PSY 201 Chapter 4: Development Across the Life Span

This critical time in the prenatal period includes in three major periods of physical growth.

1. Germinal period 2. Embryonic period 3. Fetal period

Together, nature and nurture influence growth in three developmental domains

1. Physical 2. Socio-emotional 3. Cognitive

The strange-situation test has revealed the three attachment styles children might have

1. Secure attachment 2. Avoidant attachment 3. Ambivalent attachment

Early attachment

All have a fundamental need to form strong connections with caretakers During the late 1950s, psychologists generally believed that the care an infant needed was based primarily on getting food from the mother Harlow monkey attachment experiment

Sensory development

An infant obtains information from the world by hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, and perceiving touch. Some of these sensory abilities are more fully developed at birth than others Infants who are 2 hours old prefer sweet tastes to all other tastes When infants are born, they can also hear well Newborns have poor vision

Egocentrism

Another cognitive characteristic of the preoperational period

Grasping reflex

Another inborn reflex that aids survival

Marriage

Around the world, the vast majority of people marry at some point in their lives or form some type of permanent bond with a relationship partner The benefits of marriage are more significant for men than for women At any given time, the vast majority of married people report satisfaction with their marriages

Parents and peers

As adolescents develop their own identities, they come into more conflict with their parents Peers play a crucial role in identity development

Inborn refexes

Babies come into the world hardwired with basic motor reflexes that aid survival.

Early to middle adulthood

Between the ages of 20 and 40, we actually experience a steady decline in muscle mass, bone density, eyesight, and hearing.

Transition to old age

By 2030, more than one in five Americans will be over age 65, and these older people will be ethnically diverse, well educated, and physically fit. The body and mind start deteriorating more rapidly at about age 50

Dynamic systems perspective

Change in any domain (physical, socio-emotional, or cognitive) takes place through complex interactions between the person's biology, the person's active exploration of an environment, and the constant feedback provided within the person's cultural context The dynamic systems theory of development can be seen in the way that children often achieve developmental milestones at different paces, depending on the culture in which they are raised

Ethnic identity

Culture shapes much of who we are as we develop a full sense of identity during adolescence. Culture also determines whether each person's identity will be accepted or rejected.

Well-being in older adults

Despite the physical, social, and emotional challenges of aging, most older adults are healthy and happy Except for dementia, older adults have fewer mental health problems, including depression, than younger adults

Phonemes

Each morpheme consists of one or more phonemes (basic sounds).

Morphemes

Each word consists of one or more morphemes (the smallest units that have meaning, including suffixes and prefixes).

Preconventional level

Earliest level of moral development; at this level, self-interest and event outcomes determine what is moral.

Integrity versus despair

Eighth stage of Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, where older adults face the challenge of feeling satisfied that they have lived a good life and developed wisdom.

Teratogens

Environmental substances that can harm prenatal development. (From the Greek tera, which means "monster") are substances that cause birth defects.

As infants and children develop, the brain changes in two critical ways.

First, myelinated axons form synapses with other neurons Second, over time and with experience, the synaptic connections change. Unfortunately, sometimes infants and young children are raised in environments that do not stimulate their brains.

Law of conservation

For instance, children at this stage have no understanding

Postconventional level

Highest level of moral development; at this level, decisions about morality depend on abstract principles and the value of all life.

Sucking reflex

If she finds a nipple where she has turned, the infant Automatically closing her mouth on the nipple, she will begin to suck to eat.

Socio-emotional domain

Includes how we understand ourselves, interact with others, and experience and regulate emotions.

Babbling

Intentional vocalization, often by an infant, with no specific meanings.

Finding meaning in later life

Meaning often becomes a preoccupation for the elderly Older adults generally want to savor their final years by putting their time and effort into meaningful and rewarding experiences

Conventional level

Middle level of moral development; at this level, strict adherence to societal laws and the approval of others determine what is moral.

Separation anxiety

Occurs in all human cultures

Intelligence, learning, and memory

Older people tend to have difficulty with memory tasks that require juggling multiple pieces of information at the same time

Cognitive domain

Pertain to how our ability to think, reason, and communicate change over time.

Secondary sex characteristics

Physical changes during puberty that are not directly related to reproduction but that indicate the difference between the sexes.

Primary sex characteristics

Physical development during puberty that results in sexually mature reproductive organs and genitals.

