Module 3 - Infancy

• In which Sensorimotor substage do infants learn to use symbols?

  Internalization of schemas
• According to Piaget, in which of the sensorimotor stage's substage do infants experiment with toys, such as playing with an object in different ways?

  Tertiary circular reactions
• According to Piaget, the first substage of the sensorimotor stage is __________.

  Simple reflexes
• John Bowlby indicated that caregivers must establish bonds with their infants within what timeframe? Choose one: immediately after birth, during the first month of the infant's life, during the first six months of the infant's life, or during the first year of the infant's life.


  First year of the infant's life
• True or False? Most infants studied in Ainsworth's Strange Situation are categorized as being securely attached


  True

  
  

  Secure: 70%

  Resistant: 15%

  Avoidant: 15%
• Which infant temperament is associated with the most problems with the infant adjusting to new people and situations?

  Difficult

  
  

  Easy vs. difficult vs. slow-to-warm-up
• True or False? REM sleep makes up roughly half of an infant's sleep cycle?

  True
• True or False? Early in life, infants have far more neural connections than they need.

  True
• True or False? Infants' heads are disproportionately small compared to the rest of their bodies.

  False

  
  

  They're BIGGER.
• True or False? Gross motor skills generally develop before fine motor skills.


  True
• SHORT ESSAY QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ANSWERED IN FULL SENTENCES.

  
  

  Define object permanence. How would an infant behave if he did not understand object permanence?


  Prof: Understanding an object exists even when it can't be seen. Not understanding would involve not being able to play peek-a-boo, and losing interest in unseen objects.

  
  

  ex: object permanence is the ability to recognize that an object still exists even if it is not seen. The infant would lack the behavior of looking for/or searching for that object.

  
  

  ex: object permanence can be defined as someone understanding the object exists even when it can't be seen. an infant who didn't understand object permanence would most likely not try to find the object or person. Example peek-a-boo game played with babies. Once child has object permanence, they get excited over the game because they understand the concept of something being hidden and surprising them.
• SHORT ESSAY QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ANSWERED IN FULL SENTENCES.

  
  

  Describe the "use it or lose it" principle of brain development. What does this principle suggest for how to promote optimal development?

  Prof: Answers need to focus on strengthening important connections, ability, knowledge as well as describe the loss that can occur when these are underused. Then applications need to focus on efforts to practice and maintain important skills, abilities, and knowledge.

  
  

  Ex: Information must be learned during a critical period of the brain will not develop as it should normally. For example, if language is not learned within the first five years of life, the child will lack the ability to do so later and will lack the ability to learn skills that are based off of language.
• SHORT ESSAY QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ANSWERED IN FULL SENTENCES.

  
  

  Choose 2 of the following attachment styles: Secure, Anxious-Ambivalent Insecure, and Anxious-Avoidant Insecure. Describe the two in detail, including how the infant would behave during Ainsworth's Strange Situation.


  Prof: Answers need to include the following information about the respective stages, as well as describe them in sufficient detail. SECURE: explores freely, upset when caregiver leaves, happy to see caregiver return. AMBIVALENT: anxious even with caregiver, very upset when caregiver leaves, is resentful when she returns but wants to stay close. AVOIDANT: does not explore - with or without caregiver, treats caregiver and stranger similarly.

  
  

  Ex: Secure attachment reflects a healthy and normal bond between a caregiver and a child. Behaviors displayed by the infant would include crying, searching for, reaching toward, or following the parent when they leave and would be soothed upon their return. Anxious-Avoidant attachment describes an attachment that is less connected between the caregiver and the infant. Cause of this could be lack of caregiver responsiveness or lack of time to bond with the child. Behaviors the infant might exhibit are little to no reaction of the parent leaving or lack of awareness that the caregiver left and no excitement or avoidance when caregiver returns.
• THOROUGHLY ANSWER THE ESSAY QUESTION. ESSAYS SHOULD BE WRITTEN IN COMPLETE SENTENCES.

  
  

  Describe what you learned about infant-parent attachment in the module. The approximate length of the description should be a short paragraph, and it should include sufficient detail on what you learned. Then, describe how your current knowledge on this topic compares to what you knew before taking this module. Finally, describe your views on the following issues: a) how applicable is attachment theory to everyday life and working with infants, and b) what misconceptions about attachment do you think people have, and what is a correct understanding of how to apply this attachment theory?


  Prof: 3 pts for a sufficient detailed and specific description of student learning. 2 pts for sufficiently detailed and specific comparison to prior knowledge. 2 pts for an informed and detailed description of the applicability of attachment theory. 3 pts for addressing current misconceptions as well as remedies.

  
  

  Ex: Attachment describes the emotional bond between the caregiver and the infant. The type of attachment is determined by the caregiver, the temperament of the infant, and the opportunity to bond. The healthiest and most common form of attachment is the secure attachment. Secure attachment reflects a healthy and normal bond between a caregiver and a child. Behaviors displayed by the infant would include crying, searching for, reaching toward, or following the parent when they leave and would be soothed upon their return. Other forms are less than ideal but are not necessarily worrisome. However, disordered attachment may be indicative of abuse and should be investigated further. I have a better understanding of the forms of attachment and the factors that influence them as well as an understanding that there are multiple factors and not parenting alone. The application for attachment theory is really a jumping off point into investigating unmet needs of both parent and child. It may indicate there is a need for an adjustment or expectations, for example the parent's expectations of the child. There is a misconception that attachment is a reflection of the quality of parenting, but this is not necessarily true and biases should be addressed. Additionally, there is a common misconception that secure attachment and attachment parenting are the same and this misunderstanding may be harmful to both the parent and child.
• Which of the following sensorimotor substages occurs last, according to Piaget: Primary Circular Reactions, Tertiary Circular Reactions or Coordination of Secondary Circular Reactions?


