Key Topics

• Developmental Psychology
• Outline the Nature vs. Nurture Debate
• DNA + Genes as related to behavior
• Human Growth Sequence-
• Know the period and description of each
• Example: prenatal…adolescence
• Why is Prenatal a sensitive period? (Teratogens)
• Fetal Vulnerability
• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
• What do parents need to know about a healthy pregnancy?
• Lamaze- how doe this work psychologically?
• Physiology of a new born brain
• What can be understood about: deprivation and enhanced stimulation?
• List and describe-Neonate Inborn behaviors
• What do we need to know about Emotional Development Patterns?
• Social Referencing
• Konrad Lorenz- and Imprinting and infants
• Separation anxiety/Disorder
• Problems

• Attachments and how to promote secure attachments
• Harry Harlow and Baby Monkey Study
• Contact Comfort
• Breast Feeding and psych
• Optimal Caregiving-Maternal and Paternal influences
• Diana Baumrind and Parenting Styles-
• Spanking: is it ok?
• Which type of discipline has most potential for damage?
• Outline Language Development and maturation
• Noam Chomsky vs critics
• Cognitive Development and Jean Piaget
• Piaget Stages
• Piaget and parenting
• Piaget Criticism
• Vygotsky-Social Cultural theory and Zone of Proximal Development
• Scaffolding
• Effective Parenting (page 126)
• Our parents
• Ingredients

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Developmental Psychology: �Conception to Death

Myers Modules 45-54

McElhaney

Unit 6 Part 1 Development:

• Importance of Development
• Basic Ideas
• Developmental Psychology Defined
• Nature-Nurture
• Conception
• DNA
• Dominant and Recessive Genes Features

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• X and Y Chromosomes
• Human Growth Sequence
• Prenatal Development
• Newborn Temperament
• Sensitive Period
• Congenital Disorders
• Fetal Vulnerabilities
• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
• Teratogens
• Thalidomide

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Importance of Development

• “Almost every topic in psychology holds personal relevance, but development stands out. As you work your way through this unit, think of how the material relates to you, your relatives, and your friends. The more often you do this, the easier it will be to remember the material.”:

Basic Ideas

• Developmental Psychology -Examines our physical, cognitive, and Social development across the life span (bio-psycho-social)
• Genetic Heritage + Environment = Personality
• Parenting + nurturing + Environment is important
• Development is effected by deprivation + enrichment
• Emotional bonds with caregivers is very important
• Language learning is a key step in development
• Piaget’s Stage Theory- maps how thinking develops
• Vygotsky’s Theory- says A child’s mind is shaped by human relationships
• Effective Child Discipline- is consistent, humane, encouraging + respectful communication
• Genetics Research tells us stuff = Predications Related to Genetic Problems can be made

Developmental Psychology Defined

• The Study of progressive (over time) changes in behavior and abilities

Homework: ask parent about breast feeding experience.

• Conception (Video) (other)
• Woman Egg Cells, size of a .
• Women born with all the eggs they will ever have…
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• Man Sperm Cells (200 million sperm in 1 shot)
• Men produce sperm beginning in puberty till death

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DNA: Deoxyribonucleic Acid

• 3 billion pairs
• Genes
• Small areas of DNA code
• 40,000 genes in cells

Polygenic- something controlled by many genes

46 Chromosomes- contained in each human cell nucleus

Sperm and Ovum Carry 23 Chromosomes Each

Dominant and Recessive Features

• The feature will appear when gene is present

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• Must be paired with 2^nd recessive gene before effect will be expressed

Predictions related to genetic problems can be made

Mechanisms of recessive and dominant inheritance.

• Recessive Inheritance
• Both parents carry a normal gene (N), and a faulty, recessive, gene (n). The parents, although carriers, are unaffected by the faulty gene.

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• Their offspring are affected, not affected, or carriers. This type of inheritance was first shown by Mendel.

• Dominant Inheritance One parent has a single, faulty dominant gene (D), which overpowers its normal counterpart (d), affecting that parent. When the affected parent mates with an unaffected and non-carrier mate (dd), the offspring are either affected or not affected, but they are not carriers.

