Developmental Psychology

DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

Part 1: Physical Development & Parenting

PRENATAL DEVELOPMENT

Zygoteconception – 2 weeks

period of rapid cell division

Embryo2 weeks – 3 months

cells attach to mother’s uterine wall & organs

develop

Fetus3 months - birth developing human

organism

Prenatal Development - TERATOGENS

TERATOGENS: Agents that can reach the developing embryo or fetus and cause harm

Alcohol Nicotine Drugs (both prescription drugs & “street”

drugs) Viruses (the flu) Toxoplasmosis (contact with cat feces) Food poisoning

INFANT REFLEXES

Rooting

Grasping

Startle (Moro Reflex)

Play three movies

MATURATION: Biological growth processes that enable orderly changes in behavior that are relatively unaffected by experience

Maturation sets the basic course of development; experience adjusts it.

Maturation Video

Attachment

Emotional tie with another person; shown in young children by their seeking closeness to the caregiver and showing distress on separation. It helps infants to rely on other people for survival.

Why do children become attached to mother and father?

Harlow’s Theory of Attachment

Attachment is based on:1.Body Contact (contact comfort)2.Familiarity3.Responsive Parenting

Body Contact

Infants become intensely attached to entities that provide comfortable body contact to them. Things like rocking, warmth, and feeding make attachment stronger.

IMPORTANCE: NOT nourishment that provides attachment as originally thought.

Harlow's experimentHarlow's experiment - part 2

Familiarity

Also key in understanding attachment. Critical Period: optimal period shortly after

birth when certain events must take place to facilitate proper development. Ex: First moving object a duckling sees it will attach to as its mother…would follow person, moving ball, etc.

Imprinting: process by which certain animals form attachments during a critical period very early in life. NOT FOR HUMANS. However do become attached to what they know.

IMPRINTING:

Owen the baby hippo & Mzee, the 130-year-old tortoise

the process by which animals form attachments during a limited critical period early in life

IMPRINTING

Tink the dachsand & her piglet “puppy”, Pink.

IMPRINTING: Koko’s Kitten

IMPRINTING: Duck with a Dog

Responsive Parenting

Responsive Parenting leads to secure attachment.

Secure Attachment: in mother’s presence will explore new territories and play comfortably. When mother leaves will become distressed, when returns will seek contact with her.

Insecure Attachment: in mother’s presence are less likely to explore their surroundings; seem indifferent to their mother’s comings and goings.

Consequences of Insecure Attachment

Under conditions of abuse and neglect, humans are often withdrawn, frightened, even speechless.

Harlow’s monkeys often incapable of mating or extremely abusive, neglectful, or murderous towards first-born.

Most abusers were abused; abused are more likely to abuse…even though the majority of them don’t.

Consequences of Insecure Attachment

AUTHORITARIAN

PARENTING STYLES

rhymes with “Totalitarian”Authoritarian parents impose rules and expect obedience.

Permissive parents submit to their child’s desires, make few demands and use little punishment.

PERMISSIVE

Authoritative parents encourage open discussion and allow for exceptions when enforcing rules.

AUTHORITATIVE

“Because I said so.”

“Whatever.”

“Let’s talk about it.”

AUTHORITARIAN

PARENTING STYLES - consequences

rhymes with “Totalitarian”– anxious, withdrawn, and unhappy

disposition – poor reactions to frustration

– (girls are particularly likely to give up & boys become especially hostile)

– do well in school – (studies may show authoritative parenting is

comparable)

– not likely to engage in antisocial

activities

PERMISSIVE

PARENTING STYLES - consequences

-poor emotion regulation (under regulated)-rebellious and defiant when desires are challenged. -low persistence to challenging tasks -antisocial behaviors

AUTHORITATIVE

PARENTING STYLES - consequences

-lively and happy disposition, high self-esteem-self-confident about ability to master tasks. - Very achievement-oriented-well developed emotion regulation -developed social skills

What about day-care?

- More than ½ of mothers work so there is an increasing number of young children in day-care. What does the research say about the effects of day-care on a child’s social development?

- Some children in day-care are more likely to be independent and share their toys better. They are more outgoing and confident.

- Others become more aggressive and less cooperative.

- Bottom line: Results are mixed. It depends on the quality of care and how much attention each child receives.