Conception
• Sperm penetrates an ova– Zygote– Complete set of genetic instructions– <50% of zygotes survive
Prenatal development
• Germinal period (zygote) - first 14 days
– Zygote implants on day 10
• Embryonic period - 3rd through 8th
weeks
• Fetal period - 9th week through birth
– Fetus is born ~week 37
Prenatal behavior
• Neurons are present, not connected
• Prenatal reflexes strengthen neural connections– Sensory reflexes– Facial expressions– Response to sound and light
Genetic Sex Determination
• The 23rd pair of chromosomes determines sex.– The ova carries an X chromosome– The sperm sometimes carries an X
and sometimes carries a Y chromosome.
Newborn behavior
• Sensory behavior– Sight– Sound– Smell
• Reflexes - innate behaviors– Rooting– Crying– Palmer– Moro
Physical development
• Brain development– Neural connections
– Motor development
– Cognitive development
Cognitive development
• Thinking, remembering & intellectual capacity
• Based on experience
• Schemas– Assimilation– Accommodation
Cognitive development
• Piaget’s theory of cognitive development– Sensorimotor stage
• 0-2 years
– Preoperational stage• 2-6 years
– Concrete operational stage• 6-12 years
– Formal operational stage• 12 years-adult
Cognitive development
• Preoperational stage– Representational thought
• Imagination
– Lacks logical thought• Conservation
– Obstacles to logical thought• Egocentrism• Centration• Static reasoning• Irreversibility
– Theory of Mind
Cognitive development
• Concrete operational stage– Logical principles develop
• Classification• Identity• Reversibility
– Lacks hypothetical thought
Cognitive development
• Formal operational stage– Reasoning abilities develop
• Abstract thought• Hypothetical contemplation
Social development
• Development of bonds– Familiarity
• Lorenz’s imprinting studies
• Critical period• Human bonding
Social development
• Attachment styles– Secure attachment
– Ambivalent-insecure attachment
– Avoidant-insecure attachment
Social development
• Parenting styles– Permissive parenting
– Authoritarian parenting
– Authoritative parenting
Physical development
• Onset of puberty– Gap between physical maturity and
independence
• Release of hormones from hypothalamus– Weight– Height– Muscles
Physical development
• Sexual development– Primary sex structures
• Menarchy• Spermarchy
– Secondary sex structures
• Timing varies among individuals– Early developers– Late developers
Cognitive development
• Formal operational thought– Abstract thought, hypothetical reasoning– Social awareness
• Adolescent thought patterns– What I am thinking
• Egocentric thought
– What others are thinking• Imaginary audience
– Ideal situations
Cognitive development
• Intuitive thought
• Analytical thought– Together support adolescent ideals and
passions
Cognitive development
• Kohlberg’s development of moral reasoning– Preconventional morality
– Conventional morality
– Postconventional morality
• Varies based on culture and gender
Social development
• Identity formation– Solidification of beliefs– Multiple selves
• Acceptable false self• Pleasing false self• Experimental false self
Social development
• Parents– Generation gap– Conflict
• Peers– Friendship– Peer-pressure– Romantic attraction
• Sequence of attraction• Cultural variables
Social development
• Emerging adulthood (18-25 years)– Independence is delayed– Parents are the main source of support
Physical development
• Physical performance - peaks and declines– Motor abilities– Sensory abilities
• Reproductive capacity– Females– Males
Cognitive development
• Brain function slows– Cognitive abilities diminish with age
• May be prevented with exercise!
– Fluid intelligence
• Memory declines– Recall memory vs. recognition memory– Crystallized intelligence
Social development
• List 5 of your own major accomplishments.
• List 5 of your own major goals.
• Count how many from both lists are related to relationships and career.
Social development
• “A healthy adult is one who can love and work” - Freud
• Adulthood is characterized by commitments– Love– Work
Social development
• Love and intimacy– Gateways to attraction
• Attractiveness• Availability• Absence of exclusion criteria• Frequent exposure
– Romantic relationships are based on:• Passion• Intimacy• Commitment