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X and Y Chromosomes

• Two of the chromosomes (the X and the Y chromosome) determine your gender and are called sex chromosomes:
• Females have 2 X chromosomes.
• Males have 1 X and 1 Y chromosome.
• The Y chromosome determines the male gender, but does little else.
• Each parent contributes one half of each chromosome pair to their child –
• 22 autosomal chromosomes and 1 sex chromosome.

The mother always contributes an X chromosome to the child.

• The father may contribute an X or a Y.
• Father determines the gender of the child.

Down syndrome is the most common chromosomal disorder (1 out of 800).

• Affected individuals have an extra copy of chromosome 21.
• This unbalanced set of genes results in mild to moderate mental retardation and numerous physical changes.
• Cause associated with older male sperm defect

Human Growth Sequence�Types of Children (Charts of Developmental Milestones)(Charts of Developmental Milestones) another

Figure 45.3  Prenatal development  (a)

The embryo grows and develops rapidly.

At 40 days, the spine is visible and the arms and legs are beginning to grow.

(b) By the end of the second month, when the fetal period begins, facial features, hands, and feet have formed.

(c) As the fetus enters the fourth month, its 3 ounces could fit in the palm of your hand.

Newborn Temperament� Types of Children (Charts of Developmental Milestones)(Charts of Developmental Milestones) another Genetic?

Sensitivity

• Irritability
• Distractibility
• Typical mood
• 40% are easy= relaxed + agreeable
• 10% difficult=moody intense, easily angered
• 15% slow to warm- restrained, unexpressive, shy
• 35% are combination of the traits

Sensitive Periods

• Environment influences people
• Sensitive- periods- times when children are more susceptible to environmental influences

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• “Congenital (from birth) disorder involves defects in or damage to a developing fetus involves defects in or damage to a developing fetus. Can be Genetic Disorders” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congenital_disorder

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• Poor Prenatal care- may cause birth defects-injuries- need good nutrition,

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Genetic disorders (inherited) NATURE

Inherited

Sickle Cell Anemia, Hemophilia, Cystic Fibrosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Albinism

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Fetal Vulnerability

• Mothers can pass on addiction to babies
• Many medications & drugs are harmful to fetus (page 96)

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• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome caused by Repeated heavy drinking
• Low birth-weight
• Small head
• Bodily defects
• Facial Malformation
• Emotional, behavioral, mental disabilities

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Smoking is Bad

• Mothers who smoke
• Babies have lower scores on language and mental ability

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• Teratogens- anything that can cause birth defects
• Thalidomide Thalidomide pictures

Unit 6 Part 1 Review:

• Importance of Development
• Basic Ideas
• Developmental Psychology Defined
• Nature-Nurture
• Conception
• DNA
• Dominant and Recessive Genes Features

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• X and Y Chromosomes
• Human Growth Sequence
• Prenatal Development
• Newborn Temperament
• Sensitive Period
• Congenital Disorders
• Fetal Vulnerabilities
• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
• Teratogens
• Thalidomide

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Unit 6 Part 2 Development:

• Healthy Pregnancy
• Childbirth
• Lamaze Classes
• General Anesthesia
• Epidural Block
• C-Section
• Forceps
• Newborn Brain
• Neural Networks
• Breast Feeding
• Colostrum

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• Deprivation vs Enrichment
• Developmental Milestones
• Grasping Reflex
• Rooting Reflex
• Sucking Reflex
• Moro Reflex
• Babinski Reflex
• Neonate Vison
• Maturation
• Social Attachments
• Imprinting
• Konrad Lorenz
• Separation Anxiety
• Separation Anxiety Disorder

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Healthy Pregnancy

• Education
• Nutrition
• Relaxation- stress reduction
• Avoid teratogens
• Exercise
• Education

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Childbirth

• Lamaze (videoLamaze (video) #2

Lamaze Classes- Ferdinand Lemaze

Learn about what to expect and how it works

Coping + emotional support

• General Anesthesia= medication introduced to the blood stream of the mother, to reduce pain may cause lag in muscular & neural development
• Epidural Block- blocks the channels of pain (video)
• C Section

