Developmental Psychology

1. Developmental Psychology A branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive and social changes throughout the lifespan.

2. The Nature Versus Nurture Question How much of human development occurs due to nature (biology, genetic inheritance)? How much of human development occurs due to nurture (environment, experiences)? Early view: quite polarized Current view: nature and nurture both crucial; one influences manifestation of the other The Continuity Versus Discontinuity Question In what pattern does development occur? Continuity model—quantitative changes; steady pattern of small, fairly regular steps Discontinuity model (main proponent was Jean Piaget)—qualitative changes, in stages; fairly stable within a stage, then rather dramatic shift in abilities Current view: development involves both KEY QUESTIONS

3. The Universality Question Does developmental pattern occur universally, or are there cultural differences? Basic pattern seems to occur universally Cultural differences in what stages experienced and when The Stability Question—how consistent are personality features over the life span? KEY QUESTIONS

4. Longitudinal studies Studies of same very large group of people over a long, or very long, period of time Allow study of developmental changes (e.g., personality, behavior) in the same people over time Drawbacks: expensive, very time-consuming, lose participants over time, may not be representative Cross-sectional studies Involve study of different age groups of people, at same time Objective is same as with longitudinal, just easier and less expensive Drawbacks: Cannot be certain of all comparisons, since age groups are different people as well Cohort effects—function of being born at a particular time in history, among members of a particular generation Methods of Study

5. Prenatal Development • Conception begins with the drop of an egg and the release of about 200 million sperm. • The sperm seeks out the egg and attempts to penetrate the eggs surface.

6. Once the sperm penetrates the egg- we have a fertilized egg called…….. The Zygote The first stage of prenatal development. Lasts about two weeks and consists of rapid cell division.

7. The Zygote Stage • Less than half of all zygotes survive first two weeks. • About 10 days after conception, the zygote will attach itself to the uterine wall. • The outer part of the zygote becomes the placenta (which filters nutrients).

8. After two weeks, the zygote develops into a Embryo

9. The Embryo Stage • Lasts about 6 weeks. • Heart begins to beat and the organs begin to develop.

10. By nine weeks we have something that looks unmistakably human… A Fetus

11. The Fetus Stage • By about the 6th month, the stomach and other organs have formed enough to survive outside of mother. • At this time the baby can hear (and recognize) sounds and respond to light.

12. during embryonic and fetal stages, the developing organism is especially vulnerable to toxic agents protected by the placenta organ that connects the blood supply of the mother to that of the fetus acts like a filter allows oxygen and nutrients to pass through while keeping out some toxic or harmful substances PRENATAL INFLUENCES

13. Teratogensharmful agents (viruses and drugs) to the prenatal environment Herpes

14. Rubella (German measles) can cause heart disease, deafness, mental retardation Sexually transmitted diseases (HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea) The biggest risk to the fetus is for transmission of the HIV virus to fetus, not for birth defects or mental retardation.  Treatment during pregnancy can greatly reduce the risk to the baby. Symptoms of congenital syphilis infection include prematurity, enlarged liver and spleen, anemia, jaundice, skin rash, mental retardation, blindness, and deafness. Viruses

15. Cocaine plus other drugs pregnant women using crack cocaine along with other drugs, such as alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, or opiates had: lower birth weight poor feeding habits greater risk for developing other psychological problems Smoking and nicotine 13% (about) of pregnant women smoke increase the risk of: low birth weight pre-term deliveries possible physical problems (cleft lip or palate) SIDS respiratory infections Drugs and prenatal development

16. Lead levels of lead in the blood system are associated with low IQ scores in children likelihood of antisocial acts such as, assaults, truancy, and disorderly conduct some lead sources, paint, gasoline, industry Drugs and prenatal development Lead poisoning is on the increase in developing nations who have not enforced strict pollution controls.

17. moderate drinking - Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE) FAS results from a mother having 7-14 drinks per week during pregnancy FAE less severe than FAS FAE results in: Deficiencies in cognitive tasks, academic skills, fine motor speed and coordination heavy drinking - Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) FAS results from a mother drinking heavily during pregnancy, especially in the first 12 weeks FAS results in: short stature, flattened nose, short eye openings, neurological changes, hyperactivity, impulsive behavior, deficits in information processing, drug and alcohol abuse Effects of Alcohol

18. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome • small head, small jaw, and small, flat cheeks • malformed ears • small eyes, poor development of optic nerve, crossed-eyes • upturned nose, low bridge • small upper mouth structure and teeth • caved-in chest wall • umbilical or diaphragmatic hernia • limited movement of fingers and elbows • extra fingers, abnormal palm creases • excessive hair • under grown nails • incomplete or lack of development of brain structures • heart murmurs, heart defects, abnormalities of large vessels • incomplete development of genitalia • growth, motor, and mental retardation • irritability in infancy and hyperactivity in childhood • poor coordination

19. So what will a healthy newborn do? Reflexes • Rooting Reflex- a babies tendency, when touched on the cheek, to open mouth and search for a nipple. • Preferences: • Turn towards human voices. • Gaze at face like images longer • Smell and sound of mother preferred

20. Competent Newborn • Researchers can discover some of what preverbal infants sense and think by observing how they react to novel stimuli (such as colors, shapers, and forms) and grow bored with (habituate to) familiar stimuli. • To recognize a new stimulus as different, an infant must remember the old stimulus, which indicates a simple form of learning.

21. When presented a series of pictures of dogs and cats, newborns would look at the hybrid pictures of dogs and cats longer…what a novel stimulus.

22. Habituation • Decreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation • As infants gain familiarity with repeated exposure to a visual stimulus, their interest wanes and they look away sooner.

23. Habituation Having habituated to the old stimulus, newborns preferred gazing at a new one