Developmental Psychology Focuses on the physical, mental, and social changes that occur throughout the life cycle.

Developmental Psychology Focuses on the physical, mental, and social changes that occur throughout the life cycle

Warm-up: Development Vocabulary Write down key terms for each age range. Think of

things like physical, emotional, intellectual growth & conflict at that age.

First year1 to 34 to 5

6 to 1213 to 1819 to 2525 to 4545 to 6565 on

Developmental Psychology

Issue Details

Nature/Nurture

How do genetic inheritance (our nature) and experience (the

nurture we receive) influence our behavior?

Continuity/StagesIs development a gradual, continuous process or a

sequence of separate stages?

Stability/Change

Do our early personality traits persist through life, or do we

become different persons as we age.

Prenatal Development and the Newborn

Conception

Conception

Prenatal Development

Zygote- 0-14 DAYS Embryo Fetus- 9 WEEKS

Prenatal Development

Teratogens Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)

Infants are born with reflexes that aid in survival:

Infant Reflexes

• Rooting— turning the head and opening the mouth in the direction of a touch on the cheek

• Grasping— curling the fingers around an object

• Stepping Reflex– reflex that causes newborns to start a stepping motion

as they touch a surface

Infant Reflexes

• Sucking— sucking rhythmically in response to oral stimulation

• Moro (startle reflex)— throwing the arms out, arching the back and bringing the arms together as if to hold onto something (in response to loud noise or sudden change in position of the head)

The Competent Newborn

ReflexesCriesPreference for facesPreference for mom’svoice

Infancy Childhood

Physical DevelopmentBrain Development

Brain development Pruning process Maturation

Physical DevelopmentMotor Development

6 mo. 8-9 mo. 12 mo. 15 mo.Sitting crawling standing walking

Experience has little role in this progression

Physical DevelopmentMaturation and Infant Memory

Infantile amnesia- 3.5 years limited neural connections – what’s your earliest memory?

Jean Piaget

Cognition- how people know, think and remember

Schema

Assimilation

Accommodation

Schemaa

concept or framework that organizes and interprets information“

mental mold”Assimilation

interpreting one’s new

experience in terms of one’s existing schemas

- all four-legged animals are “dogs”

Accommodationc

hanging one’s current understandings

(schemas) to incorporate new

information or experiences

Piaget’s Stages of Development Sensorimotor stage – infancy to 2 years Preoperational- 2 to 6-7 years Concrete operational – 6-7 to 12 years Formal Operational- 12 years

Sensorimotor Stage Information about the world is gained through touching, looking, hearing, mouthing, and grasping Fear of strangers Children younger than 6 months have no concept of Object Permanence

Cognitive DevelopmentPiaget’s Theory and Current Thinking

Sensorimotor Stage O

bject permanence “out of sight, out of mind”







Can children in the sensorimotor stage think? Baby mathematics- when shown an impossible outcome, children stare longer

1. Objects placedin case.

2. Screen comesup.

3. Object is removed.

4. Impossible outcome:Screen drops, revealing two objects.

4. Possible outcome:Screen drops, revealingone object.

Preoperational stage

Children struggle with conservation and egocentrism Impulse control

Videos


Preoperational Stage

Conservation



Conservation



Conservation

Imagine two identical jars, with one jar containing exactly 200 red jelly beans and the other exactly 200 black jelly beans. I fill a scoop with 15 red jelly beans and pour them into the jar containing the black jelly beans. I then shake that jar, mixing the beans. Next I scoop 15 beans from the jar containing the black jelly beans and pour them into the jar containing the red jelly beans. Will the number of red jelly beans in the jar that initially contained only black jelly beans be the same as the number of black jelly beans in the jar that originally contained only red jelly beans?


Egocentrism Can you see me?


Theory of Mind T

he ability to infer o

ther people’s thoughts a

nd feelings Lev Vygotsky


Concrete Operational Stage Children understand conservation and can do mathematical transformations If 8+4=12, then 12 - 4= 8


Formal Operational Stage A

bstract concepts S

ymbols and imagined realities A

dvanced moral reasoning






Cognitive DevelopmentReflecting on Piaget’s Theory

Influential theory Development is more continuous Larger emphasis on social factors

Cognitive Development

Autism

Social DevelopmentOrigins of Attachment

Attachment B

ody contact Harry Harlow’s studies Isolation

Familiarity

Critical period Imprinting Sensitive period

Imprinting

Social DevelopmentAttachment Differences: Temperament and Parenting

Ainsworth’s “strange situation” S

ecure attachment I

nsecure attachment

Attachment Differences

Placed in a strange situation, 60% of children express secure attachment, i.e., they explore their environment happily in the presence of their mothers. When their

mother leaves, they show distress.

