Development What makes me the person i am? Was I born this way? Will I stay this way? What will change as I age? Chapter 5 pages

Development Development is a progressive series of changes, which occur at particular points during a lifespan. A state in which things are improving, changing or growing. Studying this concept is called developmental psychology. This looks at what makes us all similar and of course things that make us unique.

Are the qualities and behaviours that define us innate (born with them) or do we acquire them throughout our life? What do you think

Nature vs Nurture

Nature: characteristics which are inherited from your parents Eg: eye colour, hair colour, blood type, bone structure Nurture: Your environment and/or personal experiences define who you are as a person. Eg: nutritional intake, vocabulary levels. Which has a greater influence on your development?

Do learning activity 5.3 pg 161

Nature vs Nurture Video Nature vs nurture debate feature=related Twins separated at birth.

Do you remember what you looked like last year? Do you remember how you felt last year? In what ways are you different now?

Development Maturation: “matured” This is the term given to how you have changed. It is the biological growth process that occurs across the lifespan. Eg. Crawling to walking to running Maturation is very important as it signals when we are physically ready to achieve certain milestones. Eg. Before you can walk certain muscles, bones and joints need to be developed. Reaching these milestones at certain ages is known as developmental norms. Developmental norms: this is a guide to the general timeframe of when humans will reach different milestones in their development. Why are developmental norms necessary??

Developmental norms. Developmental norms are necessary because it can alert parents to an abnormality in their child’s development

Development encompasses more than just maturation. Psychological development includes concepts such as; -Cognitive (how we think and learn) -Motor (our physical skills and development) -Behavioural (how we act) -Emotional and social changes (interpersonal relationships) Over a lifespan all of these will develop.

Terms you need to know. Foetus: prior to birth Neonate: one month after birth Infant: one month old and onwards.

Neonate/ Infancy Development of perceptual abilities  Adaptive reflexes (innate and pre-wired abilities)  occur as a response to external stimuli  Aides their survival (rooting reflex: baby turns head when its cheek is brushed)  Grasp relfex, babinski reflex, moro reflex  Short sighted (20-40cm)  Most infants can perceive depth as soon as they start to crawl. (Gibson and Walk’s visual cliff experiment) 5:20

Neonate/ Infancy Development of cognitive abilities (learning, thinking and memory)  As the infant grows they are able to better organise the sensations bombarding them from the outside world, they begin to understand them and how to respond to them.  When infant starts to walk they are known as a toddler until they are around 3yrs. AGECOGNITIVE ACHIEVEMENT 1 weekPrefer high voices and are Sensitive to the location of sound 1 monthPrefer patterns to plain objects. Follow toys from the side to the centre of their body 2 monthsReach out and discriminate amongst different voices 3 monthsShow signs of memory and become aware of themself 4-7 monthsRecall a short series of actions Begin to anticipate a whole object when only shown parts 8-12 monthsRecognise dimensions of objects, can put them in and take them out of conatiners

Childhood Large portion of physical, cognitive and psychosocial development happens between the ages of 3-11 Early childhood (3-6yrs) -More active -Sophisticated thinking Middle childhood (6-11yrs) -Stronger and more agile (able to move easily) -Beginning of puberty towards the end of this stage

Adolescence Occurs between the ages of Thinking is refined. Can think abstractly. Higher order thinking, form your own opinions Openness (open to new or unfamiliar ideas, behaviours, experiences) increases in both boys and girls Inflated sense of self worth (personal fable) “Nothing can harm me” thinking which leads to risk taking behaviours, drinking, drugs.. Active hormones

Early Adulthood Stage occurs between the ages of Physical condition peaks at the start of this stage the declines towards the end. Memory declines at age 30. Make important life decisions Personality is stable after 30. Agreeableness (live and work with people in harmony, no tensions) increased during adulthood. Fluid intelligence (analysis and information processing skills and working memory’s capacity) peaks during this stage.

Middle Age His stage occurs between the ages of Visible signs of aging appear like lines and wrinkles and age spots. Grey hair and less saliva Fitness, strength and flexibility decline. Menopause occurs in women aged between Taste and touch sensations decline Weight gain Bone density declines

Old Age Stage occurs from 65 yr onwards All 5 senses become less sensitive Body may decline due to illness or injury. Memory loss Depression Retirement Loss of a spouse

HOMEWORK Learning Activities  5.8 questions 1-4  5.10 questions 2,3,4  5.12 question 1 or 2  5.13 question 2 and 3  5.14 question 1 and 3  5.15 question 1 and 4