Rathus_PSYCH_7e_PPT_CH09

Chapter Overview

• Chapter Title: The Voyage Through the Lifespan

• Author: Spencer A. Rathus

• Edition: 7th Edition

• Context: Educational material from the field of psychology

Icebreaker Discussion

• Break into small groups and discuss:

  • Identify a long-held belief from childhood still relevant today.

  • Analyze whether people can learn from their mistakes and justify your opinion.

Chapter Objectives

• By the end of this chapter, you should be able to:

  • 09.01 Describe the events of prenatal development and the role of sex hormones.

  • 09.02 Describe physical development of children.

  • 09.03 Describe cognitive development of children.

  • 09.04 Describe social and emotional development of children.

  • 09.05 Describe the development of adolescents in multiple domains (physical, cognitive, moral, social, emotional).

  • 09.06 Describe features of emerging adulthood.

  • 09.07 Describe the development in adults across various domains.

Prenatal Development: Section 9-1

• Stages of Prenatal Development:

  • Germinal Stage:

    • Period from conception to implantation.

    • Zygote divides and implants in the uterine wall.

  • Embryonic Stage:

    • Duration: implantation to the 8th week.

    • Major organ systems formed; head grows first.

    • Organ growth precedes extremities.

  • Fetal Stage:

    • Starts at the beginning of the third month until birth.

    • Characterized by movements, maturation, and increase in size.

Understanding Embryo Nourishment

• Nourishment begins only after implantation during the germinal stage.

• Exchange of nutrients and wastes between the embryo and mother through the placenta, connected by the umbilical cord.

Knowledge Check

• At which point does an embryo begin to receive nourishment from its mother?: Answer: b. In the germinal stage.

Childhood Physical Development: Section 9-2

• Perceptual Development:

  • Newborns can track moving light within two days post-birth.

  • Three-month-olds can discriminate colors.

  • Infants can measure visual preferences; response to depth cues when crawling begins.

  • Newborns demonstrate auditory preferences and can discriminate odors.

Childhood Cognitive Development: Section 9-3

• Jean Piaget’s Cognitive Development Theory:

  • Key Concepts:

    • Assimilation: Using existing cognitive structures to respond to new stimuli.

    • Accommodation: Adjusting cognitive structures to incorporate new information.

  • Piaget’s Stages:

    • Sensorimotor (birth - 2 years): Coordination of sensorial and motor actions.

    • Preoperational (2 - 7 years): Use of symbols and egocentric thought processes.

    • Concrete Operational (7 - 11 years): Logical operations and understanding of conservation.

Lawrence Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development

• Stages of Development:

  • Preconventional Level: Focus on consequences of actions.

  • Conventional Level: Conformity to societal standards.

  • Postconventional Level: Adherence to universal ethical principles.

Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Development Stages

• Key Stages:

  • Trust vs. Mistrust

  • Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

  • Initiative vs. Guilt

  • Industry vs. Inferiority

  • Ego Identity vs. Role Diffusion in adolescence.

Parenting Styles

• Authoritative: Balanced rules and warmth; promotes self-reliance.

• Permissive: Few rules with high warmth; less supervision.

• Uninvolved: Minimal involvement with children.

Adolescence: Section 9-5

• Developmental Characteristics:

  • Defined by puberty onset, brain development, and social interactions.

  • Peak physical capabilities typically occur in early adulthood.

Emerging Adulthood: Section 9-6

• Development Stages:

  • Exploration of identity, associated instability and self-focus (ages 18-25).

Adulthood: Section 9-7

• Developmental Phases:

  • Early Age: Peak physical health.

  • Middle Age: Gradual decline with significant life changes.

  • Late Age: Notable cognitive and physical health declines, but creativity may persist.

Summary of Key Learnings

• Prenatal development occurs in distinct stages (germinal, embryonic, fetal).

• Cognitive understanding through Piaget and moral reasoning via Kohlberg.

• Parenting styles significantly impact child development.

• Adolescence is a transformative period, leading into emerging adulthood and adult life stages.