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Newborn Brain

• Brain has fewer- dendrites + synapses

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• During first 3 years Brain Density increases

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• Stimulation causes brain growth
• Deprivation = lack of stimulation

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Neural Networks

Deprivation vs. Enrichment

• Enrichment
• Complex Environment
• Intellectually Stimulating
• *Extra Enhanced Stimulation- increases brain size
• So enriched complex, stimulating environment is good.
• Parents open kids to experiences- colors, music, people, things to see, taste, smell, touch
• Deprivation
• Lack of stimulation
• IQ down
• Emotional Scaring
• Poverty can impact development-
• Lower IQ- Fearful, unhappy
• Prone to hostile- aggressive behavior

Breast Feeding

• Colostrum- Rich protein produced by breast first days after birth
• Prevents disease includes anti-bodies
• Includes lots of touching
• IQ: Study showed average of 6 point IQ Boost
• For babies fed for 7-9 months
• Why?:
• Brain nourishment + more touching
• Close to mother infant relationship

Developmental Milestones:

• Neonates= Newborn Infant
• Very Responsive
• Interest in Human Face
• Inborn Behaviors
• Grasping Reflex- object pressed for the palm of neonate
• Rooting Reflex= head turning & Nursing
• Caused by touching babies cheek
• Sucking Reflex= to obtain food
• Moro Reflex= baby clings to mom when fear/sounds
• Babinski reflex When the sole of the foot is firmly stroked, the big toe bends back toward the top of the foot and the other toes fan out. This is a normal reflex up to about 2 years of age.

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Neonate Vision

• Mimic Facial Expressions
• Can see 1 foot away
• Drawn to Familiar faces
• Babies can see large patterns & shapes
• Adult vision is 30 times sharper
• See curves, circles, bright lights
• At 6 months different shapes
• At 9 months differentiates between animals
• Age 2 unusual objects interest kids

Maturation

• Concept of physical growth + Body-Brain System
• There is an ordered sequence of development

Social Attachments (key aspect)

• Self Awareness
• 1. Depends on brain maturation
• 2. Self recognition-
• Occurs usually 15 months
• Social Referencing:
• End of first year
• Babies use social referencing
• Observing others to obtain information or guidance
• Helps tell us how to respond

Imprinting �(Animals/some birds only)

• Rapid early learning of permanent behavior patterns
• Konrad Lorenz
• Ethologist (Studied animal behavior patterns)
• Study of Imprinting
• Geese follow first large moving object they see
• Geese- imprinted on Lorenz
• Imprinting applied to humans = Emotional Attachment

Unit 6 Part 2 Review:

• Healthy Pregnancy
• Childbirth
• Lamaze Classes
• General Anesthesia
• Epidural Block
• C-Section
• Forceps
• Newborn Brain
• Neural Networks
• Breast Feeding
• Colostrum

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• Deprivation vs Enrichment
• Developmental Milestones
• Grasping Reflex
• Rooting Reflex
• Sucking Reflex
• Moro Reflex
• Babinski Reflex
• Neonate Vison
• Maturation
• Social Attachments
• Imprinting
• Konrad Lorenz
• Separation Anxiety
• Separation Anxiety Disorder

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Unit 6 Part 3 Development:

• Separation Anxiety
• Attachment Qualities
• Securely Attached
• Insecure Avoidant
• Insecure Ambivalent
• Harry Harlow
• Comfort Contact
• Maternal/Paternal Influences
• Parenting Styles
• Authoritarian
• Overly Permissive
• Authoritative

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• Problem with Spanking
• Types of Discipline
• Power Assertion
• Withdrawal of Affection
• Management Techniques
• Effective Parenting

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Emotional Attachment (bonding)

• During first year of life
• Attachment by infant to caregivers
• Separation Anxiety (evidence of emotional attachment)
• When babies exhibit behavior of crying, fear,
• When left alone or with strangers
• Intense Separation Anxiety is a problem

Separation Anxiety Disorder

5% of all children (1 in 20)

Children manifest misery when separated

Excessive fear

Reluctant to leave home

Reluctant to sleep at friends house

Reluctant to go to school

Attachment Qualities:

