Prenatal Development
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The development of a fetus from the union
of a sperm cell and an egg cell
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Three stages (Germinal, Embryonic, Fetal)
The Germinal Stage
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The period from conception to implantation.
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During the journey from the fallopian tubes
to the uterus the zygote divides hundreds of times.
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It takes 3 to 4 days for the zygote to travel
into the fallopian tubes and another 7 days for the zygote to implant in
the uterine wall.
The Embryonic Stage
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The period from implantation to the 8th week.
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Major organs are formed during this stage
(head, brain, heart, spinal cord, arms, legs, eyes, nose, mouth, fingers,
toes, and kidneys).
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Weighs about 1/30th of an ounce and is 1 inch
long.
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During the 7th week the genetic code (XX or
XY) begins to make changes internally and externally.
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Androgens are the male sex hormones which
prompt further masculinization.
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The fetus develops in an amniotic sac to help
stabilize and protect the unborn baby.
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The placenta allows for the baby to exchange
nutrients with the mother.
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The placenta connects with the baby through
the umbilical cord.
The Fetal Stage
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The period from the beginning of of the third
month until birth.
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By the 9th or 10th week the fetus can sense
external stimulation.
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During the 4th, 5th, and 6th months the fetuss
organs mature and it quadruples in size.
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Around the 14th week the mother begins to
detect fetal movements.
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In the seventh month the can differentiate
frequencies.
Perceptual Development
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Newborns spend about 16 hrs a day sleeping.
Vision
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Pupillary reflex is a condition present at
birth but gradually goes away after 2 or 3 months.
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Visual accommodation (focusing on objects)
is not present in Neonate. Newborns can see things most clearly from 7-9
inches away. Neonates gain this skill gradually and after 4 months they
can focus as good as adults.
Depth Perception
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Infants respond to monocular and binocular
cues by 6 to 8 months.
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Walk and Gibson (1961) experimented with a
"visual cliff" to see if the infant could judge that there was no ground
there. 8 of 10 were able to sense the cliff even with one eye covered.
Hearing
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On the 3rd day after birth infants can hear
tones from 200-1,000 Hz and that gradually increases to 20-20,000 Hz by
the time they are 5.
Smell
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Babies can differentiate from most smells
16 hours after birth.
Taste
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Infants can discriminate almost all tastes
1 day after birth
Touch
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Newborns are sensitive to touch but rather
insensitive to pain.
Reflexes
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Simple, unlearned, stereotypical responses
that are elicited by specific stimuli. Ex. breathing, rooting, sucking,
and blinking.
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Once the child develops control over muscles
and neural functions many of their reflexes drop out of their responses.
Development
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Arnold Gesell proved development reflected
both Nature and Nurture.
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Both are necessary to develop completely.
Continuous or Discontinuous?
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Watson and the behaviorists believed that
humans develop at a continuous pace.
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Maturation theorists think development happens
in stages.
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In actuality some things develop in a continuous
pace where as others develop in spurts.
Attachment
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The enduring affection tie that binds one
person to anther.
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Securely attached babies are linked positively
to a figure which creates feelings of security.
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Insecure attached babies are negatively linked
to a figure and show indifference.
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Indiscriminate attachment causes babies to
not prefer one caregiver from another.
Stages of Attachment
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The initial-preattachment phase, which last
from birth to 3 months and is characterized by indiscriminate attachment.
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The attachment-in-the-making phase, which
occurs at about 3 or 4 months and is characterized preferences to familiar
figures.
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The clear-cut-attachment phase, which occurs
at about 6 or 7 months and is characterized by intensified dependence on
the primary caregiver.
Theoretical Views of Attraction
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Behaviorists believe attachment is learned
through conditioning.
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Harlows view believed attachment is caused
by external care given.
Ex. Monkeys.
Maternal-sensitive period
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A period of time during which a mother, because
hormone levels in the body, is theorize to be particularly disposed toward
forming mother-infant bond of attachment.
Ways Restrictions are Enforced
Inductive Techniques- These are inductive
methods the attempt to provide children with knowledge and information
that will allow them to create positive behavior patterns in similar situations.
Power-Assertive Methods- Method in which
parents give their children physical rewards and punishments. Such as desserts
when they are good and spankings when they are bad.
€ Loss of Love- In this method some
parents try to control their children by threatening them with a loss of
love. They will do this by isolating or simply ignoring their children
when they misbehave.
Cognitive Development
Cognitive Function develops over a number
of years. Childrens perception of the world at this stage varies greatly
from that of adults. Many of their ideas are illogical. Jean Piaget (1896-1980)
contributed significantly to the understanding of childrens cognitive
development.
Jean Piagets Cognitive-Development Theory
Piaget hypothesized that childrens cognitive
processes develop in an orderly sequence
Piaget identified four major stages of cognitive
development:
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Sensorimotor (Birth - 2 years)
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Preoperational (2 - 7 years)
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Concrete Operational (7 - 12 years)
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Formal Operation (12 years and above)
Assimilation and Accommodation
Piaget described human thought or intelligence
in terms of assimilation and accommodation:
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Assimilation- responding to a new stimulus
through a reflex or existing habit
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Accommodation- the creation of new ways of
responding to objects or looking at the world
Sensorimotor Stage
(Birth to 2 years old)
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By the ages of 8 - 12 months, infants realize
that objects removed from sight are still there and will attempt to find
them. This is known as object permanence.
Preoperational Stage
(Ages 2 - 7 years old)
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Children in this between these ages are very
egocentric (assuming that others view the world as they do)
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Also show animism (they believe that inanimate
objects move because of will or spirit)
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They also show artificialism (they believe
that natural objects have been created by humans)
Concrete Operational Stage
(7 - 12 years old)
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In this stage children become more subjective
in their moral judgements (moral judgements are based on the motives of
the perpetrator)
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They also become more aware of the concept
of reversibility (realization that things can be made as they were
Formal Operational Stage
(Begins at about puberty (12 and older))
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Children develop syllogism (a form of reasoning
in which a conclusion is drawn from two statements or premises)
Information - Processing
Information processing is an approach
to cognitive development that deals with childrens advances in the input,
storage, retrieval, manipulation, and output of information
Development of...
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Selective Attention- The ability to focus
ones attention and screen out distractions advances steadily throughout
middle childhood
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Metacognition- Awareness and control of ones
cognitive abilities, as shown by intentional use of cognitive strategies
in solving problems
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Metamemory- Knowledge of the functions and
processes in ones own memory, as shown by use of cognitive strategies
to retain information
Kohlbergs theory of Moral Development
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Preconventional Level- A period during which
moral judgments are based largely on expectation of rewards or punishments.
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Conventional Level- A period during which
moral judgments largely reflect social conventions. A "law and order" approach
to morality.
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Postconventional Level- A period during which
moral judgments are derived from moral principles and people look to themselves
to set moral standards.
Adolescence
The period of life bounded by puberty
and the assumption of adult responsibilities. Boys and girls go through
growth spurts (body grows in spurts) and puberty (pituitary hormones/secretions
take place).
Adult Development
There are three stages (adulthoods) of
adult development:
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Young Adulthood- Spans over two decades from
ages 20 - 40
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Middle Adulthood- Covers the years from 40
- 60
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Late Adulthood- Begins at about 65
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