Development
Area vs. Approach
Child Psychology
Infancy
Adolescence
Adulthood
Old Age
Prenatal
Development
Life-Span Human Development
From Conception to Death
Zygote to Infant
Prenatal Development Stage 1 = Zygote (the fertilized egg)
2 week period of rapid cell division (undifferentiated)
Ends with implantation to uterine wall Over half do not successfully implant
Prenatal Development Stage 2 = Embryo
human organism from 2 weeks through 8 weeks– Begins with implantation to the uterine wall – Placenta and major organs form, heart beats,
liver makes red blood cells
Prenatal Development Stage 3 = Fetus
human organism from 8 weeks after conception to birth
rapid growth of brain and body in final 3 months
Prenatal Development Nature AND nurture matter in utero
Critical periods (nurture) – particular stages of development when certain environmental influences have the most impact
Teratogen - any factor (e.g., chemicals, viruses) that can reach the embryo or fetus and cause a birth defect Nicotine – low birth weight, learning disabilities Marijuana – irritability, nervousness, tremors Cocaine – respiratory problems, learning disabilities,
seizures
Prenatal Development Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
physical and cognitive abnormalities in children caused by a pregnant woman’s heavy drinking (five drinks per day)
symptoms include facial misproportions, mental retardation, behavior problems
Critical Period:Thalidomide
Poor Nutrition (e.g., protein deficiency)
Nature vs. Nurture
Nature
Genetics
Nurture
Experience
Environment
Learning
Heritability
Conception and Twins• Monozygotic twins – (identical twins)
– one zygote splits into two separate but identical masses of cells
– each develops into a separate embryo.
• Dizygotic twins – (fraternal twins)– two eggs are separately fertilized by different sperm– each develops into a separate zygote, then a separate
embryo.
Nature vs. Nurture
Nature
Genetics
Nurture
Experience
Environment
LearningHeritability
Twin Studies
Monozygotic (identical) vs. Dizygotic (fraternal)
Cognitive Development
Piaget (Cognitive)
1.Sensorimotor
2.Preoperational
primitive concepts
3. Concrete Operational
rules
4. Formal Operational
abstract
Movement & Manipulation
Object Permanence
Single words, egocentrism
Movement & Manipulation
Conservation
Hypothetical reasoning
Cognitive Development
Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development
Schema
Cognitive structure
Accommodation
Creating or extending a schema
Assimilation
Using an existing schema
Cognitive & Moral Development
Piaget (Cognitive)
1.Sensorimotor
2.Preoperational
primitive concepts
3. Concrete Operational
rules
4. Formal Operational
abstract
hypothetical reasoning
Kohlberg (Moral)
1.(none)
2.Preconventional
reward/punishment
3. Conventional
rules
4. Post-Conventional
Moral Dilemmas
Studying Development
Cross-Sectional
Age Cohort
Longitudinal
Time Series
Adult Development
1. Independence
2. Marriage
3. Parenthood
4. Career
5. Mid-Life Crisis
6. Post-Parental
7. Separation Distress
8. Old Age
9. Death
Stage -- Crisis
Marital Satisfaction over the Life Span
