Developmental Psychology

Field in which psychologists study how people grow and change throughout the life span Field in which psychologists study how people grow and change throughout the life span Study infancy and childhood to see how early childhood experiences affect people as adolescents and adults Study infancy and childhood to see how early childhood experiences affect people as adolescents and adults

Nature vs. Nurture Maturation: automatic and sequential process of development that results from genetic signals Maturation: automatic and sequential process of development that results from genetic signals Critical Period: a stage or point in development during which a person or animal is best suited to learn a particular skill or behavior pattern Critical Period: a stage or point in development during which a person or animal is best suited to learn a particular skill or behavior pattern John Locke: infant is like a tabula rasa (blank slate) John Locke: infant is like a tabula rasa (blank slate)

Stages vs. Continuity Stages: sitting, crawling, standing, walking Stages: sitting, crawling, standing, walking Continuity: weight and height Continuity: weight and height

Motor Development First infants roll over. Next they sit unsupported, crawl and finally walk First infants roll over. Next they sit unsupported, crawl and finally walk Experience has little effect on this sequence Experience has little effect on this sequence

Reflexes Grasping: when an object is placed in an infant’s palm, the fingers will close and they will grasp it with unusual strength Grasping: when an object is placed in an infant’s palm, the fingers will close and they will grasp it with unusual strength

Reflexes Moro: when an infant is startled with a loud noise or feels that he/she is falling, the infant will extend the arms, legs and fingers and arch the back Moro: when an infant is startled with a loud noise or feels that he/she is falling, the infant will extend the arms, legs and fingers and arch the back

Reflexes Rooting: rubbing or scratching around the mouth causes the infant to turn his/her head towards the stimulus Rooting: rubbing or scratching around the mouth causes the infant to turn his/her head towards the stimulus

Reflexes Babinski: The big toe moves towards the top surface of the foot and the other toes fan out after the sole of the foot has been touched Babinski: The big toe moves towards the top surface of the foot and the other toes fan out after the sole of the foot has been touched

Perceptual Development Robert Franz: 2 month old infants prefer pictures of human faces to any other pictures Robert Franz: 2 month old infants prefer pictures of human faces to any other pictures 5-10 weeks old: look longest at patterns that are fairly complex 5-10 weeks old: look longest at patterns that are fairly complex Infants respond more to high-pitched sounds Infants respond more to high-pitched sounds Infants distinguish strong odors Infants distinguish strong odors Infants like sweet-tasting liquids Infants like sweet-tasting liquids