The other 30% show insecure attachment. These children cling to their mothers or caregivers and are less likely to explore

the environment.

Childhood attachment patterns can have an impact in later life: Securely attached children tend to have more stable romantic relationships and higher self-esteem

Social DevelopmentAttachment Differences: Temperament and Parenting

Temperament E

asy, difficult & slow to warm up babies

Erikson’s Basic trust

Sense that the world is

trustworthy and

predictable

Temperament Emotional reactivity and intensity Easy—adaptable, positive mood,

regular habits Slow to warm up—low activity,

somewhat slow to adapt, generally withdraw from new situations

Difficult—intense emotions, irritable, cry frequently

Average—unable to classify (1/3 of all children)

Social DevelopmentDeprivation of Attachment

Early deprivation of attachment- can lead to physical, psychological, or social problems Disruption of attachment

Social DevelopmentSelf-Concept

Self-concept S

elf-esteem- sense of one’s identity and personal worth- 6 mo. to 8-10 yrs.

Self-awareness

By15-18 months children can recognize their reflection in a mirror

Social DevelopmentParenting Styles

Parenting styles (Baumrind)

Authoritarian

Permissive

Authoritative

Correlation versus causation

Social Development: Child-Rearing PracticesAuthoritarian parents impose rules and expect obedience “Don’t interrupt.” “Why? Because I said so.”Permissive submit to children’s desires, make few demands,

use little punishmentAuthoritative both demanding and responsive set rules, but explain reasons and encourage open

discussionRejecting-Neglecting completely uninvolved; disengaged. Expect little

and invest little

Gender DevelopmentGender Similarities and Differences

Gender and aggression A

ggression Physical versus relational aggression

Gender and social power Gender and social connectedness

Mothers?

Who is more likely to smile at others?

Gender DevelopmentThe Nature of Gender

Sex chromosomes X

chromosome Y

chromosome

Sex hormones T

estosterone E

strogen

Gender DevelopmentThe Nurture of Gender

Gender Role R

ole

Gender and child -rearing G

ender identity G

ender typing

Gender DevelopmentThe Nurture of Gender

Parents and Peers

Parents and Early Experiences

Experience and brain development

Peer influence

Adolescence

Adolescence the transition period

from childhood to adulthood

extending from puberty to independence

Introduction

Adolescence

Physical Development

Puberty P

rimary sexual characteristics S

econdary sexual characteristics T

iming of sexual characteristics


Cognitive Development

Adolescents’ ability to reason (what stage is this?) gives them a new level of social

awareness. In particular, they may think about the following:1. Their own thinking.

2. What others are thinking.3. What others are thinking about

them.4. How ideals can be reached. They

criticize society, parents, and even themselves.

5. Good and evil, truth and justice, God in deeper terms

Cognitive DevelopmentDeveloping Morality

Lawrence Kohlberg P

reconventional morality C

onventional morality P

ostconventional morality

Moral feeling Moral action

Moral Thinking

1. Preconventional Morality: Before age 9, children show morality to avoid punishment or gain reward.

2. Conventional Morality: By early adolescence, social rules and laws are upheld for their own sake.

3. Postconventional Morality: Affirms people’s agreed-upon rights or follows personally perceived ethical principles.

Moral Action

Moral action involves doing the right thing. People who engage in doing the right thing develop

empathy for others and the self-discipline to resist their own impulses.

Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development

Punishment and obedience orientation. Obey rules to avoid punishment.

Naïve hedonism. Conforms to get rewards and to have favors returned.

Good boy/girl morality. Conforms to avoid disapproval or dislike by others.

Conforms to avoid censure by authorities.

Conforms to maintain communities. Emphasis on individual rights.

Individual principles of conscience.

Step 6

Step 5

Step 4

Step 3

Step 2

Step 1

Erikson’s Theory

Biological in belief that there are innate drives to develop social relationships and that these promote survival (Darwinism) Divided life span into eight psychosocial stages, each associated with a different drive and a problem or crisis to resolve Outcome of each stage varies along a continuum from positive to negative

Social Development

Forming an identity I

dentity S

ocial identity I

ntimacy

Parent and peer relationships

Adolescence: Social DevelopmentIdentity one’s sense of

self the adolescent’s

task is to solidify a sense of self by testing and integrating various roles

As adolescents move into adulthood, their self-concepts typically become more positive

Early Adulthood

Intimacy the ability to

form close, loving relationships

a primary developmental task in late adolescence and early adulthood

Parent and Peer InfluenceAlthough teens become

independent of their parents as they grow

older, they nevertheless relate to their parents on

a number of things, including religiosity and

career choices. Peer approval and

relationships are also very important.

