1 PSYCHOLOGY (8th Edition, in Modules) David Myers PowerPoint Slides Worth Publishers, © 2007
2 Prenatal Development and the Newborn Module 8
3 Prenatal Development and the Newborn Conception Prenatal Development The Competent Newborn
4 Developmental Psychology IssueDetails Nature/Nurture How do genetic inheritance (our nature) and experience (the nurture we receive) influence our behavior? Continuity/Stages Is development a gradual, continuous process or a sequence of separate stages? Stability/Change Do our early personality traits persist through life, or do we become different persons as we age.
5 Prenatal Development and the Newborn How, over time, did we come to be who we are? From zygote to birth, development progresses in an orderly, though fragile, sequence.
6 Conception A single sperm cell (male) penetrates the outer coating of the egg (female) and fuse to form one fertilized cell. Lennart Nilsson/ Albert Bonniers Publishing Company
7 Prenatal Development A zygote is a fertilized cell with 100 cells, which become increasingly diverse. At about 14 days the zygote turns into an embryo (a and b). Lennart Nilsson/ Albert Bonniers Publishing Company Biophoto Associates/ Photo Researchers, Inc.
8 Prenatal Development At 9 weeks an embryo turns into a fetus (c and d). Lennart Nilsson/ Albert Bonniers Publishing Company
9 Teratogens Teratogens are chemicals or viruses that can enter the placenta and harm the developing fetus. Drugs (heroin, alcohol, nicotine) Viruses (AIDS, rubella, syphilis)
10 Alcohol can be a harmful teratogen in any amount. FAS can cause both physical and mental harm to a child. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
11 The Competent Newborn Infants are born with reflexes that aid survival, including the rooting reflex that helps them locate food.
12 Reflexes Grasping/ Palmar Grasp tightly to an object placed in the hand. Rooting Lightly touching the cheek causes the baby to turn preparing for nursing. Sucking Inserting an object in the mouth will cause the baby to suck on the object. Babinski Lightly moving a finger on the bottom of the foot causes the toes to fan outward and curl. Swallowing Placing liquid in the mouth causes the baby to swallow. Stepping Baby will step when held upright. Moro When startled or dropped baby will fling arms outward than inward.
13 The Competent Newborn Offspring cries are important signals for parents to provide nourishment. In animals and in humans such cries are quickly attended to and relieved. Carl and Ann Purcell/ Corbis Lightscapes, Inc. Corbis
14 Cognitive Development in the Newborn Investigators study infants getting habituated to objects over some duration of time. New objects are paid more attention than habituated ones, showing learning.