• 1. Securely Attached:
• When mothers leave and return
• Stable positive emotional bonds
• Upset by mom’s absence but seek to be near when returned
• Secure Attached by year 1 is good
• More resilient- show curiosity
• Problem solving ability
• Social Competence in preschool
• 2. Insecure-Avoidant:
• Anxious emotional bond
• Turn away from mother
• When they return
• 3. Insecure Ambivalent
• Anxious emotional bond
• Seek to be near returning mom
• Resist contact with mom

Harry Harlow-

• Baby Monkey Studies:

Baby Monkey Separated from mothers

Surrogate mothers- Wire and Soft

Monkeys went to soft mom

• Contact Comfort
• Babies cling to soft mothers for Security + Comfort in fearful situations
• Babies/kids get reassured feelings
• Relates to sensitivity of brain development

Video

Maternal/Paternal Influences�

• Maternal Influences🡪
• Best to allow/provide children- educational experience
• Let children initiate activities

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• Optimal Caregiving:
• Proactive maternal Involvement
• Parental Responsiveness
• To child – feelings & needs
• Parent need to change approach over time

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• Paternal influences
• Playmate for infants
• Tactile- lifting tickling
• Physically Arousing-
• Rough play
• Come and go
• Action oriented
• Exploratory
• Risk taking

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Parenting Styles

Authoritarian:

• Expectations stay out of trouble
• Rigid rules
• Strict obedience
• Put responsibilities on kids
• Kids have few rights
• Children- usually obedient, self controlled
• Must accept parent view of right and wrong
• Emotionally stiff
• Withdrawn
• Higher rates of drug abuse

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• Overly Permissive:
• Little guidance
• Too much freedom
• Low accountability
• Rights but few responsibilities
• Rules not enforced
• Spoiled kids
• = poorly behaved child

• Authoritative
• Firm consistent guidance
• With love & affection
• Not harsh
• Not rigid
• Encourage child:
• To act responsibility
• To think
• To make good decisions
• Children are competent
• Independent
• Self controlled
• Assertive

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Researchers Diana Baumrind found 3 styles

Spanking:�Studies say no�

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• Most kids show no signs of long term damage
• If spanking is used with supportive parenting

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• Problem: Frequent spanking = aggression

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• Could cause emotional damage

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• Problem: spanking doesn’t change behavior by itself.

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Types of Discipline:

• 1. Power Assertion:
• Physical Punishment
• Force
• Take away privileges
• Effects:
• Defiance, rebellious, fear, hatred of parents

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2. Withdrawal of Affection/Love

• Withholding affection
• Refusing to speak to a child
• Rejecting
• Threatening to leave

Effects:

• Self –Esteem= Self Regard
• High Self Esteem = worthwhile= is important
• Low Self Esteem = connected to physical punishment and withholding of love
• Anxious
• Insecure, dependent on adults for approval

3. Management Techniques:

• Combine
• Praise
• Recognition
• Approval
• Rules
• Reasoning
• Related to self-esteem
• Problem:
• Need to adjust to kids level

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Psychology in Action= Effective Parenting

*Most people parent the way they were parented.

Thus more mistakes are made.

2 Ingredients of Effective Parenting:

1 Communication 2 Discipline

What to do:

Set Boundaries of behavior for kids

Be consistent= stable rules of conduct-🡪 creates security

Problems

Saying one thing and doing something else

Making statements you don’t mean

Overstating consequences

Not checking to see if the child has done something wrong

Contradicting rules set by spouse

Mean what you say

Responding differently to same behavior

Unit 6 Part 3 Review:

• Attachment Qualities
• Securely Attached
• Insecure Avoidant
• Insecure Ambivalent
• Harry Harlow
• Comfort Contact
• Maternal/Paternal Influences
• Parenting Styles
• Authoritarian
• Overly Permissive
• Authoritative

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• Problem with Spanking
• Types of Discipline
• Power Assertion
• Withdrawal of Affection
• Management Techniques
• Effective Parenting

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Unit 6 Part 4 Development:

• Stage Theory
• Piaget
• Cognitive Development
• Schema Theory
• Assimilation
• Accommodation
• Piaget Stages
• Sensorimotor
• Preoperational
• Concrete Operational
• Formal Operational

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• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Theory of Mind
• Social Deficiencies
• Vygotsky
• Social Cognitive Development
• Horror Story

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Psychological Stage Theories:

• Know these theories
• Piaget
• Kohlberg
• Erikson
• Freud

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Stage theories of development suggest that development can be divided into distinct stages which are characterized by differences in behavior.