Emerging Adulthood

Emerging adulthood

Emerging Adulthood

Emerging adulthood spans ages 18-25. During this time, young adults may live with their parents and attend college or work. On average, emerging

adults marry in their mid-twenties.

Ariel S

kelley/ Corbis

Adulthood


Physical changes in middle adulthood M

enopause

Physical changes in later life S

ensory abilities H

ealth D

ementia and Alzheimer’s Disease- irreversible degradation of brain cells (AcH)

Mentally and physically active people less likely to get Alzheimer’s

Early Adulthood (20-39)

Most people get married, but 50% of those couples get divorced.Mutual respect is key for a happy marriage.

Women assume more of the family obligations, although men are slowly doing more (up from 20 to 25% of housework and childcare).

The American family is changing. Less than 10% of the American population is made up of married couples with children with only the father employed.

Middle Adulthood (40-59)

1. Generally, men become more expressive and women become more independent and assertive. This may lead to low marital satisfaction.

2. For women who have had few outside contacts, empty-nest syndrome may occur when the children have left the home.

3. In the late 40s most women begin to experience menopause. Psychological problems associated with this change have been exaggerated.

Not everyone experiences difficulties. Some common factors include

Cognitive DevelopmentAging and Memory

Recall versus recognition Who does better on recall tests?

Social DevelopmentAdulthood’s Ages and Stages

Social clock

Adulthood:

Love During the past 30 years divorce rates

have been rising and reported levels of happiness in those that survive have been declining.

The average marriage in the U.S. lasts 9.4 years

Divorce rate in the U.S. is 50% People whose first marriage ends in

divorce typically enter a second marriage Cohabitation At what age are divorces most likely? What is the best predictor of marital

satisfaction?

Work

Happiness for many adults stems from working in a job that fits their interests and provides them

with a sense of competence and accomplishment.C

harles Harbutt/ A

ctuality

Well-Being Across the Life Span

Well-being and people’s feelings of satisfaction are stable across the life span.

What is the ideal age?

Middle Adulthood

Muscular strength, reaction time, sensory abilities and cardiac output begin to decline after the mid-

twenties. Around age 50, women go through menopause, and men experience decreased

levels of hormones and fertility.

Willie Mays batting performance.B

ettman/ C

orbis

Mood stability?

Biopsychosocial Influences on Successful Aging




Old Age: Life Expectancy

Life expectancy at birth increased from 49 in 1950 to 67 in 2004 and to over 80 in developed

countries. Women outlive men and outnumber them at most ages.

What are some results/consequences of increased life expetancy?

Gorges G

obet/ AP

Photo

Adulthood: Physical Development

Health Elderly are more

susceptible to life threatening ailments such as cancer and pneumonia and less often suffer short-term ailments such as flu and cold viruses.

Aging and Memory

Recognition memory does not decline with age, and material that is meaningful is recalled better than meaningless material. The same is true for prospective memory (remember to …). Memory can be improved by exercise (both physical and

mental)

David M

yers

Adulthood: Cognitive Development

Cross-Sectional Study a study in which

people of different ages are compared with one another

Longitudinal Study a study in which

the same people are restudied and retested over a long period

25 32 39 46 53 60 7467 8135

40

45

50

55

60

Age in years

Reasoningabilityscore

Cross-sectional method

Longitudinal method

Cross-sectional methodsuggests decline

Longitudinal methodsuggests more stability

Aging and IntelligenceLongitudinal studies

suggest that intelligence remains relative as we

age. It is believed today that fluid intelligence

(ability to reason speedily) declines with

age, but crystallized intelligence (accumulated

knowledge and skills) does not.

Who’s a better video game player?

Adulthood’s Ages and Stages

Psychologists doubt that adults pass

through an orderly sequence of age-

bound stages. Mid-life crises at 40 are less likely to occur

than crises triggered by major events

(divorce, new marriage).

Neuroticism scores, 10,000 subjects(McCrae & Costa, 1996).

Death and Dying Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. Stages of grief: Denial Anger Bargaining Depression Acceptance

Reflections on Two Major Developmental Issues

Three Major Developmental Issues

Nature versus nurture Continuity and stages Stability and change

Continuity and Stages




The End

Definition Slides

Developmental Psychology= a branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span.

Zygote= the fertilized egg, it enters a 2-week period of rapid cell division and develops into an embryo.

Embryo= the developing human organism from about 2 weeks after fertilization through the second month.

Fetus= the developing human organism from 9 weeks after conception to birth.

Teratogens= agents, such as chemicals and viruses, that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)= physical and cognitive abnormalities in children caused by a pregnant woman’s heavy drinking. In severe cases, symptoms include noticeable facial misproportions.

