UNIT 4

• development is the sequence of age related changes that occur as a person processes from conception to death
• life span is divided into four broad periods:

  1. prenatal period
  2. childhood
  3. adolescence
  4. adulthood
• prenatal period extends from conception to birth usually encompassing nine months of pregnancy
• the prenatal period is divided into three phases

  1. germinal state (first two weeks)
  2. embryonic stage (two weeks to two months)
  3. the fetal state (two months to birth)
• the germinal stage is the first phase of prenatal development, encompassing the first two weeks after conception
• germinal stage is serif and beings when a zygote is created through fertilization, within 36 hours rapid cell division begins and the zygote becomes a multiplying mass of cells
• in the germinal phase implantation process the placenta begin to form
• the embryonic stage is the second stage of prenatal development lasting form two weeks until the end of the second month
• during the embryonic phase the most vital organs and bodily systems form and the zygotes is now called an embryo.
• what organs form during the embryonic phase?

  heart, spine and brain
• most miscarriages occur during the embryonic phase
• the fetal stage is the third stage of development from two months through birth
• in the fetal stage the first two months bring rapid bodily growth as muscle and bones begin to form, and the embryo is now called a fetus
• what organs being to develop in the fetal stage?

  physical movement and skeletal structures as well as sex organs
• the age of viability is the age at which a baby can serve in the even of a premature birth: between 22 weeks and 26 weeks
• teratogens are any external agents such as drugs or viruses that can harm an embryo or fetus
• fetal alcohol syndrom disorder is a collection of congenital (inborn) problems associated with excessive alcohol use during pregnancy
• motor development refers to the progression of muscular coordination required for physical activities
• maturation is development that reflects the gradual unfolding of ones genetic blueprint
• developmental norms indicate the median age at which individuals display various behaviours and abilities
• temperament refers to the characteristic mood, activity level and emotional reactivity
• Alexander Thomas and Stella Chess have conduced a major longtiutal studying of the development of temperaments
• longitudinal design: investigators observe one group of participants repeatedly over a period of time
• cross sectional design: investigators compare groups if participants of different age at a single point in time
• cohort effects occur when differences between age groups are due to group growing up in different time periods
• in the Thomas and Chess experiment

  40% were easy children: happy, regular in sleeping and eating and not easily upset

  15% were slow-to-warm-up children: less cheery, less regular in sleeping and eating and slower in adapting to change

  10% were difficult children: glum, eratic in sleep and eating and resistant to change

  remaining 35% were mixtures of the three temperaments
• attachment refers to the close emotional bond of affection that develop between infants and their caregivers
• separation anxiety is emotional distress seen in many infants when they are separated from people with whom they have formed attachment
• Harry Harlow created what famous study?

  attachment theory
• what research did Ainswoth do?

  patterns of attachment, strange situation procedure
• strange situation procedure: in which infants are exposed to a series of eight operation and reunion episodes to assess the quality of their attachment
• secure attachment is when the child is able to form a close emotional bond with their primary caregiver
• anxious-ambivalent attachment is when the child is anxious and ambivalent towards the caregiver
• disorganized-disorientated attachment is when the children appear confused about whether they should approach or.avoid their mother and are insecure
• avoident attachment - the child is not able to form a secure attachment with the caregiver
• a stage is a developmental period during which characteristic patterns of behaviour are exhibited and certain capacities become established
• stage theories assume that

  1. individuals must progress through specified stages in a particular order because each stage builds on the previous stage
  2. progress through these stages is strongly related to age
  3. devloepmet is marked by major discontununites in dramatic transitions in behaviour
• Erickson stage theory: partitioned the life span into eight stages each of which bring a psychosocial crisis involving transition in important social relationships
• according to erosion personality is shaped by how infiviusald deal with these psychosocial crises
• stage 1: trust vs mistrust

  the first year of life, when infant has to depend completely on adults to take care if their basic needs