Unit 8: Developmental Psychology

Module 1: Infant Development

What is the course of prenatal development?

A. Prenatal Development

1. Embryonic Period - First 13 weeks; development of human feature: vulnerable to miscarriage and tetagons (bad chemicals e.g. drugs, alcohol, an illness)

2. Fetal Period - 13 weeks to delivery; rapid growth rate; development of working organ systems

3. Prenatal Development is affected by mother’s ages, poverty, drug use, diseases, and stress

B. Developmental Issues

1. Down Syndrome is the most common prenatal disorder and is caused by an extra chromosome

2. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome like other drug induced disorders is linked to low birth weight and cognitive delays

What is the course of Newborn Development?

A. Newborn Development

1. Babies are born with the sensory equipment necessary for survival (eating) and limited social interaction

2. Babies have no conscious memories of events due to a lack of neural networks

3. Motor skills (sit, stand, crawl, walk, etc) develop in a sequence (maturation)

B. Developmental Disorders

1. Autism is characterized by difficulty in communicating and forming relationships; mind blindness

2. ADHD is marked by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and sometimes impulsivity

3. Many developmental delays such as language and mobility can be fixed if treated quickly.

C. Establishing Attachment

1. Erik Erikson’s psychosocial development; Infancy is about developing a trust in one's caregivers

2. Harry Harlow’s Monkey Experiment; Infants crave affection and comfort from their caregivers

3. A failure to establish attachments can shape our future relationship with friends and romantic partners.

Module 2: Childhood Development

What factors influence our development?

A. Biological  

1. In early childhood, the nervous system is especially vulnerable to environmental stimuli

2. During critical periods, the brain can establish new neural pathways to help the brain develop a new skill

3. Without environmental stimulation, the neural pathways will not form leading to a delay in development

B. Piaget’s Cognitive Theories

1. Sensorimotor (0-2) coordination of senses with motor responses; object permanence and language develops 

2. Preoperational (2-7) symbolic thinking: grammar expressions: pretend play; and egocentrism

3. Concrete Operational (7-11) concrete reasoning; time, space, and quantity are understood

4. Formal Operational (11-) abstract logic; moral reasoning, strategy and planning

(--) = the age group

C. Language Development

1. Noam Chomsky - humans are born with a predisposition to learn language

2. Benjamin Whorf - Language influences our thought patterns and processes (linguistic determinism)

3. The inability to process or make language is called aphasia

How does parenting influence development?

A. Parenting Style Theory

1. Permissive - few behavioral guidelines to avoid upsetting the children

2. Authoritative - Blend of structure and consistent limit-setting (best) – if you do this, this will happen

3. Authoritarian - parent knows best approach/emphasizes obedience

4. Uninvolved - children essentially raise themselves

B. Vygotsky's Social Theory

1. Social interaction creates learning which sparks development 

2. Parents establish scaffolds (protections) and bridges (encouragements) to enable their children to be successful 

3. Community and language play a central role in the process of “making meaning”

C. Erikson’s Childhood Stages

1. Ages 2-3: Autonomy vs Doubt: Is it okay to do things for myself?

2. Ages 3-5: Initiative vs Guilt: Can I make friends and venture into the world?

3. Ages 6-11: Industry vs Inferiority: How do my strengths and weaknesses compare to others?

Module 3: Adolescent Development

What are the key stages of adolescent development?

A. Biological

1. Hormonal changes cause primary (reproduction) and secondary (body hair, voice changes) sexual characteristics to emerge

2. Sexual maturation’s onset varies but tends to happen in girls (menarche) before boys 

3. The emotional limbic system is wired for puberty before the frontal lobe is wired for adulthood

B. Cognition (Piaget) (on test)

1. Adolescents engage with their environment and create their own understanding of the world

2. Accommodation is the process of revising existing schemas so that new information can be incorporated 

3. Assimilation is the process of allowing new information or experiences to be incorporated into existing ideas  

C. Morality (Kohlberg)

1. Pre-Conventional Morality is the obeying of rules to avoid punishment or to be rewarded 

2. Conventional Morality involves conforming to avoid disapproval or censure

3. Post-Conventional Morality maintains communities and emphases rights and empathy 
   

What is an identity crisis?

A. Erikson’s Identity Theory 

1. Adolescence is the biopsychosocial transition from childhood to adulthood

2. Throughout adolescence we explore our identity and place in the world 

3. Experimentation with interests, friends, fashion, and behaviors is common

4. Young people need to establish some semblance of an identity so that they can transition to adulthood 

B. Sexuality and Gender

1. Gender is a social construct in which a culture determines norms and taboos for each sex

2. Gender Dysmorphia is a rare condition where there is a mismatch between one’s gender and sex

3. Experimenting with sexuality and gender is not uncommon during adolescence and early adulthood

4. Research shows that by permitting experimentation, young people are less prone to anxiety and depression 

Module 4: Adult Development

What are the key stages of early adulthood?

A. Biological 

1. Natural physicality and virility peak in early adulthood

2. Good genetics, a healthy diet, and exercise can continue to keep people healthy throughout adulthood

3. Brian growth and neural plasticity decrease as we enter adulthood

B. Cognition

1. Cognitive Equilibrium is the balance between mental schema (the way in which you think about the world and solve problems) and environmental frameworks

2. Declining fluid intelligence leads to poorer memorization skills and perceptual speed decline

3. Increasing crystallized intelligence improves verbal abilities, spatial reasoning, simple math, and reasoning 

C. Social

1. Erikson - Intimacy vs Isolation is marked by a desire to seek out relationships (romantic or platonic)

2. Life events are often shaped by your social clock (educational attainment, marriage, and parenthood)

3. Relationship goals transition from passionate (lust) love to companionate (partner) love

What are the key stages of middle adulthood (early and mid 40s)?

A. Physical Changes

1. A loss of muscle mass, a slower metabolism, and hair loss is common

2. As people age, the body stores more fat making it harder to lose weight

3. Women begin to lose the ability to reproduce due to menopause, but this process can last ten years 

B. Mid Life Crisis

1. Erikson - Middle age is viewed as a time of self reflection as there still time to change

2. Divorce rates reach nearly 50% during Middle Adulthood

3. Generativity - is seeking fulfilment in the wellbeing of others (one’s children) or making society better

4. Stagnation-is a lack of purpose or direction 

What are the key stages of late adulthood?

A. Biological

1. Myelin-enhanced neural processing speed decline and memory region in the brain shrink

2. A decline in sexual activity but elderly couples can have an active sex life if they are healthy 

3. Women tend to outlive men due to healthier habits and more active lifestyles 

B. Cognitive

1. Parkinson’s Disease - A progressive decline in dopamine production causing stiffness and tremors

2. Alzheimer's Disease - A progressive degeneration of neural connections leading to severe memory loss 

3. Dementia - common in all elderly people; a gradual decline in mental abilities 

C. Social

1. Erikson: Self-reflection leads to integrity (acceptance of morality) or despair (regretting past mistakes)

2. Aging with grace is marked by strong relationships with family, friends, and peers

3. The Psychological stages of dying include; denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance