Developmental Developmental PsychologyPsychology

Developmental PsychologyDevelopmental Psychology

Field in which psychologists study Field in which psychologists study how people grow and change how people grow and change throughout the life spanthroughout the life span

Study infancy and childhood to see Study infancy and childhood to see how early childhood experiences how early childhood experiences affect people as adolescents and affect people as adolescents and adultsadults

Nature vs. NurtureNature vs. Nurture

Maturation: automatic and sequential Maturation: automatic and sequential process of development that results from process of development that results from genetic signalsgenetic signals

Critical Period: a stage or point in Critical Period: a stage or point in development during which a person or development during which a person or animal is best suited to learn a particular animal is best suited to learn a particular skill or behavior patternskill or behavior pattern

John Locke: infant is like a tabula rasa John Locke: infant is like a tabula rasa (blank slate)(blank slate)

Stages vs. ContinuityStages vs. Continuity

Stages: sitting, crawling, standing, Stages: sitting, crawling, standing, walkingwalking

Continuity: weight and heightContinuity: weight and height

Motor DevelopmentMotor Development

First infants roll over. Next they sit First infants roll over. Next they sit unsupported, crawl and finally walkunsupported, crawl and finally walk

Experience has little effect on this Experience has little effect on this sequencesequence

ReflexesReflexes

Grasping: when an object is placed in Grasping: when an object is placed in an infant’s palm, the fingers will an infant’s palm, the fingers will close and they will grasp it with close and they will grasp it with unusual strengthunusual strength

ReflexesReflexes

Moro: when an infant is startled with Moro: when an infant is startled with a loud noise or feels that he/she is a loud noise or feels that he/she is falling, the infant will extend the falling, the infant will extend the arms, legs and fingers and arch the arms, legs and fingers and arch the backback

ReflexesReflexes

Rooting: rubbing or scratching Rooting: rubbing or scratching around the mouth causes the infant around the mouth causes the infant to turn his/her head towards the to turn his/her head towards the stimulusstimulus

ReflexesReflexes

Babinski: The big toe moves towards Babinski: The big toe moves towards the top surface of the foot and the the top surface of the foot and the other toes fan out after the sole of other toes fan out after the sole of the foot has been touchedthe foot has been touched

Perceptual DevelopmentPerceptual Development

Robert Franz: 2 month old infants Robert Franz: 2 month old infants prefer pictures of human faces to any prefer pictures of human faces to any other picturesother pictures

5-10 weeks old: look longest at 5-10 weeks old: look longest at patterns that are fairly complexpatterns that are fairly complex

Infants respond more to high-pitched Infants respond more to high-pitched soundssounds

Infants distinguish strong odorsInfants distinguish strong odors Infants like sweet-tasting liquidsInfants like sweet-tasting liquids