2. Nature vs. Nurture Biology & environment work together in 2 ways
Maturation (motor dev): Pattern is the same for everyone (NATURE)
Supported by care, nutrition, exercise (NURTURE)
1. Operate to make all humans similar
Genetic abilities: intelligence, athletic ability, personality (NATURE)
Environmental influences: family, random events, society (NURTURE)
2. Operate to make all humans unique
Height vs. Personality
Degree of influence is dependent on the characteristic
Height % genetic/less than 20% due to prenatal factors or early illness
Personality- much more dependent on nurture

4. Prenatal Development & The newborn
Chapter 12 Human Development
Prenatal Development & The newborn

5. Germinal Stage 2 weeks of rapid cell division
Germinal Stage- zygote (combination of sperm and ovum)

6. Embryonic Stage 2 weeks-8 weeks after fertilization
Beginning of the stage: development of a heart, nervous system, stomach, esophagus, and ovaries or testes.
End of the stage: development of eyes, ears, nose, jaw, mouth & lips, elbows, hands, fingers, knees, ankles & toes.

7. Fetal Stage Remaining 7 months Organ growth & functions begin
3 months- kick, make a fist, turn the head, open the mouth, swallow, frown
6 months- eyelids open, taste buds, can breathe if premature
7 months- organs functional
8/9 months- respond to light and touch, can hear outside, recognizes mother’s voice

8. Critical Periods for Physical Development
Body System
Especially Sensitive
Development up to …
Central nervous system/Brain
4th to 8th weeks
Postnatal, through to adulthood
Heart
5th to 9th weeks
12th week
Upper limbs
6th to 10th weeks
Eyes
weeks
Term
Lower limbs
Teeth
9th to 11th weeks
Palate
16th week
External genitalia
Ears
6th to 11th weeks
13th week

9. Prenatal Risks
Harmful substances passed through the placenta that can cause birth defects.
Teratogens
Cocaine
Alcohol
Cigarette Smoking
Illnesses
Examples of Teratogens
Affect less than 10%

10. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

11. The Newborn Vision (blurry at birth)
Hearing (attracted to “baby talk” tones)
Smell & Taste (similar to adults)
Sensory Development
Grasping Reflex
Rooting Reflex
Crawling (skipped?)
Toddling
Walking
Reflexes & Motor Skills
Vision- 20/300, less rods and cones on their fovea, pathway to brain is inefficient, 7 months they develop visual depth cues
Hearing- after 2-3 days, open eyes wide and look for the speaker
Taste/Smell- prefer sweet tastes and smells over bitter/sour (sweet drinks vs. ammonia) breastfed babies prefer smell of their own mother to other mothers