PowerPoint®Presentation by Jim FoleyDeveloping Through

the Life Span© 2013 Worth Publishers

Topics we’ll be bringing to life Issues in Thinking about

Development Nature and Nurture Continuity and Stages Stability and Change

Prenatal Development Conception Zygote Embryo Fetus Teratogen Risks

Newborn Skills and Behaviors

Module 9: Developmental Issues, Prenatal Development, and the Newborn

Module 9: Developmental Issues, Prenatal Development,

and the Newborn

Topics we’ll be bringing to life

Issues in Thinking about Development–Continuity and Stages– Stability and Change

Prenatal Development–Conception Zygote– Embryo Fetus– Teratogen Risks

Newborn Skills and Behaviors

nature and

nurturechange

and stability

continuity and stages

How do genes and experience guide development over our lifespan?

In what ways do we change as we age, and in what ways do we stay the same?Issues in

Developmental Psychology

Is development a gradual change or are there some leaps to a new way of thinking or behaving?

Nature, Nurture, and Differences Childhood involves a genetically-driven process of

maturation, AND a process of interacting with, and being formed by, the world of objects and media, parents and peers.

When racial or ethnic or gender groups of people differ from each other in traits or abilities, the differences within groups tends to be greater than the difference between groups. Why?

The environment and culture affects all of us, but due to our similar biological heritage, it affects us in much the same way.

Genetic variations within groups affect traits and behavior more than the variations between groups.

Continuity vs. Stages, Nurture and Nature

Researchers who see development as a

function of experience tend to see development as continuous and

gradual.

Nurture is continuous.

Researchers who focus on biological

maturation see spurts of growth and other changes that make

one stage of development very

different from another.

Nature has stages.

Stages and Continuity

Three different types of development--cognitive, moral, and psychosocial--have been running in parallel.

Are they really separate stages, or a continuous process of development?

Change and Stability Are there some parts of who we are that remain stable

throughout development? Our temperament? Our overall personality?

Do some of our attributes change during development (even while we maintain our sense of identity)? Our abilities? Our interests? Our habits? Our traits?

Stability and Change

Are we essentially the same person over long periods? Some answers from research: In general, temperament seems stable. Traits can vary, especially attitudes, coping

strategies, work habits, and styles of socializing.

Personality seems to stabilize with age.Stability helps us form identity, while the potential for change gives us control over our lives.

Starting the Path to Personhood: Prenatal Development

and the Newborn

Conception Prenatal Development

The Competent Newborn

In the beginning:

Sperm and egg unite to bring genetic material together and form one organism: the zygote (the fertilized cell).

Conception

The Zygote Stage: First 10 to 14 Days After the nuclei of the egg and

sperm fuse, the cell divides in 2, 4, 8, 16, 100…

Milestone of the zygote stage: cells begin to differentiate into specialized locations and structures

Prenatal Development

Implantation: The Embyro, 2 to 8 weeks This stage begins with the

multicellular cluster that implants in the uterine wall.

Milestone of the implantation stage: differentiated cells develop into organs and bones Embryo

At nine weeks, hands and face have developed; the embryo is now called a fetus (“offspring”).

Placenta

At 4 months, many more features develop.Milestone of the fetal stage: by six months, the fetus might be able to survive outside the womb

Fetal Life: The Dangers

Dangers• Teratogens (“monster

makers”) are substances such as viruses and chemicals that can damage the developing embryo or fetus.

• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) refers to cognitive, behavioral, and body/brain structure abnormalities caused by exposure to alcohol in the fetal stage.

Fetal life: Responding to Sounds

Fetuses in the womb can respond to sounds.

Fetuses can learn to recognize and adapt to sounds that they previously heard only in the womb.

Fetuses can habituate to annoying sounds, becoming less agitated with repeated exposure.

After the fetal period, the child is born!

Inborn Skills

Newborns have reflexes to ensure that they will be fed. The rooting reflex--when

something touches a newborn’s cheek, the infant turns toward that side with an open mouth.

The sucking reflex can be triggered by a fingertip.

Crying when hungry is the newborn talent of using just the right sounds to motivate parents to end the noise and feed the baby.

Reflexes are responses that are inborn and do not have to be learned.

The Competent Newborn

More Inborn Abilities Newborns (one hour old!) will look twice as long at

the image on the left. What can we conclude from this behavior?