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

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

Fetus By nine weeks we have a… The fetus by about the 6 th 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

Agents that cross the placenta German measles X-rays and other radiation Sexually transmitted diseases Cigarette smoking Alcohol and other drugs chapter 3

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.

Newborn Development Infant memory: underdeveloped hippocampus and cortex areas result in lack of long-term memory before ages 3-4 Major milestones (averages): – Sitting w/o support: 5.5 months – Crawling: 10 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.

Margret and Harry Harlow Contact comfort with rhesus monkeys Artificial mothers 1 st has face, but just wire outside feeding tube 2 nd has face, but terry cloth around wire feeding tube. Scientist used to believe attached to Mom because she feeds US! NOT TRUE Ran to it when startled or scared

Mary Ainsworth (1973)- Strange situation Nature of attachment with mothers and babies Mom brings baby into unfamiliar room with toys After a while stranger comes in and attempts to play with child Mother leaves child with stranger She then returns plays with child, stranger leaves Leave baby by self for three minutes 4 categories of attachment according to M.A.

Types of attachment Secure A parent-infant relationship in which the baby is secure when the parent is present, distressed by separation, and delighted by reunion. Insecure A parent-infant relationship in which the baby clings to the parent, cries at separation, and reacts with anger or apathy to reunion. chapter 3

What causes insecure attachment? Abandonment and deprivation in the first two years of life Parenting that is abusive, neglectful, or erratic Child’s genetically influenced temperament Stressful circumstances in the family chapter 3

Puberty The period of sexual maturation, during which a person becomes capable of reproducing. Click above to see all you ever need to know about puberty.

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

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

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

Adulthood All physical abilities essentially peak by our mid twenties.

Adulthood Then it all goes downhill.

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.