Chapter 1 Children Past Present and Future pg 9 15 Early View of Children Before 1600 during the Middle Ages children were viewed as miniature imperfect adults Phillipe Areis based his theory on aristocratic art Childhood was not seen as a stage qualitatively different from adulthood Philosophers Perspectives on Children John Locke English philosopher in 16th century Considered a child a tabula rosa blank slate Children entered world with no personality or specific characteristics they were entirely shaped by experiences known as behaviorism Jean Jaques Rosseau French philosopher in 17th century Considered noble savages Children were born with innate sense of right and wrong and morality Children were inherently good unless influenced by negative circumstances Suggested that growth occurred in distinct discontinuous stages 20th Century View Child Development as a Discipline Emerging developmental psychologist Alfred Binet studied child intelligence memory and mental calculation G Stanley Hall pioneered use od questionnaires to measure children s thinking and behavior Contributions of Women Leta Setter Hollingsworth one of the first psychologist to study child development and a woman Common goal to scientifically study the nature of growth change and stability throughout childhood and adolescence Early decades of 1900s focused on large scale systematic and ongoing investigations of children and their development throughout lifespan Key Issues of Child Development Continuous Change Change is gradual Achievements at one level build on previous level Underling development processes remain the same over the lifespan Critical Periods Certain environmental stimuli are necessary for normal development Emphasized by early developmentalists Discontinuous Change Change occurs in distinct steps or stages Behavior and processes are qualitatively different at different stages Sensitive Periods People are susceptible to certain environmental stimuli but consequences of absent stimuli are reversible Current emphasis in lifespan development Life Span Approach Current theories emphasize growth and change throughout life relatedness of different periods Focus on Particular Periods Infancy and adolescence emphasized by early developmentalists as most important periods Nature Genetic Factors Emphasis is on discovering inherited genetic traits and abilities Nurture Environmental Factors Emphasis on environmental influences that affect a person s development Implication for Child Rearing and Social Policy Future of Child Development Chapter 2 Perspectives on Children pg 19 32 Chapter 3 Genetics pg 52 70 some of this may be covered in class depending on time Prenatal Growth and Change pg 70 73 Fertilization aka conception Females are born with app 400 000 ova eggs located in the 2 ovaries Ova mature once female reaches puberty until menopause During ovulation an egg is released from ovary and travels through fallopian tube toward uterus If egg is fertilized by sperm in fallopian tube fertilization occurs A male produces several hundred million sperm day Sperm travels through cervix the opening of the uterus and into the fallopian tube where it may fertilize and egg Stages of the Prenatal Period Germinal Stage Fertilization 2 Weeks Fertilized egg a blastocyst travels to uterus and is implanted in the uterine wall which is rich nutrients This stage is characterized by methodical cell division 3 days after fertilization 32 cells 7 days after fertilization 100 150 cells These cells rapidly increase and become specialized Some cells form the protective layer around the mass of cells Other cells form the rudimentary placenta and umbilical cord Placenta conduit between the mother and fetus Provides nutrients and oxygen via umbilical cord Removes waste material via umbilical cord Child is no called an embryo Embryonic Stage 2 Weeks 8 Weeks Major organs and basic anatomy develops At beginning of the stage the embryo has 3 distinct layers from which every part of the body is formed from Ectoderm outer layer that forms skin hair teeth sense organs and the CNS brain and spinal cord Mesoderm middle layer that forms muscles bones blood and Endoderm inner layer that produces digestive system liver pancreas circulatory system and respiratory system At 8 weeks embryo resembles fish gills and tail rudimentary eyes nose lips and teeth Head 50 of total length Neurons 100 000 visible NS begins functioning at week 5 and weak brain waves occur Fetal Stage 8 Weeks Birth At 3 months fetus begins to swallow and urinate Begins when major organ differentiation occurs Embryo is now called a fetus Increase in length 20x Arms develop hands Hands develop fingers Fingers develop nails At 4 months mother can fell movement Weeks 8 24 hormone production occurs depending on sex Male fetus high levels of androgen Chapter 4 Approaches to Childbirth pg 89 93 Culture plays a role in the choices of birthing procedures Alternative Birthing Procedures Lamaze Birthing Techniques Makes use of breathing techniques and relaxation training Mothers to be participate in weekly training sessions to practice exercises that help the mothers relax parts of their body on command Pros Cope with painful contractions by relaxing rather than tensing up which make pain more acute Women learn to focus on tranquil scenes in a picture to positively deal with pain and relax during contractions Mothers and father report that this is an effective birthing technique Feeling of control over labor False sense if success due to parents already being enthused by becoming parents Also parents who use the Lamaze method are typically excited about the birthing process and more highly motivated Lamaze is rare upon low income groups minorities Transportation issues Time Financial resources Typically women of these groups are less prepared for labor and may experience more pain Bradley Method aka husband coached childbirth Idea that childbirth should be as natural as possible and involve no medication or medical intervention To prepare for labor mothers are taught muscle relaxation techniques similar to Lamaze good nutrition and exercise during pregnancy Physician assistance is viewed as unnecessary and sometimes even dangerous Hypnobirthing Mothers are self hypnotized during delivery which produces a sense of peace and calmness to reduce pain Research shows that this procedure is effective in reducing pain Types of Childbirth Specialists That Deliver Child Obstetricians