Developmental Psychology A branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive and social changes throughout the lifespan. AP Psychology Commune and Raleigh Charter School

Major questions: 1) Nature v. Nurture – How much do genes and experience influence our development? 2) Continuity v. Discontinuity – Is development a gradual continuous process, or does it proceed through separate stages 3) Stability v. Change – Do personality traits stay the same throughout life or do they change?

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 egg’s surface.

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.

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).

After two weeks, the zygote develops into an Embryo

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

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

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

Teratogens harmful agents to the prenatal environment

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Physical and cognitive abnormalities in children caused by a pregnant women’s heavy drinking. Severe cases symptoms include facial disproportions.

So what will a healthy newborn do? Rooting Reflex- a baby’s tendency, when touched on the cheek, to open mouth and search for a nipple.

Other reflexes: Moro Reflex – when startled, baby will throw arms and legs out and head back and then pull them into body

Toe curling reflex – stroke outer sole and baby spreads toes, stroke inner sole and baby curls toes Sucking reflex – touch roof of baby’s mouth and she will suck Grasping reflex – put finger in baby’s palm and baby will grab

Tonic Neck Reflex – if baby’s head is turned to side, baby makes “on guard” move with arms

Maturation – development that reflects the gradual unfolding of one’s genetic blueprint Trends in physical development developmental norms (there is variation in the times, but not the sequence)

Myth #1: All social behavior in humans is learned. Truth: Newborn’s senses facilitate social responsiveness. - See best 8-12” away - Turn toward human voice - Gaze longer at face like objects - Identify mother’s smell

Myth #2: Children who are exposed to many adults are less distressed leaving their parents. Truth: Separation anxiety begins around age 8 months and peaks at 13 months worldwide regardless of daycare experience.

Myth #3: Babies become attached to their mothers because they associate them with food. Truth: Soft, warm contact is more important than food in the formation of parent-child attachment.

Myth #4: Children need parents to keep them safe and meet their physical needs. Love and affection is not necessary for healthy physical and emotional development. Truth: Meeting the physical needs of a child is not sufficient for healthy development. Monkeys raised in isolation became withdrawn, fearful, despairing, strongly attached to blanket. Children who are severely neglected tend to have lower serotonin levels and display increased aggression. Children in overcrowded Romanian orphanages (where physical needs were met but nurses had no time for affection) were both physically and cognitively delayed.

Myth #5: Infants have a critical period for attaching to their caregivers (like the geese in Conrad’s imprinting studies). It is very important that mothers bond with their children in the first few hours of life. Truth: Although this is true with some bird species, it is NOT true in humans. Evidence shows that human children can form several attachments during their lives. Children who are separated from their parents initially exhibit symptoms of distress but recover if placed in a stable environment.

Myth #6: Parents who respond every time their child cries reinforce crying behavior. It spoils them and makes them clingy mama’s boys. (Watson on parenting) Truth: Children of responsive mothers are more self-assured and less clingy that children of unresponsive mothers.

Myth #7: Children do not bond with abusive or neglectful parents. Truth: Children even seem to attach to abusive parents. Myth #8: Newborns are passive observers of their surroundings. They don’t understand concepts such as addition and subtraction. Truth: Infants as young as 5 months have demonstrated an understanding a simple subtraction (2-1=1) in habituation studies.