Child Psychology 1 14 14 Recurring issues themes in developmental psychology Continuity discontinuity o How well can developmental outcomes be predicted from early life Active passive child Nature nurture o What role do children have in their own development o How do heredity and environment influence development 1 21 14 Measurement in child development research Approaches o Systematic observation Naturalistic observation Structured observation o Sampling behavior with tasks o Self report parent or teacher report o Physiological response measurement Heart rate cortisol measures brain activity Measurement methods o Reliability o Validity Representative sampling o Populations o Samples General Design for research Research design correlational research o View relations as they exist in the world o Correlation coefficient Closer to 1 or 1 strong relationship Farther from 1 1 weak relationship Correlation does not imply causation First variable may cause the second variable Second may cause the first Neither variable is caused by the other both are caused by a third Research design Experimental studies unmeasured variable o Experiments systematically manipulate key variables selected by investigator Independent and dependent variable Equivalent groups created through random assignment equivalent in all respects except for manipulated independent variable If groups differ in dependent variable conclude that the manipulated independent variable is the cause o Field experiments natural setting o Quasi experiments almost experiments Independent variable is a subject variable groups not created through random assignment non equivalent groups more difficult to isolate independent variables as a cause o Age Related changes Longitudinal design Micro genetic study Cross sectional design Impaired memory functions in low birth weight infants same children tested at age again at age 3 Specialized face processing during infancy cross sectional samples or 3 6 and 9 month old infants tested them all at the same period of time Longitudinal sequential studies 1 30 14 Genetics Genotypes and Phenotypes o Freckles Alleles are carried on one of the autosomes first 22 chromosomes Freckles are a dominant trait Dave is heterozygous one dominant allele one recessive allele Genetic and Environmental influences in Development o Behavior genetics research Polygenic inheritance Phenotypes reflect combined activity of many genes Family study comparisons Compare individuals who vary in their genes and environments o Twins regular siblings parents and children children adoptive and biological parent o Genes and environment paths from genes to behavior o Types of similarity Rate of concordance if one twin has disorder what is chance that other twin will too Correlations MZ and DZ twins Paths from Genes to Behavior Three themes o 1 Heredity and environment interact dynamically throughout development Epigenesis continual interplay between genes and environment that drives development Prenatal development all cells contain the same DNA yet different cells take on different properties and functions Local environment plays a role Mothering effects rats with less nurturing moms differ in their response to stress form rats raised with more nurturing moms Hereditability extent to which differences between people are due to heredity Little variation in environment heritability is high More variability in environment heritability is low o 2 Genes help to determine the kinds of experiences that children have Temperamental characteristic influenced by the genes passed from parent to child Infant behavior influenced caretaker behavior in a way that creates a match between the child s genetic characteristics and the caretaking environment Sociability is a heritable trait When genes and environments match they mutually support one another in determined the course of the child s development o 3 Non shared environmental influences make children within a family different Shared influences those that make individuals within a household similar Non shared influences those that make individuals within a household dissimilar Conditions likely to contribute to a unique family environment for each child family composition birth order spacing between sibling temperament age handicap illness gender 2 6 14 Childbirth and Newborn Infant Prenatal Diagnosis o Ultrasound o Amniocentesis o Chorionic villus sampling The birth process o Beings during the last several weeks of pregnancy Braxton Hicks contractions gentle muscle contratcions at irregular intervals Help to dilate cervix to a width of 1 to 2 centimeters may help to move the fetus closer to the cervix in preparation for birth Labor begins when contractions start to appear at regular intervals about 10 20 minutes apart o Stages of labor 3 stages 1 Opening of cervix o contractions help to efface and open the cervix to 10 cm o mean duration about 8 14 hours for primiparous mothers o about 6 hours for multiparous mothers 2 Passage of infant o contractions last 60 90 seconds come once every 2 3 o minutes they serve to push the baby out 3 Delivery of the placenta afterbirth o takes less than 1 hour in most cases but contractions o continue for several hours to close the uterus o Approaches to childbirth Natural childbirth minimize unnecessary medical procedures natural methods pain relief Prepared childbirth childbirth classes Childbirth with doula supportive coach Choice of place of birth o Adjusting to Parenthood Reorganization of routines Physical and emotional reactions Postpartum depression o Birth Complications Irregular position Hypoxia lack of oxygen Cephalopelvic disproportion Prolapsed umbilical cord Preeclampsia pregnancy induced hypertension Prematurity Low birth weight o The baby at birth Faces a number of challenges Taking nutrition by mouth Regulate bodily autonomic functions Regulate breathing swallowing temperature digestion heart Regulate responses to sensory stimulation o Newborn Assessments How do we determine if a baby is healthy and adjusting to life outside rate the uterus APGAR vital signs in minutes following birth Comprehensive assessments newborn reflexes sates or arousal awareness social interactions o Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale BNBAS Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale Baby s behavior provides a window into what it will take to nuture the baby portrait of baby s strengths adaptive responses possible vulnerabilities Examines how well