1. INFANCY & CHILDHOOD : COGNITIVE & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AP Psychology Modules 47 & 48

2. CHILDHOOD Physical Development THE BRAIN Neural networks begin developing a. Earliest memories @ 3 due to lack of neural connections prior to that age LOFTUS et al: brain format is different after 5; why it is difficult to recall memories between ages 3-5 b. Enriched environment tends to help “grow” more neural connections – sights, smells, touch c. Plasticity (how to mold) Brain Plasticity Discovery Channel - Brain Plasticity http://www.youtub e.com/watch?v=LGzxT5Sisa Q

3. JEAN PIAGET  Studied ….  Studies led him to believe a child’s mind develops through a series of stages. The maturing brain builds schemas (concepts) to help us make sense of our experiences. We assimilate new experiences in terms of our current understandings. Bus as we interact with the world, we also adjust, or accommodate, our schemas to incorporate new ideas.

4. PIAGET’S THEORY 4 STAGES 1. Sensorimotor Stage: 2. Preoperational: 3. Concrete Operational: 7-11 years: ability to think logically; perform arithmetical operations. 4. Formal Operational : 12 years+: ability to think abstractly; symbols; imagination; if-then type of thinking. Potential for mature moral reasoning EVALUATION ON PIAGET

5. VYGOTSKY’S SCAFFOLDING -Russian psychologist who studied how children learn and think. Findings:  By age 7, children think in words. Whether out loud or to themselves, talking to yourself helps children control their behavior and emotions.  Emphasized…  Parents give children new words which provides a temporary scaffold form which children can step to higher levels of thinking  There is a point between can and can’t do for children….

6. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT STRANGER ANXIETY & ATTACHMENT Stranger Anxiety: Fear of strangers starting around 8 months. Attachment: Harlow Attachment Study: soft v wire monkey experiments http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU9jKlNK1Qc - We need touch, communication, a secure base - Securely Attached Kids: Imprinting: -LORENZ: critical bonding period –humans do NOT imprint but thrive on familiarity

7. TEMPERAMENT Temperament: basic disposition/ emotional reactivity & intensity -> FOUR BASIC TYPES 1. SANGUINE Cheerful, confident, optimistic, hopeful 2. MELANCHOLIC Sad, pessimistic 3. PHLEGMATIC Calm, sluggish, unemotional 4. CHOLERIC Irritated, angry

8. IMPLICATIONS -Those whose fathers were most involved: -Securely attached children tend to have adult relationships that are affectionate and intimate. - Babies locked away under conditions of abuse or extreme neglect are often withdrawn, frightened, and speechless. - Orphaned children: -Most that grow up under adversity can become normal adults (ie children in the Holocaust) - Most abusive parents and murderers: - Abused children tend to be hypersensitive to anger and are more susceptible to psychological disorders, substance abuse, health problems

9. PARENTING STYLES  Authoritarian-  Permissive-  Authoritative-  The association between certain parenting styles and childhood outcomes is CORRELATIONAL only-> Children with high self-esteem, high self-reliance, and social competence usually have warm, concerned, authoritative parents. Immaturity and aggression is associated with permissive parents. Low self- esteem with authoritarian parents.