Infancy and Childhood Chapter 3

Objectives Describe the development of language. Summarize the cognitive and emotional development of children. Describe theories of social development.

Developmental Psychology Study of how an individual’s physical, social, emotional, moral, and intellectual development occur in stages throughout the life cycle.

Developmental Psychology Study... Nature vs. Nurture How much of who we are and what we do is a result of inheritance (heredity) or learning?

Capacities Many newborns are capable of certain inherited, automatic, coordinated movements, known as reflexes. Grasping Reflex Response to the touch of the palm of the hand Rooting Reflex Response to touch around the mouth Infants suck, breathe air, and swallow milk twice a second without getting confused. In two years, grasping and rooting will develop the infant into one who can walk, talk, and feed him/herself

Maturation Internally programmed growth “Schedule” of growth Unless a child is persistently underfed, severely restricted in his/her movements, or deprived of human contact and things to look at, he/she will develop more or less according to this schedule.

Maturation

Perceptual Development Newborns notice their bodies and surroundings Prefer looking at human faces and patterned materials most Depth Perception Infants 6 months and older refused to cross over an illusion of a cliff-like drop off Younger infants, seemingly unafraid, would crawl further, but their heart rates would change

Language Language and thought both use symbols “The sky is blue.” What is blue? Animals, such as chimpanzees, can use basic forms of human language Sign language, keyboards, etc. (Kanzi) Learn how to express the symbol and know the meaning of the symbol Humans increase the complexity with grammar

Language

Check for Understanding Using a flow chart like the one to the right, describe the steps involved in learning language.

Case Study The Case of Genie (p. 69)