Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5 Chapter 5 The Physical Self
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5 Chapter 5: The Physical Self Genetic and environmental forces e.g. height –Average: female 5’4” male 5’9” –Can be affected by malnutrition –Catch-up growth possible After illness or periods of malnutrition –More short people in cold climates Smaller body surface for heat loss
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5 The Endocrine System Glands that secrete hormones Pituitary gland: the master gland –Controls all other glands –Is controlled by the hypothalamus –Produces growth hormone Testes secrete androgens like testosterone Ovaries secrete estrogen and progesterone
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5 Figure 5-2
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5 Plasticity Responsiveness to experiences –Can be negative Vulnerable to damage Environmental deprivation –Can be positive Aids in recovery from from injury Can compensate for each other Can benefit from stimulation Allows for adaptability
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5 Brain Development 2 Critical period: late prenatal & early infancy Lateralization (at birth) –Left hemisphere Analytic reasoning, language –Right hemisphere Understanding spatial information Visual-motor information –Corpus callosum connects the two
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5 Brain Development 3 Never truly complete –Changes occur across lifespan Growth spurts in infancy, childhood and adolescence Full adult weight by about age 16 Processing speed increases in adolescence Myelination continues into adulthood
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5 Brain Development 4 The Aging Brain –Gradual and mild degeneration Elderly adults –5-30% fewer neurons than younger adult –Greater loss in sensory-motor areas –Plasticity still possible Main result of age is slower processing
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5 Principles of Growth Procession of growth is orderly –Cephalocaudal: from head, downward –Proximodistal: from the center, outwards –Orthogenic: from global, undifferentiated to specialized
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5 The Infant Typically 7 to 71/2 lbs., 20 inches long Period of rapid growth Neonatal reflexes (see Table 5.3 in text) –Survival reflexes: clearly adaptive Breathing, eye-blink,sucking/rooting –Primitive reflexes: less adaptive Typically disappear by 4 months –Babinski: toes fan –Grasping Used diagnostically
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5 The Infant 2 Behavioral States –Short sleep-wake cycles at first –Establish more regularity at 3-6 months –REM sleep 50% of the time for newborns 25-30% by 6 months –May be useful for reducing stimulation –Individuality in infant patterns
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5 The Infant 3 Strengths and weaknesses –Sensory system in tact –Ability to learn from experience and from consequences –Limited in capacity to move voluntarily –Intentionality also limited –Cannot interpret complex stimuli
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5 Infant Physical Behavior Developmental norms (see Table 5.5 ) –Average age of mastery Gross before fine motor skills Crawling at 7–10 months Walking at about 1 year Study of “walkers” (Siegel & Burton, 1999) –Infants not using walkers sat up, crawled, and walked earlier –Need sensory feedback I.e.,to see feet
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5 Physical Behavior 2 Manipulating Objects –Grasping reflex disappears: 2-4 mo –Pincer grasp by 6 months Motor Skills –Rhythmic Stereotypies Rocking, bouncing, mouthing objects, banging arms and legs Precede a skill then disappear
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5 Dynamic Systems Approach A self-organizing process –Trying new movements –Use sensory feedback –Motor milestones are learned –Also require maturation –A nature/nurture position
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5 The Child Age 2 until puberty –2-3 inches in height, 5-6 lbs weight –Bones grow and harden –Run faster, jump higher, and throw a ball farther –Skills very responsive to practice –Hand-eye coordination, fine motor, and reaction time all improve
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5 Adolescence Growth spurt triggered by hormones –Peak in height: age 12/girls, 14/boys –Menarche: average age 12 1/2 Earlier in countries with good nutrition, longer life, and higher literacy rates –Maturation different by ethnicity AA and MA girls earlier than White –Semenarche: average age 13 emission of seminal fluid
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5 Rates of Development Genes set the process in motion Hormones responsible for changes Environment also –Secular trend: better nutrition Earlier maturation,larger body size –Poorly nourished/mature later –Heavy & tall/mature earlier –Regular strenuous exercise/later
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5 Figure 5.6
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5 Psychological Implications Girls become concerned w/appearance –Individual reactions vary widely –Negative views about menstruation –May contribute to poor body images Boys likely to welcome the changes Family relations remain important –Distance & conflict with parents Usually about only minor issues
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5 Early vs. Late Development Early/males: advantage –More positive reactions from others Late/males: disadvantage –More behavior & adjustment problems Early/females: disadvantage –Subject of ridicule,lower self esteem –Older peer group = problems Late/ females: academic advantages Differences tend to fade with time
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5 Physical Behavior Dramatic physical growth overall Boys continue to improve Girls tend to level off or decline Not totally explained by biology –Gender role socialization important –Gender performance gap has narrowed –E.g., track, swimming, cycling records
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5 The Adult Minor changes in the 20s & 30s Noticeable by the 40s –Wrinkles, gray hair, weight gain In the 60s: Weight, muscle, bone loss –Osteoporosis in older women Fair, light frame, smokers Calcium, exercise, HRT –Osteoarthritis: joint deterioration
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5 Functioning and Health Most systems show decline with age –Heart & lung capacity –Temperature control –Immune system and strength –Reserve capacity *On average, older people are less fit than younger BUT not all Physically active remain fit
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5 The Reproductive System Beginning in adolescence –Sex hormones influence behavior Males/testosterone –Levels fluctuate daily Females/ estrogen & progesterone – monthly cycle –PMS? Expectations vs. hormones »Calcium & Vitamin D helpful
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5 Menopause and Andropause Menopause: estrogen production declines –age range –Symptoms: hot flashes, vaginal dryness –Little anxiety, irritability, depression, or other stereotypes –Exercise & adequate sleep helpful Andropause: decreasing testosterone –Symptoms: Libido, fatigue, erection, and memory problems
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5 Slowing Down Balance difficulty affects the ability to walk, stand, sit, and turn Older people with strong muscles and good cardiovascular capacity can walk briskly Central change is slowing in the CNS –Increased RT –Novel/complex tasks more difficult *physically fit older people have quicker RT
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider Chapter 5 Disease, Disuse, and Abuse Birren (1963) study of men aged –Healthy older same as younger –Conclusion: Aging itself has little effect on physical and psychological functioning Disuse: “Use it or loose it!” –Includes mental exercise Abuse contributes to decline –Alcohol, high-fat diet, smoking