What is development?

Systematic changes and continuities over the lifespan, involving gains, losses, and neutral changes in an individual. 

What are the three broad domains of development?

1. Physical

2. Cognitive

3. Psychosocial

List the defined age stratums.

> prenatal: conception to birth

> infancy: first two years of life

   -- toddlers are ages 1-3

> preschool: 2-5/6

> middle childhood: 6-12

> adolescence: 12-20

   -- emerging adulthood 18-25

> early adulthood: 20-40

> middle adulthood: 40-65

> late adulthood: 65 +

   -- young old: 65-75

   -- old old: 75-85

   -- oldest old: 85 +

How has history changed our notion of the lifespan? Discuss childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. 

> Childhood

Before 1600 children were viewed as mini adults. There were still understood differences but they were very pressured to "grow up". During late 17th, early 18th century children were seen as innocent and in need of protection and moral and vocational guidance. 

> Adolescence

Before the industrial revolution, children worked as they became able. At the end of the 19th century however, a modern concept of adolescence emerged. An educated workforce was needed and after WWII increasing numbers started to attend university. Adolescence was about becoming educated.

The notion of emerging adulthood became prevalent as a period of identity exploration, instability, self-focus, and limitless possibilities. 

> Adulthood

Life expectancy changes over the centuries has determined adulthood. Middle age and retirement were new concepts that emerged from the "graying of America". 

What is a reflex?

A reflex is an unlearned and involuntary response to a stimulus.

Humans are born with it. 

What is a survival reflex?

What is a primitive reflex?

A survival reflex is one that has clear adaptive value. Permanent and non. 

A primitive reflex is one that is not clearly useful and generally disappears by age 1.5.

Give examples of survival reflexes.

Breathing (perm)

Blinking (perm)

Pupilary Dilation (perm)

Swallowing/Gagging (perm)

Rooting (non - gone by 5mo.)

Suckling (non - gone by 7mo.)

Give examples of primitive reflexes

Babinsky

Moro

Babkin

Galant

Crawling

Grasping

What is the Babinsky Reflex?

A primitive reflex in which fanning and then curling of toes happens when bottom of baby's foot is stroked. 

What is Moro reflex?

A primitive reflex in which a loud noise or sudden movement causes baby's arms to throw outwards, arching back, and then brings arms back inward toward each other.

What is Babkin reflex?

A primitive reflex in which the application of pressure to baby's palms leads to head flexation, rotation, openeing of the mouth, or a combination of the three. 

What is Galant reflex?

A primitive reflex in which the skin alongside the baby's back is stroked, the infant will swing toward the side that was stroked. 

What is the peak rate of height and weight growth for boys? girls?

Adult height for each?

BH: 13.4y BW: 13.9y

GH: 12.0y GW: 12.5y

Adult Height:

B: 18-20y

G: 16y

What is sexual maturation?

Which hormones to G and B produce?

The increase in adrenal androgens and gonadal hormones and the development of secondary sex characteristics;

G: estrogen/progesterone

B: androgens

Psychological implications of maturation for Girls? Boys?

G:  trouble dealing, body concerns, eating disorders, etc. Early maturation is linked to obesity and bulimia. 

B: welcome changes, focus on athletic ability and height. Early maturation is linked to substance use. 

How do we continue to physically mature in adulthood?

Skin, hair, and weight all change. (around 20% of middle aged persons are considered to be of "healthy" weight.) There is a loss of weight and muscle later on in life. Lifestyle changes generally cause physical changes.  We experience gains in memory and cognitive ability; and independence and satisfaction remain strong. (Though ageism can be detrimental to this.) 

Females hit menopause between ages 45-54; this takes place over a period of 5-10 years. 

Males hit andropause/climacteric around the same time and by age 80, only around 20-50% of original testosterone amount is present.

Evolutionary Developmental Psychology?

The study of how genetic systems are expressed during development. "What does that genetic code mean for us?"

Ethology

The study of animal behaviour from an evolutionary perspective. 

Zygote?

The fusion of an ovum and a sperm.

Chromosomes

The basic units of heredity. 

A mature human has only 23 chromosomes.

Genes

Contained in DNA these are a functional sequence of chemicals that provides instructions for amino acid production. 

The building blocks of life. 

Mitosis

Cell division and replication beginning at conception and continuing throughout the lifespan. 

Cancer is mitosis gone wrong. 

Meiosis

Cell division that produces reproductive genes. 

Phenotype

An outward expression of a genotype.

Is a long developmental period to adulthood evolutionarily adaptive?

Yes and no. 

We may die before getting to reproduce, or our caregivers may die. But it allows for social learning, and other psychological developments. 

Three causes of genetic disorders?

1. regular inheritance: from mother, father, or both.

2. spontaneous mutations: changes in the gene structure producing a new phenotype

3. chromosome abnormalties: too many or few chromosomes at conception. caused by errors during meiosis. (chances increase with parent's age.)

Huntington's Disease

cause and symptoms

cause: regular inheritance; dominant gene

symptoms: deterioration of CNS in middle age, associated with dementia and personality changes. 

