Development

Area vs. Approach

Child Psychology

Infancy

Adolescence

Adulthood

Old Age

Prenatal

Development

Life-Span Human Development

From Conception to Death

Zygote to Infant

Prenatal Development Stage 1 = Zygote (the fertilized egg)

2 week period of rapid cell division (undifferentiated)

Ends with implantation to uterine wall Over half do not successfully implant

Prenatal Development Stage 2 = Embryo

human organism from 2 weeks through 8 weeks– Begins with implantation to the uterine wall – Placenta and major organs form, heart beats,

liver makes red blood cells

Prenatal Development Stage 3 = Fetus

human organism from 8 weeks after conception to birth

rapid growth of brain and body in final 3 months

Prenatal Development Nature AND nurture matter in utero

Critical periods (nurture) – particular stages of development when certain environmental influences have the most impact

Teratogen - any factor (e.g., chemicals, viruses) that can reach the embryo or fetus and cause a birth defect Nicotine – low birth weight, learning disabilities Marijuana – irritability, nervousness, tremors Cocaine – respiratory problems, learning disabilities,

seizures

Prenatal Development Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

physical and cognitive abnormalities in children caused by a pregnant woman’s heavy drinking (five drinks per day)

symptoms include facial misproportions, mental retardation, behavior problems

Critical Period:Thalidomide

Poor Nutrition (e.g., protein deficiency)

Nature vs. Nurture

Nature

Genetics

Nurture

Experience

Environment

Learning

Heritability

Conception and Twins• Monozygotic twins – (identical twins)

– one zygote splits into two separate but identical masses of cells

– each develops into a separate embryo.

• Dizygotic twins – (fraternal twins)– two eggs are separately fertilized by different sperm– each develops into a separate zygote, then a separate

embryo.

Nature vs. Nurture

Nature

Genetics

Nurture

Experience

Environment

LearningHeritability

Twin Studies

Monozygotic (identical) vs. Dizygotic (fraternal)

Cognitive Development

Piaget (Cognitive)

1.Sensorimotor

2.Preoperational

primitive concepts

3. Concrete Operational

rules

4. Formal Operational

abstract

Movement & Manipulation

Object Permanence

Single words, egocentrism

Movement & Manipulation

Conservation

Hypothetical reasoning

Cognitive Development

Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development

Schema

Cognitive structure

Accommodation

Creating or extending a schema

Assimilation

Using an existing schema

Cognitive & Moral Development

Piaget (Cognitive)

1.Sensorimotor

2.Preoperational

primitive concepts

3. Concrete Operational

rules

4. Formal Operational

abstract

hypothetical reasoning

Kohlberg (Moral)

1.(none)

2.Preconventional

reward/punishment

3. Conventional

rules

4. Post-Conventional

Moral Dilemmas

Studying Development

Cross-Sectional

Age Cohort

Longitudinal

Time Series

Adult Development

1. Independence

2. Marriage

3. Parenthood

4. Career

5. Mid-Life Crisis

6. Post-Parental

7. Separation Distress

8. Old Age

9. Death

Stage -- Crisis

Marital Satisfaction over the Life Span