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Stages usually correspond to AGE and Behavior

We behave a certain way at certain chronological ages.

Piaget

• Cognitive Development
• Jean Piaget (Swiss 1950s)
• Theory & Insight into how kids develop thinking
• Found cognition progresses through stages
• Children’s thinking is concrete (less abstract)
• Need examples- objects to see or touch

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Schema Theory

• Schema: is a mental model the brain uses to organize information and integrate new information into the existing model or schema-

Assimilation and Accommodation

• Assimilation:
• We interpret new experiences in terms of our current understanding or Schema

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• Kids use existing knowledge to new situations

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• Accommodation:
• We adjust our schema to incorporate new experiences= refining our schema

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• Ideas + knowledge are modified to fit new requirements
• “New ideas are created to accommodate new experiences.”

Assimilation and Accommodation

Piaget

• Age 0-2 Sensorimotor Stage
• Age 2-7 Preoperational Stage
• Age 7-11 Concrete Operational Stage
• Age 11 and up Formal Operational: Abstract

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Piaget Stages:

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• Age 0-2 Sensorimotor Stage
• Non-verbal intellect
• Learning Coordination
• Senses
• Object permanence
• Objects continue to exist when out of sight

Age 2-7 Pre-Operational Stage

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• Before 6-7 children think concretely
• Age 7 more logical thinking
• Begin to think symbolically
• Still intuitive beginning logic
• Language developing
• Egocentric= unable to see the viewpoint of others – self concerned
• Selfish

Age 7-11 Concrete Operational Stage

• Concept of conservation developed
• Idea that objects have mass and volume constancy
• Proportions
• Children begin to use time, space and number
• Logical Thinking
• Concrete objects
• Categories
• Principles

Age 11 and up Formal Operational: Abstract

• Abstract Principles develop
• Less egocentric
• Adolescent
• Can consider Hypothetical Possibilities
• Adult abilities
• Inductive Reasoning
• Deductive Reasoning
• Formal thinking needs and enhanced by (not just maturity)
• Environment
• Knowledge
• Experience
• Wisdom

Quiz Piaget

• List 4 stages
• Add one detail for each stage
• Assimilation (define and explain)
• Accommodation
• Egocentrism
• Object Permanence
• Conservation

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How does Autism Spectrum Disorder affect development? (ASD)

• Theory of Mind:-At term used to describe the ability to read other peoples’ mental state (thinking, emotions)
• 1 in 110 American children are affected
• Increasing prominence
• 4 boys to every girl

Social Deficiencies

• There’s a rising rate of ASD
• Impaired Theory of Mind is caused by Poor communication among brain regions that normally work together.
• Causes a problem and limits ability to understand another’s point of view.
•  Difficulty inferring thoughts and feelings of others.
• Rigid fixed interests and repetitive behaviors
• Deficiencies in communication

Different levels of severity

• High functioning
• Normal Intelligence
• Exceptional skill or talent in 1 area (often)
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• Distractibility
• Causes?
• “Extreme male brain” (might be too much testosterone in the uterus)
• Abnormal Brain Development
• Perhaps dysfunctional sperm mutates

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Blooms�Taxonomy

Vygotsky and Socio-Cognitive Theory of Development

• Children’s thinking develops through dialogues with expert others (more skilled)
• Children are guided by experts = Tutors= parents=teachers
• Zone of Proximal (close) Development (Learning)
• Children can achieve more complex/higher levels with support working with expert others or skilled partners
• Scaffolding=
• Temporary Support to help kids learn
• Must be responsive to children’s needs
• Mental bridges

• Horror Story of Neglect and Abuse:

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• Romanian Orphanages (Video) disturbing

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