Sickle-Cell Disease

cause and symptoms

cause: original cause is mutation.

symptoms: difficulty breathing, painful joint swelling, but it protects against malaria. 

Down Syndrome

cause and symptoms

cause: chromosome abnormalty (trisomy 21)

symptoms: distinctive eye folds, shorter limbs, thick tongues, low intellectual functioning. 

Klinefelter Syndrome

cause: chromosome abnormalty XXY

symptoms: tall, sterile, development of breasts, normal IQ, lower language and school achievement.

Schizophrenia

cause: polygenetic predisposition inheritance

symptoms: disturbances in logical thinking, emotional expression, and social behaviour

Things you inherit:

alpha activity in the brain

personality

occupational interests

intelligence

religiosity

social attitudes

Methods of Prenatal Detection

Ultrasound: uses sound waves to construct an image. addresses how many fetuses, if fetus is alive, gender, and physical abnormalties. 

Amniocentesis: needle inserted into the abdomen, sample of amniotic fluid is taken and fetal cells are examined for chromosome abnormalties and genetic disorders. 

CVS Chorionic Villus Sampling: catheter inserted through cervix into the membrane surrounding the fetus to extract hair cells containing genetic material. Can address if chromosomes abnormalties or genetic disorders are present. 

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis: in vitro fertilization of eggs. "designer babies". 

Maternal Blood Sampling: the least effective method. 

What are the three types of gene environment correlation?

1. passive: environment provided for child

2. evocative: environment evoked by child

3. active: environment sought by child

the environemnt is likely correlated with genotypes. parents are genetically similar (ie. introversion, happiness, intelligence)

Attachement

A strong affectional tie that binds a person to an intimate companion. 

important for distress regulation. 

Internal Working Model

based on interactions, we construct expectations about relationships that guide our social cognitions and behaviours. 

Early Attachment

explained

Infant to Caregiver attachment

Undiscriminating Social Responsiveness

birth-2/3mos. 

responsive to voices, faces, and social stimuli from any human. no clear preferences. 

Infant to Caregiver attachment

Discriminating Social Responsiveness

2-7mos. 

express preferences for familiar companions. direct most interaction and babbling to friends and family, although still friendly to strangers. 

Infant to Caregiver attachment

Active Proximity Seeking

"True Attachment"

6mo.-3ys.

first form clear relationships; particularly with mothers. Soon form relationships with others. 

Infant to Caregiver attachment

Goal Corrected Partnerships

3ys. +

more advanced social cognition alllows adjustment of behaviour to achieve goal of mantaining optimal proximity to attachment figure. They no longer care when a parent leaves. (manipulation comes in to play.)

Attachment Styles

(4)

1. secure

2. avoidant

3. resistant

4. disorganized

Attachment Styles

Explores when caregiver is present to provide a secure base. 

s - actively

a - play not as constructive

r - clings

d - all over the place

Attachment Styles

Responds positively to strangers?

s - comfortable

a - indifferent

r - fearful

d - confused

Attachment Styles

Protests when separated from caregiver?

s - moderately

a - unfazed 

r - very upset

d - unpredictable

Attachment Styles

responds positively to caregiver at reunion?

s - happy

a - disinterested

r - seeks contact, but angry

d - unpredictable

The "critical age" of attachment:

6mo. - 1yr. 

attachment style comes from initial caregivers. adoption may cause disorganized style of attachment if not adopted right away. 

What are the "play years"?

2-5yrs. 

Children spend more time with their peers and gender segregation becomes apparent. 

(b - packs; g - pairs)

Unoccupied Play

not doing a whole lot as far as social interaction or attachment and are not super engaged in play. 

Solitary Play

playing along, but highly engaged

Onlooker Play

watching others play but not directly participating. 

parallel play

playing next to one another. doing the same thing, but not interacting much. 

associative play

interacting by swapping materials, conversing, or following, but they're not united, just interacting. 

cooperative play

unite to achieve a common goal, cooperating and dividing tasks. 

Why is play important?

It helps children prepare for adulthood and try out gender roles. It fosters cognitive, motor, and social development. It helps children cope with emotional problems. It contributes to everything in life. 

Social Statuses

Popular: well liked by most, rarely disliked

rejected: rarely liked, often disliked

neglected: neither liked nor disliked, isolated and often invisible

controversial: liked by many, disliked by many. 

average: moderate on both scales. 

Evolutionary Perspective on Teen Romance

Four Phases of Teen Romance

1. initiation: early adolescence - a focus on the self, coming to see oneself as a person capable of relating to members of the opposite sex in a romantic way. 

2. status: mid-ado - peer approval is what counts. having a relationship with the right kind of partner is important for status within peer group. 

3. affection: late-ado - focus on relationship, rather than self-concept or peers. relationships become more personal and caring. friends provide advice and emotional support. 

4. bonding: transition to early adulthood - emotional intimacy achieved in affection phase is couple with long-term commitment to create a lasting attachment bond. 

Four Major Adult Attachment Styles