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Chapter 4 Developing Through
the Life Span
Sara J. BuhlPsychology 101
Cayuga Community College
Developmental Psychology study of physical, cognitive, and social
changes from infancy through old age
Developmental IssuesNature (genetic inheritance) versus Nurture (our
experiences)
Continuity versus Stages Is development gradual and continuous? Or is there a
sequence of separate stages? Stability versus Change
Do our personality traits remain the same or do they change?
Prenatal DevelopmentZygote (conception to 2 weeks)
fertilized eggenters a 2-week period of rapid cell divisiondevelops into an embryo
Embryo developing human organism from 2 weeks through
second month (8 weeks)
Fetusdeveloping human organism from 9 weeks to birth
Prenatal DevelopmentTeratogens
agents that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm chemical, e.g., alcohol, some medicines,
cocaine, heroin, nicotineviral, e.g., HIV, Rubella
Prenatal DevelopmentFetal Alcohol Syndrome
caused by a pregnant woman’s heavy drinkingphysical and brain abnormalities in childrenno known safe amount of alcohol during
pregnancy
SmokingFetus may receive fewer nutrientsMay be born underweight
Infancy and ChildhoodMaturation
biological growth processes that enable orderly changes in behavior
At birth 3 months 15 months
Cortical Neurons
Maturation & Infant Memory
What is your earliest memory?
Infantile Amnesia - most people cannot recall much from before age 4 or 5
Cognitive DevelopmentCognition
mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating
Jean Piaget (1896-1980)developed and administered intelligence tests interested in how children had different ways of
reasoning than adultsmind develops in a series of stagesSchema = a framework that organizes and
interprets information (e.g., dog)
Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development
Object PermanenceInfants younger than 6 months tend not to
understand that things continue to exist when they are out of sight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjBh9ld_yIo
Conservationproperties such as mass, volume, and number
remain the same despite changes in the forms of objects
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtLEWVu815o
Current Researchers & Piaget
Piaget underestimated young childrenbabies do seem to possess a more intuitive sense
of logic and numberssymbolic and formal operational thinking both
appear earlier than Piaget thoughttoday development is seen as more continuous
than Piaget proposed
Studies do support the sequence of Piaget’s stages (even if the ages aren’t exact)
Social DevelopmentStranger Anxiety
fear of strangers that infants commonly displaybeginning by about 8 months of age
Attachmentan emotional tie with another personshown in young children by seeking closeness to the
caregiver and showing distress on separation
Attachment StylesSecurely Attached
Explore surroundings, play (when mother is present) Distressed when mother leaves; comforted when she
returns
Insecurely Attached - Ambivalent Less likely to explore and may cling to mother Seem indifferent when mother leaves and returns
Insecurely Attached – Avoidant Also less likely to explore and may cling to mother May cry loudly and remain upset when mother leaves
and returns
Social Development
Harlow’s Surrogate Mother ExperimentsMonkeys preferred
contact with the comfortable cloth mother, even while feeding from the nourishing wire mother
Social DevelopmentMonkeys raised
by artificial mothers were terror-stricken when placed in strange situations without their surrogate mothers
(due to animal welfare issues this would not be done today )
Social Development
Groups of infants who had and had not experienced day care were left by their mothers in a unfamiliar room
0
20
40
60
80
100
3.5 5.5 7.5 9.5 11.5 13.5 20 29
Percentage of infantswho criedwhen theirmothers left
Age in months
Day care
Home
Parenting StylesAuthoritarian
Parents impose rules Obedience is expected
Permissive Parents submit to their children’s desires Few demands are made Little punishment
Authoritative Set expectations, but are also responsive Set and enforce rules Explain reasons for rules
Social DevelopmentThe correlation between authoritative parenting and
social competence in children
Parentingstyle
(e.g.,authoritative)
Child’s traits(e.g., self-reliant
socially competent)
Harmonious marriage,common genes, orother third factor
Chapter 4 – Part IIAdolescence & Adulthood
Development is now seen as lifelong
AdolescenceTransition from childhood to adulthoodStarts with pubertyEnds when independent adult status is attained
Adolescence Physical Changes
Puberty – sexual maturation; become capable of reproducing