Habituation= decreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation. As infants gain familiarity with repeated exposure to a visual stimulus, their interest wanes and they look away sooner.

Maturation= biological growth processes that enable orderly changes in behavior, relatively uninfluenced by experience.

Cognition= all mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating.

Schema= a concept or framework that organizes and interprets information.

Assimilation= interpreting our new experiences in terms of our existing schemas.

Accommodation= adapting our current understandings (schemas) to incorporate new information.

Sensorimotor Stage= in Piaget’s theory, the stage (from birth to about 2 years of age) during which infants know the world mostly in terms of their sensory impressions and motor activities.

Object Permanence= the awareness that things continue to exist when not perceived.

Preoperational Stage= in Piaget’s theory, the stage (from 2 to about 6 or 7 years of age) during which a child learns to use language but does not yet comprehend the mental operations of concrete logic..

Conservation= the principle (which Piaget believed to be a part of concrete operational reasoning) that properties such as mass, volume, and number remain the same despite changes in the forms of objects.

Egocentrism= in Piaget’s theory, the preoperational child’s difficulty taking another’s point of view.

Theory of Mind= people’s ideas about their own and other’s mental states – about their feelings, perceptions, and thoughts, and the behaviors these might predict.

Concrete Operational Stage= in Piaget’s theory, the stage of cognitive development (from about 6 or 7 to 11 years of age) during which children gain the mental operations that enable them to think logically about concrete events.

Formal Operational Stage= in Piaget’s theory, the stage of cognitive development (normally beginning about age 12) during which people begin to think logically about abstract concepts.

Autism= a disorder that appears in childhood and is marked by deficient communication, social interaction, and understanding of other’s states of mind.

Stranger Anxiety= the fear of strangers that infants commonly display, beginning by about 8 months of age.

Attachment= an emotional tie with another person; shown in young children by their seeking closeness to the caregiver and showing distress on separation.

Critical Period= an optimal period shortly after birth when an organism’s exposure to certain stimuli or experiences produces proper development.

Imprinting= the process by which certain animals form attachments during a critical period very early in life.

Temperament= a person’s characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity.

Basic Trust= according to Erik Erikson, a sense that the world is predictable and trustworthy; said to be formed during infancy by appropriate experiences with responsive caregivers.

Self-concept= our understanding and evaluation of who we are.

Gender= in psychology, the biologically and socially influenced characteristics by which people define male and female.

Aggression= physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt someone.

X Chromosome= the sex chromosome found in both men and women. Females have two X chromosomes; males have one. An X chromosome from each parent produces a female child.

Y Chromosome=the sex chromosome found only in males. When paired with an X chromosome from the mother, it produces a male child.

Testosterone= the most important of the male sex hormones. Both males and females have it, but the additional testosterone in males stimulates the growth of the male sex organs in the fetus and the development of the male sex characteristics during puberty.

Role= a set of expectations (norms) about a social position, defining how those in the position ought to behave.

Gender Role= a set of unexpected behaviors for males or for females.

Gender Identity= our sense of being male or female.

Gender Typing= the acquisition of a traditional masculine or feminine role.

Social Learning Theory= the theory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating and by being rewarded or punished.

Adolescence= the transition period from childhood to adulthood, extending from puberty to independence.

Puberty= the period of sexual maturation, during which a person becomes capable of reproducing.

Primary Sexual Characteristics= the body structures (ovaries, testes, and external genitalia) that makes sexual reproduction possible.

Secondary Sex Characteristics= nonreproductive sexual characteristics, such as female breasts and hips, male voice quality, and body hair.

Menarche= the first menstrual period.

Identity= our sense of self; according to Erikson, the adolescent’s task is to solidify a sense of self by testing and integrating various roles.

Social Identify= the “we” aspect of our self-concept; the part of our answer to “Who am I?” that comes from our group memberships.

Intimacy= in Erikson’s theory, the ability to form close, loving relationships; a primary developmental task in late adolescence and early adulthood.

Emerging Adulthood= for some people in modern cultures, a period from the late teens to mid-twenties, bridging the gap between adolescent dependence and full independence and responsible adulthood.

Menopause= the time of natural cessation of menstruation; also refers to the biological changes a woman experiences as her ability to reproduce declines.

Cross-sectional Study= a study in which people of different ages are compared with one another.

Longitudinal Study= research in which the same people are restudied and retested over a long period.

Crystallized Intelligence= our accumulated knowledge and verbal skills; tends to increase with age.

Fluid Intelligence= our ability to reason speedily and abstractly; tends to decrease during late adulthood.

Social Clock= the culturally preferred timing of social events such as marriage, parenthood, and retirement.

Developmental Psychology Focuses on the physical, mental, and social changes that occur throughout the life cycle.

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