Developmental Psychology Notes
Developmental Psychology
3 major issues:
1. Nature v Nurture (genes v environment)
2. Continuity v Stages (gradual, continuous process v sequence of separate stages)
3. Stability v Change ( do personality trais persist throughout life v or change as we age
Early development
Conception (sperm penetrates the egg)
Girls are born with all the immature eggs
Only 1 in 5,000 will mature and be released
Boys start producing sperm cells at puberty Prenatal development Zygotes (fertilized eggs) conception to 2 weeks, less than ½ survive more than 2 weeks After fertilization: Cells multiply and differentiate (specialize in structure and function) Attach to the uterine wall forming the placenta (10 days after conception) Inner cells become the embryo (developing human) 2 to 8 weeks This becomes the fetus (human from 9 weeks to birth) By the end of 6 months: Organs are formed and functional Responsive to sound (prefers mom’s voice after birth) Sucks thumb, Kicks, Hiccup Within days after birth: Prefers moms smell Habituation(decrease responding with repeated stimulation) Simple form of learning See something look at for 4 seconds then bored Rotate stimulus increase concentration again Can discriminated between color, shape, sound Physical Development (born with most of our brain cells, neural paths continue to develop)
Maturation (biological growth that enables orderly changes in behavior relatively uninfluenced by experience) Stand to walk
Maturation sets the course of development, experience adjusts, must be physiologically ready
Remember things best after 4 years, usually do not remember before 3 years
Memories are made though Hide button in box at 11 months old, remember 1 day later, will imitate
Motor Development Develops top down (hand in mouth then foot in mouth) Develops in to out (arms, hand then fingers)
3 major issues:
1. Nature v Nurture (genes v environment)
2. Continuity v Stages (gradual, continuous process v sequence of separate stages)
3. Stability v Change ( do personality trais persist throughout life v or change as we age
Early development
Conception (sperm penetrates the egg)
Girls are born with all the immature eggs
Only 1 in 5,000 will mature and be released
Boys start producing sperm cells at puberty Prenatal development Zygotes (fertilized eggs) conception to 2 weeks, less than ½ survive more than 2 weeks After fertilization: Cells multiply and differentiate (specialize in structure and function) Attach to the uterine wall forming the placenta (10 days after conception) Inner cells become the embryo (developing human) 2 to 8 weeks This becomes the fetus (human from 9 weeks to birth) By the end of 6 months: Organs are formed and functional Responsive to sound (prefers mom’s voice after birth) Sucks thumb, Kicks, Hiccup Within days after birth: Prefers moms smell Habituation(decrease responding with repeated stimulation) Simple form of learning See something look at for 4 seconds then bored Rotate stimulus increase concentration again Can discriminated between color, shape, sound Physical Development (born with most of our brain cells, neural paths continue to develop)
Maturation (biological growth that enables orderly changes in behavior relatively uninfluenced by experience) Stand to walk
Maturation sets the course of development, experience adjusts, must be physiologically ready
Remember things best after 4 years, usually do not remember before 3 years
Memories are made though Hide button in box at 11 months old, remember 1 day later, will imitate
Motor Development Develops top down (hand in mouth then foot in mouth) Develops in to out (arms, hand then fingers)