Surge of hormonesRapid physical development
Primary sex characteristicsBody structures that make reproduction possible
Ovaries, testes, and external genitalia
Secondary sex characteristicsSexual characteristics that are nonreproductive
breasts; facial hair
Adolescent BrainBrain is still developing
Frontal lobe matures until about age 25Myelin growth occurring (fatty tissue surrounding
axons that speeds communication between neurons)
Judgment improvesBetter impulse controlGreater long term planning ability
AdolescenceCognitive Development
PiagetFormal Operational Stage
Adolescents are capable of abstract reasoning and logic Abstract ideas like good versus evil Hypothetical reasoning and consequences
AdolescenceMoral Reasoning
Kohlberg’s Moral DilemmasMoral dilemmas were posed to children, adolescents,
and adults“Is it acceptable for a person to steal medicine to
save a loved one’s life?”Answer often depended on stage of developmentPreconventional morality (before age 9)
Self-interest is focus: avoid punishment or obtain rewards
Conventional morality (by early adolescence)Cares for others and upholds laws and social rules
Postconventional morality Considers rights of people and basic ethical principals
Moral DevelopmentEmpathy – capability to relate to another
person’s feelings and emotionsSympathy – ability to support another by being
compassionate
Delay Gratificationhttp://vimeo.com/7494173
AdolescenceSocial Development
Erik Erikson (1960s)Stages of Psychosocial DevelopmentSearch for identity
Identity – sense of self
Intimacy – ability to form close relationships (later adolescence and early adulthood)
Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development
TRUST vs. MISTRUSTInfancy (0-1 yr.)When needs are met, a basic sense of trust is
developed
Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development
Autonomy vs. Shame and DoubtToddlerhood (Age 1-2) Gaining independence: WalkingLearn to do things for themselves OR doubt their
abilitiesFirst Power Struggles
Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development
INITIATIVE vs. GUILTPreschooler (ages 3-5) Language = questionsCreative independent playLearn to initiate tasksGuilt – Feeling bad about behavior
Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development
COMPETENCE vs. INFERIORITYElementary School (6 years to puberty)Skills: Read, Write, Math, Social, SportsTendency to feel inferior if unable to master tasks
Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development
IDENTITY vs. ROLE CONFUSIONAdolescence (teen years – 20s) Meaning of question: Who am I ?Role ExperimentationRefine sense of self (identity) Identity Crisis – confusion about sense of self
Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development
INTIMACY vs. ISOLATIONYoung Adulthood (20s to early 40s) Emotional commitmentForm close relationshipsLack of close relationships – social isolation
Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development
GENERATIVITY vs. STAGNATIONMiddle Adulthood (40s - 60s) Contribution to Next Generation
Through family and workWhat makes life meaningful?May feel a lack of purpose
Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development
INTEGRITY vs. DESPAIRLate Adulthood (late 60s+ ) Pride, Self-RespectReflect on lifeMay feel satisfaction or failure
Adolescence Social Development
Parent influence diminishes in many areas
Parent influence remains in:ReligionThinking about collegeCareer choicesPolitical views
Adolescence Social Development
Peer Influence GrowsTalkDressActions
Peer exclusionPainfulMay lead to withdrawalLonelinessLow self-esteem
AdulthoodPhysical Development
Physical abilities – peak in mid-20s
Health & exercise habits play a large role
Women – ability to reproduce declinesMenopause occurs around age 50
Later life changes in vision, hearing, smell become
increasingly noticeable Immune system weakens
AdulthoodCognitive Development
Memory abilities change as we ageWhen asked to learn a list of 24 words
No clues: younger people recall more wordsMultiple choice test of recognition: no change with
age
Crystallized intelligenceAccumulated knowledge and verbal skillsIncreases with age
Fluid intelligenceAbility for quick and abstract reasoningDecreases in late adulthood
AdulthoodSocial Development
Evidence does not support a midlife “crisis”Most divorces are in 20sMost suicides in 70s and 80sLife crisis triggered by major events (illness,
divorce) not age
Social ClockPreferred timing of social events (marriage,
parenthood, retirement)Culture dependent
AdulthoodMarriage
Adults are marrying laterDivorce rates have increased
Less economic dependence for womenStriving for an “equal” relationship (work, chores)