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PSYC 18 5 MIDTERM EXAM WITH 100 % VERIFIED SOLUTIONS!!
What is child development? field of study devoted to understanding constancy and change from conception through adolescence
Domains of development physical, cognitive, emotional and social
What are the periods of development? Prenatal (conception-birth) Infancy/toddlerhood (birth-2 yrs.) Early childhood (2-6) Middle childhood (6-11) Adolescence (11-18)
Continuous development Adding more skills than that which were there to begin with
Discountinous development New way of understanding/responding to the world emerge at specific times
Stability vs. Plasticity Stability -Individuals high or low in a characteristic remain so at later ages. -Early experience may have a lifelong impact.
Plasticity -Change is possible, based on experiences.
Universal vs Variable
Nature vs. nurture Do genes (nature) or environmental factors (nurture) contribute more to a person's being
Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development sensorimotor- experience world thru senses preoperational- think about. things symbolically concrete operational- think logically abt. concrete events formal operational-logical, systematic thinking *Individual process of development
Vygotsky's Theory A sociocultural cognitive theory that emphasizes how cultures' values, beliefs, customs, skills and social interaction guide cognitive development. Passed down generations, socially mediated process
Banduras Theory -Modeling -cognition, children's ability to listen + observe -develop personal standards
-issue: doesn't permit study of individual development, age distorted to cohort effect
Sequential design investigator presents kids with a novel task & follows mastery over a series of closely spaced sessions. Mix of cross-sequential and longitudinal studies
Research tools used with children Naturalistic observation, clinical or structured interviews,
Chromosomes store and transmit genetic information, 23 pairs and we inherit one from each parent
genes DNA segments that serve as the key functional units in hereditary transmission. Located on chromosome
Alleles alternative versions of a gene
Genotype 2 alleles that one inherits -same allele=homozygous
-diff. allele=heterozygous
Phenotype An organism's physical appearance, or visible traits.
patterns of inheritance -traits influenced by a single gene are rare -polygenetic inheritence= traits influenced by multiple genes (characteristics inherited on a continuum)
chromosomal abnormalities -Down syndrome: 21st pair of chromosomes don't separate (trisomy 21) -Child inherits 3 instead of 2 chromosomes, causes intellectual retardation, slow-motor development (weak muscle tone), distinct physical features ()
Dominant-recessive inheritence -You need one dominant allele to produce the dominant phenotype -You need 2 recessive alleles to produce the recessive phenotype
X-linked inheritance -harmful allele -males more likely to be affected ex. hemophilia, color-blindness
-Mothers genotype: not correlated with prenatal depression, not correlated with infant dsyregulation -childs genotype was not correlated with mothers prenatal depression
Epigenetics -Genes that are turned off/on (usually by environ.), alters expressions of genes -chemical signals activate/deactivate -environments can modify genetic influences
Examples of studies showing epigenetic changes
Zygote process -2 week period -implantation and start of placenta
embryonic period -6 weeks -arms, legs, face, organs muscles develop -heart begins beating
fetus stage -weeks 9 to birth
-fetus starts to look human -most intense period of prenatal development
What do the 3 layers of the embryo form? Lower: lungs, liver, and lining of the digestive tract Middle: the heart, muscles, bones, and blood Top: the nervous system, spinal cord, brain, and outer skin and hair layer.
What are teratogens? environmental agents which can cause developmental malformations (birth defects) ex. medications, drugs, bacterial/viral infections, environmental toxins/pollutants
Factors that influence teratogen impact Heredity, dose of factor, age of fetus at time of exposure
Outcome of teratogens Low birth rate, prematurity, higher risk for cognitive deficits/behavioral disorders/medical problems, birth defects, and miscarriage or infant death
Environmental contexts for development Family, SES and poverty, neighborhoods, culture
Inadequate prenatal healthcare is common among adolescent and low-income, ethnic minority mothers whose babies are more likely to be born underweight and die than mothers with good prenatal care
Culturally-sensitive health-care can help overcome the barriers that discourage low-income, ethnic minority mothers from seeking care
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Maternal / Infant Outcomes and Access to Care Discrimination leading to high stress impacts baby Lack of access to care and a lack of information makes it harder to carry out a healthy pregnancy Lack of culturally sensitive care causing distrust Poverty and domestic abuse
Preterm born several weeks or more before their due date (small, with their weight still appropriate based on time spent in uterus) → 3 or more weeks before 38-week term
Low-Birth-Weight below expected weight considering the length of the pregnancy (can be full term) → less than 5 lbs
Risks for Prematurity and Low Birthweight Outcomes: worse as birth weight and length of pregnancy decrease, many consequences persist into adulthood
Frequent illness
Cognitive, language, academic
Emotional and behavioral problems
Impact of Interventions: early screening
Race as a Risk Factor for Prematurity and Low Birthweight high stress due to being in a minority group is exposing fetuses to stress and impacting their health directly. May be less inclined to engage in services if they have been maltreated before, or may not have mental space to prioritize their pregnancy. Chronic stressors such as job strain (long hours at tiring work), crime-ridden neighborhoods, crowded living conditions, and prejudice and discrimination Biased treatment at school, work, or access to housing can predict LBW
