stages
Stability vs Change
Prenatal Development
Zygote: conception to 2 weeks
Embryo: 2 to 9 weeks
Fetus: 9 weeks to birth
Placenta
Provides nourishment & oxygen to embryo & fetus
Teratogens (“monster make”)
Chemicals & viruses that cause harm during prenatal development
Alcohol, sickness, medications
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
Physical & cognitive abnormalities caused by a pregnant woman’s drinking
Rooting Reflex
Infant’s cheek is touched → turn their head → open their mouth → root for a nipple
Habituation
Decreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation
Maturation
Biological growth processes that enable orderly changes in behavior
Motor Development
Roll → Sit → Crawl → Walk → Run
Infantile Amnesia
No memories before 3 ½ years old because of lacking brain maturation