Exam 1 PSYC 4176

Characteristics of the Lifespan Approach to Development

1. Multidimensional – Development involves biological, cognitive, and socioemotional dimensions that interact.

2. Multidirectional – Growth and decline occur at different stages; some abilities improve while others decline.

3. Contextual – Development is influenced by factors such as family, culture, and history.

4. Multidisciplinary – Different fields (psychology, sociology, biology, neuroscience) contribute to understanding development.

5. Lifelong – Development continues throughout life, not just in childhood.

6. Plasticity – Development is flexible and can change with experience and interventions.

7. Cohort/cohort effects – People born in the same time period (cohort) experience similar historical and cultural influences.

Developmental Frameworks for Study

1. Nature vs. Nurture – Debate over whether genetics (nature) or environment (nurture) plays a bigger role in development. Epigenetics suggests both interact.

2. Active vs. Passive – Whether individuals actively shape their development or passively absorb influences.

3. Continuous vs. Discontinuous – Continuous views development as gradual, while discontinuous sees it as occurring in distinct stages.

Developmental Theories

1. Psychoanalytic (Freud, Erikson) – Focus on unconscious drives and early childhood experiences.

   • Freud: Psychosexual stages

   • Erikson: Psychosocial stages (e.g., trust vs. mistrust)

2. Behavioral (Skinner, Pavlov, Bandura) – Behavior is learned through reinforcement, punishment, and modeling.

3. Cognitive (Piaget, Vygotsky) – Development occurs through thinking and problem-solving.

   • Piaget: Stages of cognitive development (sensorimotor, preoperational, etc.)

   • Vygotsky: Social interaction is key to learning.

4. Bioecological (Bronfenbrenner) – Development is influenced by multiple environmental systems (e.g., family, school, culture).

5. Evolutionary (Darwin, Bowlby) – Focuses on how inherited traits influence behavior and survival.

6. Learning Theories – Emphasize how behavior is acquired through interaction with the environment.

Main Causes of Death by Age Group

• Infancy: Birth complications, congenital defects, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

• Childhood: Accidents (e.g., drowning, car crashes).

• Adolescence: Accidents, suicide, homicide.

• Adulthood: Chronic diseases (e.g., heart disease, cancer).

Genetic Disorders

• Examples: Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, Tay-Sachs disease.

• Each disorder results from genetic mutations or chromosomal abnormalities.

Fertilization

• Sperm and egg unite to form a zygote.

• Twinning:

  • Identical (monozygotic): One egg splits into two embryos.

  • Fraternal (dizygotic): Two separate eggs are fertilized.

• Assistive Reproductive Technologies: In-vitro fertilization (IVF), artificial insemination.

Teratogens

• Harmful agents affecting prenatal development (e.g., alcohol, drugs, infections).

• Impact depends on: Timing, dosage, genetic susceptibility.

Stages of Prenatal Development

1. Germinal Stage (0-2 weeks): Zygote forms and implants in uterus.

2. Embryonic Stage (2-8 weeks): Organ development.

3. Fetal Stage (9 weeks-birth): Growth and maturation.

Stages of Delivery (Birth)

1. Labor: Cervix dilates.

2. Delivery: Baby is born.

3. Afterbirth: Placenta is expelled.

Expected Weight at Birth and by Age

• Birth: ~5.5–8.8 lbs (2.5–4 kg).

• By 1 year: Triples birth weight.

• By 2 years: Quadruples birth weight.

Risk of Early Delivery or Low Birth Weight

• Premature birth (<37 weeks gestation).

• Low birth weight (<5.5 lbs) can lead to health complications.

Patterns of Growth

• Cephalocaudal: Head develops before lower body.

• Proximodistal: Core develops before extremities.

How We Study/Collect Data on Infant Behavior

• Observations, experiments, habituation studies (e.g., measuring attention span).

Importance of Serve and Return Interaction for Infants

• "Serve and return" refers to back-and-forth interactions between babies and caregivers that support brain development.

Language Development Progression

1. Cooing (~6 weeks).

2. Babbling (~4-6 months).

3. First words (~12 months).

4. Two-word sentences (~2 years).

5. Complex speech (~3+ years).

Goodness of Fit

• How well a child's temperament matches their environment and caregivers.

Comparison of Theories of Multiple Intelligences

• Gardner's Multiple Intelligences: Eight types (e.g., linguistic, spatial, musical).

• Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory: Analytical, creative, and practical intelligence.

Parenting Styles (Baumrind’s Model)

1. Authoritative: High warmth, high control (best outcomes).

2. Authoritarian: Low warmth, high control (strict).

3. Permissive: High warmth, low control (indulgent).

4. Neglectful: Low warmth, low control (uninvolved).

Applying Cognitive Theory in the Elementary Classroom

• Piaget: Hands-on learning (e.g., using manipulatives).

• Vygotsky: Scaffolding, peer learning, social interaction.

Process of Sex Differentiation During Prenatal Development

• Occurs at ~6-7 weeks.

• Males: Y chromosome triggers testes development.

• Females: Lack of Y chromosome leads to ovaries forming.

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