Developmental Psychology The study of YOU from womb to tomb. We are going to study how we change physically, socially, cognitively and morally over our lifetimes. Pre-Natal, Physical, and Motor Development

Pre-Natal, Physical, and Motor Development Focus on our physical changes over time.

Prenatal Development Pre-Natal: conception to birth Female releases an egg every month (she’s born with all she’ll ever have) Conception begins with the drop of an egg and the release of about 200 million sperm (first produced during puberty) The sperm seeks out the egg and attempts to penetrate the eggs surface. Joke of the Day: Why does it take 200 million sperm to fertilize one egg? Because they won’t stop for directions.

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.

Zygotes 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 Lasts about 6 weeks. Heart begins to beat and the organs begin to develop.

Fetus By nine weeks we have a… The fetus 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. Recognizes the sound of its mother!

Teratogens Chemical agents that can harm the prenatal environment. Alcohol (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome): marked by small, misproportional head and lifelong brain abnormalities. Other STDs can harm the baby….. HIV, herpes, genital warts Other drugs as well: Heroin, cocaine Katelyn Zimmerman’s singing voice

Healthy Newborns We study newborns through their behaviors Turn head towards voices . See 8 to 12 inches from their faces. Gaze longer at human like objects right from birth. Habituation: decreasing responsiveness to repeated stimuli

Reflexes Inborn automatic responses. Rooting – baby turns to search and suck when cheek touched Sucking Grasping Moro – startle response Babinski – toes fan out when sole of foot touched

Maturation Maturation: Biological growth pattern Although the timing of our growth may be different, the sequence is almost always the same. Arnold Gesell- proposed maturation the most important role in development.

Trends in physical development developmental norms (there is variation in the times, but not the sequence) Critical period- stage or point in development during which a person or animal is best suited to learn a particular skill.

Newborn Development Infant memory: underdeveloped hippocampus and cortex areas result in lack of long-term memory before ages 3-4 Major milestones (averages): Roll over: 2.8 months Sitting w/o support: 5.5 months Pull self to standing position: 7.6 months Walking holding furniture:9 months Crawling: 10 months Stand alone: 11.5 months Walking: 12.1 months Gross motor skills – involve large-muscle activities, such as walking Fine motor skills– involve more finely tuned movements, such as finger dexterity.

Age Language Abilities Example 1 year Babbling begins and increases; by year end, infant masters sounds of own language; says 1st word Baba Mama 2 years Say dozens of words; progress to 2 words; ask questions; use nouns with negative word Allgone ball More ball Jenny go? No ball 3 years Acquires most grammatical knowledge; appropriate sentence; 400 words average size of vocabulary I eating I’m eating Don’t go 4 years Use more grammatical rules; ask question in adult form; over 1,000 word vocabulary Will Jenny go? I can’t go Why is Jenny crying? 5 years More complex clauses; joins to or more ideas in one sentence I see what you did.

Puberty The period of sexual maturation, during which a person becomes capable of reproducing.(marks end of childhood) Average age- 13 Boys can start as early as 9/10 and Girls 8. Click above to see all you ever need to know about puberty.

Adolescence Development Fat Tissue develops then a Growth Spurt takes place before Puberty ( B-11-16, G-10-14) Boys tend to loose Fat tissue, F-appear chubby Growth Spurt- Grow 2.5 to 3 inches a year (F) Female develops breasts, hips Menstrual Period often between 12-13 and 12 months later is able to conceive a child Adolescence Development Boys- genitals and 1st ejaculations at 12-13. Growth spurt begins 24 months after girls and last 3 years. More muscles, large heart, and lungs

Primary Sexual Characteristics Body structures that make reproduction possible. Penis Testes Vagina Ovaries

Secondary Sexual Characteristics Non-reproductive sexual characteristics. Body Hair Widening of the Hips Deeper Voice Breast Development

Landmarks for Puberty Menarche for girls. First ejaculation for boys.

Adulthood All physical abilities essentially peak by our mid twenties. 18-30 is the period we are the strongest, healthiest, and have quick reflexes. Process of physical decline is slow and gradual

Adulthood Then it all goes downhill. Middle Age-appearance changes (grey hair, thinning, skin dry, wrinkles, weight gain) Menopause Late 40’s heart rates, muscle strength, and eyesight decrease

Life Expectancy Life Expectancy keeps increasing- 76 for men, 81 for women, But more men are conceived 126 to 100. Then 105 to 100 by birth. In other words, men die easier.