Maturation

Physical development of the brain and body that prepares an infant for voluntary movement, such as rolling over, sitting, and walking.

Physical domain

Revolve around growth in the brain, hormones, and body.

Generativity versus stagnation

Seventh stage of Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, where middle-aged adult face the challenge of leaving behind a positive legacy and caring for future generations.

Dementia

Severe impairment in intellectual capacity and personality, often due to damage to the brain 3 percent to 5 percent of people will develop Alzheimer's disease by age 70 to 75, and 6.5 percent will develop the disease after age 85 The initial symptoms of Alzheimer's are typically minor memory impairments, but the disease eventually progresses to more serious difficulties, such as forgetting daily routines

Intimacy versus isolation

Sixth stage of Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, in which young adults face the challenge of forming committed long-term friendships and romances.

Brain changes during adolescence

Synaptic connections are refined and gray matter increases The frontal cortex of the brain is not fully developed until the early 20s An adolescent's limbic system—the motivational and emotional center of the brain—tends to be more active than the frontal cortex

Avoidant attachment

The attachment style for infants who are somewhat willing to explore an unfamiliar environment, but seem to have little interest in the caregiver—they do not look at the caregiver when the caregiver leaves or returns.

Ambivalent attachment

The attachment style for infants who are unwilling to explore an unfamiliar environment but seem to have mixed feelings about the caregiver—they cry when the caregiver leaves the room, but they cannot be consoled by the caregiver upon his or her return

Secure attachment

The attachment style for most infants, who are confident enough to play in an unfamiliar environment as long as the caregiver is present and are readily comforted by the caregiver during times of distress.

Having children

The birth of a first child is a profound event for most couples Children can strain a marriage by putting demands on time and money Couples with children, especially those with adolescent children, report less marital satisfaction than those who are childless

Theory of mind

The capacity to understand that other people have minds and intentions As infants and children acquire theory of mind, they develop the ability to think in increasingly sophisticated ways.

Identity versus role confusion

The fifth stage of Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, in which adolescents face the challenge of figuring out who they are.

Formal operational stage

The final stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development; during this stage, people can think abstractly, and they can formulate and test hypotheses through logic.

Sensorimotor stage

The first stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development; during this stage, infants acquire information about the world through their senses and motor skills.

A senior memont

The inability to remember something we knew a moment before We may not notice cognitive decline until later adulthood, although it begins much earlier

Embryonic period

The period in prenatal development from 2 to 8 weeks after conception, when the brain, spine, major organs, and bodily structures begin to form in the embryo.

Fetal period

The period in prenatal development from 8 weeks after conception until birth, when the brain continues developing, bodily structures are refined, and the fetus grows in length and weight and accumulates fat in preparation for birth.

Germinal period

The period in prenatal development from conception to 2 weeks after fertilization of the egg, when the zygote divides rapidly and implants in the uterine wall.

Puberty

The physical changes in the body that are a part of sexual development.

Accommodation

The process we use to create new frameworks for knowledge or drastically alter existing ones to incorporate new information that otherwise would not fit.

Assimilation

The process we use to incorporate new information into existing frameworks for knowledge.

Developmental psychology

The scientific study of how humans change over the life span, from conception until death.

Preoperational stage

The second stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development; during this stage, children think symbolically about objects, but they reason based on intuition and superficial appearances rather than logic.

Syntax

The system of rules about how words are combined into phrases and how phrases are combined to make sentences.

Telegraphic speech

The tendency for toddlers to speak using rudimentary sentences that are missing words and grammatical markings but follow a logical syntax and convey a wealth of meaning.

Overregularization

The tendency for young children to incorrectly use a regular syntax rule where they should use an exception to the rule.

Concrete operational stage

The third stage in Piaget's theory of cogntive development; during this stage, children begin to think about and understand logical operations, and they are no longer fooled by appearances.

Drugs and alcohol

The use of recreational drugs—such as opiates, cocaine, or marijuana—during pregnancy can affect the mother and the developing human Women who drink alcohol when pregnant are gambling with their baby's development; alcohol can cause a variety of defects The most severe disorder is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)

Rooting reflex

When an infant is stroked at the corner of her mouth That is, she turns and opens her mouth in anticipation of food.

Moral reasoning and moral emotions

When is it acceptable to take an action that may harm others or that may break implicit or explicit social contracts? Moral emotions, such as embarrassment and shame, are considered self-conscious emotions.