Developmental Psychology Universal aspects of lifespan development from conception through death Identifies cultural variations Explores physical cognitive social and emotional development Physical Development Cephalocaudal head to feet Proximodistal center moving outward Prenatal Development Zygote fertilized egg Germinal Phase Conception 2 Weeks Placenta structure that allows oxygen and nutrients to pass into fetus from mother s bloodstream allows waste to pass out Embryonic Stage 2 8 Weeks Head face and neck develop Buds for limbs form and grow Major organs digestive system differentiating Heartbeat begins Head is half of the size of the entire embryo Placenta becomes complete in this stage Fetal Stage 8 Weeks Birth 3rd Month Digestive organs begin to function Buds for teeth form Sex organs develop rapidly Arms fingers move 4 th Month Face looks human Lower body outgrows the head Bones are defined 5 th Month Fingernails and toenails appear Lanugo fine wooly hair over body Vernix waxy coating collects Helps babies pass through the birth canal 6 th Month Eyebrows lashes well defined Eyes completely formed 7 th Month Fetus capable of life outside uterus 8 th 9 th Month Fat is deposited for later use Fingernails beyond fingertips Lanugo is shed Myelination of brain takes place Chief organs increasing functioning Vernix covers entire body anomaly Important Concepts with Teratogens others Age of organism at exposure Teratogenic Agents Drugs or Chemicals Thalidomide Teratogens harmful toxins that affect development resulting in defect damage or Dose How much of a substance have you been exposed to Basic Heredity Vulnerably vs Sturdy some developing fetuses are simply stronger than Multiple Determination Stress nutrition lack of medical care Was given to women to help treat morning sickness but was later found to be a teratogen because their children were born with missing deformed limbs Stress Prolonged stress linked with pre maturity and low birth weight Smoking mild stimulant increased fetal activity low birth weight increased SIDS Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Marijuana low birth weight disturbed sleep in newborns reduced attention to environment almost born stoned and feeding risk of SIDS Heroin premature birth weight tremulous behavior shaking poor sleep patterns poor sucking Cocaine crack babies premature size weight tremulous high pitched crying respiratory and regurgitation problems rigidity withdrawal symptoms born addicted deformities Comorbidity abuse of multiple substances likely Likely that crack users are also drinking and smoking Alcohol leading teratogen in the United States Most common cause for mental retardation Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Growth retardation head and facial abnormalities look flattened microcephaly smaller heads skeletal brain and heart damage Behavioral issues such as poor impulse control poor attention hyperactivity over activity and cognitive deficits Children were unable to find similarities abstractionality Fetal Alcohol Effects some symptoms of FAS but less severe Individual differences and exposure determine whether a child has FAS or FAE Toxins in the workplace Sperm may also be impacted by Teratogenic Influences agent orange alcohol cocaine 90 day rule for sperm to regenerate Infants are born with certain reflexes sensory abilities and limitations Reflexes and sensory abilities of newborns and infants Vision intact functional can focus between 7 9 inches preference for human faces Hearing fetus can hear sounds around 6 months in utero can recognize mother s voice study with Dr Seuss story being read during pregnancy Taste and Smell both present at birth preference for sweet like bananas and chocolate dislike bitter Touch heat cold pressure and pain are all present at birth Reflexes inborn automatic responses to a particular form of stimulation Rooting Reflex survival value stroke cheek and baby will turn head towards the simulation Stepping Reflex basis for complex motor skills with bare feet touching floor infant will mimic a stepping response disappears around two months Sucking Reflex place a finger in a mouth and baby will suck permits feeding Eyeblink Reflex shine a bright light or clap they will close eyelids protects form strong simulation Babinski Reflex if run a finger down a child s foot the toes will fan out automatically no exact reason as to why Gross and Fine Motor Development Individual differences exist normative expectations for these skills and abilities often called milestones Age 2 3 Ages 3 4 Gross Motor walk rhythmically jump hop push a riding toy with feet Fine Motor remove simple clothing items start to use a spoon Gross Motor walking upstairs alternating feet catches ball by trapping in chest rides a tricycle Fine Motor fasten unfasten large buttons uses scissors copies lines circles draws a tadpole Gross Motor walks downstairs alternating feet running smoothly catch a ball with hands Fine Motor uses a fork cuts with scissors on lines copies triangles have the coordination and person Ages 4 5 rapid smooth steering some letters Ages 5 6 Gross Motor increases running speed true skipping ride a bicycle Fine Motor uses a knife to cut food tie shoes although recently children are not learning to tie shoes draw 6 part person copies words and numbers Gender Differences boys ahead of girls in force and power girls ahead in fine motor and gross motor skills which involve good balance Temperament relatively constant basic disposition which is inherent in a person that underlies Thomas and Chess identified three basic temperaments for infants difficult slow to warm and Difficult 10 Often wail cry and are negative in new situations eat and sleep 15 Often inactive adapt slowly and can be withdrawn and show a 40 Cheerful adaptable easily establish routines and modulates his her behavior easy irregularly Slow to Warm negative mood Easy Mixture 35 Goodness of Fit the match between the characteristics of the infant and his her family is critical to development Some are better matches than others Some parents want their kids to be more social yet the child may want to be more mellow also how you let the child adapt for example loud noises may scare a child yet if you warn the child here comes the disposal it may help the infant Interaction between genetics and environment is key with temperament Attachment the affectional bond between an infant and its caretaker Studied by Ainsworth in her attachment paradigm still being used today The