  Tertiary Circular Reactions
• SHORT ESSAY QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ANSWERED IN FULL SENTENCES.

  
  

  What does the critical period for language tell us about language acquisition in early childhood?

  Prof: Answers need to focus on the time frame for hearing spoken language, give the general timeframe (first 5 years) and discuss the inability to acquire language when this timeframe is missed.

  
  

  Ex: The critical period for language tells us that the first few years of life are essential for language acquisition. If we don't learn information within a specific time frame, our brains won't develop in the same way. If a child hasn't been exposed to language by age 5, they will more than likely not be able to speak. (DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS OR WOULD YOU EDIT?)
• What is neural pruning?

  Removal of unneeded synaptic connections.
• True or false? Infants are born with the understanding that objects can exist even if they can't be seen.

  False.

  
  

  Object permanence comes later! not born with!
• During which Sensorimotor substage do infant reflexes start to go away and infant behavior become more intentional and habit-forming: Primary Circular Reactions, Tertiary Circular Reactions, or Coordination of Secondary Circular Reactions.


  Primary Circular Reactions
• 18-month-old Marta was really upset when her mom left in the morning for work and cried for a long time at daycare. However, Marta doesn't seem very happy to see mom when she returns. She doesn't hug her back when she tries to hug her while picking her up. Instead, she just grabs onto her leg and stands there while she waits to leave. With what attachment style would Ainsworth most likely classify Marta?

  Anxious-Ambivalent

  
  

  (doesn't hug her back but clings to her still)
• True or False? Anxious-ambivalent attachment is considered to be a successful attachment style, according to Ainsworth.

  False
• True or false? Two-year-olds weigh, on average, about 45 lbs.

  False.

  
  

  avg is 30 lbs.
• True or false? If the Babinski reflex lingers after a child is two years old, it is possible that the child has some nerve damage.


  True
• Which Sensorimotor substage is the first one in which an infant can intentionally pick up a toy and intentionally play with it: Primary Circular Reactions, Secondary Circular Reactions, or Tertiary Circular Reactions.

  Secondary Circular Reactions
• During Mary Ainsworth's Strange Situation, name one aspect of the infant or child's behavior that is observed.


  Exploration with toys, reaction to parent leaving, reaction to stranger, reaction to being alone, reunion with parent

  
  

  (reaction to stranger = interaction with stranger)
• Which of the following Sensorimotor substages occurs first, according to Piaget: Secondary Circular, Simple Reflexes, or Primary Circular?

  Simple Reflexes
• True or false? Piaget emphasized the role of the individual in constructing knowledge.

  True
• In which of the sensorimotor stage's substage do infants develop object permanence?


  Internalization of Schemes
• Which attachment style (secure, ambivalent, avoidant, disorganized) is thought to be associated with child abuse?

  Disorganized
• Baby fat usually peaks at ___________ months of age.

  9
• True or false? The Stepping reflex is a reflex that stays with individuals for life.

  False
• The ___________ reflex involves a baby turning her head when her cheek is touched.


  Rooting
• SHORT ESSAY QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ANSWERED IN FULL SENTENCES.

  
  

  (something question about easy children vs slow to warm up children)

  Prof: Answers need to focus on the following: Easy children naturally adjust well to new situations and routines. Slow-to-warm-up start out looking more difficult, adjust over time.
• THOROUGHLY ANSWER THE ESSAY QUESTION. ESSAYS SHOULD BE WRITTEN IN COMPLETE SENTENCES.

  
  

  Compare and contrast Assimilation and Accommodation. In your answer, be sure to describe each and describe how they differ from one another. Then, give a specific example of each. Finally, give a personal example of when you engaged in either assimilation or accommodation (be sure to say which one you are describing!). Note: the module video used the example of eating food to illustrate these points. You must choose different examples.


  Prof: (2 pts).Descriptions of assimilation need to describe how new information is taken in without changing underlying scheme. (2 pts) The example must accurately reflect this, in sufficient detail. (2 pts) Descriptions of Accommodation need to describe how schemes are changed in response to new information. (2 pts) the example must accurately reflect this, in sufficient detail. (2 pts) For an accurately and sufficiently detailed personal example.

  
  

  Ex: Assimilation is when there is a new concept that is taken into the pre-existing schema to try and relate them. Accommodation is when the one tries to create new schemes completely. An example of assimilation is a child seeing any animal with four legs and immediately associating it as a dog because that is all the child knows. Once the child is taught that not all 4-legged animals are dogs, the child will accommodate their knowledge that there are other animals besides dogs that can have 4 legs.
• What is a "schema," according to Piaget?

  An organized way of making sense of experiences

  
  

  The organized way of interpreting or making sense of experiences (making meaning)
• Thirteen-month old Jack is staying with a new babysitter until Mom and Dad return from a date. Jack was not upset when his parents left, and when they return, he basically avoids them. With what attachment style would Ainsworth most likely classify Jack?

  Anxious-Avoidant
• Lizzie is 18-months old. Lizzie and her mom are exploring a new daycare. Lizzie happily plays with toys while her mother talks with the staff. However, when mom goes out of sight, Lizzie starts to cry. She's immediately soothed when mom comes back. With what attachment style would Ainsworth most likely classify Lizzie?

  Secure
• How is an infant's achievement of object permanence related to her ability to bond with her parents?

  The infant needs to be able to remember her parents (objects - their faces) in order to bond.
• Which attachment style (secure, ambivalent, avoidant, disorganized) is thought to be the most probematic?

  Disorganized
• True or false? Infancy is one of the most rapid periods of development across the lifespan.

  True