Nanyang Technological University HP2300 Developmental Psychology Lecture Notes PDF

2023-2024 ASSOC P R OF SET OH P EI P EI [email protected] ASST PR OF LUO LI ZHU [email protected] PSYCHOLOGY, NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY COURSE SYLLABUS HP2300: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY AY 2023-24 Semester 2 Infants and young children Developmental topics Tutorial introduction Tutorial pres...

2023-2024 ASSOC P R OF SET OH P EI P EI [email protected] ASST PR OF LUO LI ZHU [email protected] PSYCHOLOGY, NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY COURSE SYLLABUS HP2300: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY AY 2023-24 Semester 2 Infants and young children Developmental topics Tutorial introduction Tutorial presentations Quiz MASTER CREATE/ APPLY ENGAGE Cognitive Development: The Newborn; Perceptual Development I - Piaget’s Theories; II - Piaget Revisited; Prenatal Development Motor Development; Infant Cognition Jan 16 Jan 30 Introduction & Methods; Jan 23 Preparations for Language, First Words and Sentences Early Conceptual Devt; Theory of Mind Feb 6 Feb 13 Attachment and Temperament Moral Development; Early Emotional Development Quiz Feb 20 Feb 27 Achievement Mar 12 Mar 19 QUIZ Weeks 1 to 7: Prof Luo Peer Relationships & Gender Development Social Devt: Environmental Contexts & the Modern Family Mar 26 April 2 Apr 9 Online Session: Born to be Good Apr 16 Apr 29 FINAL EXAM Weeks 8 to 13: Prof Setoh 03 Prenatal Development Life’s Greatest Miracle – PBS NOVA video https://youtu.be/7z0GmUD4dAs Pay attention to: 1. Size Size of the embryo Size of the body parts 2. What parts are developing at each time point Sensitivity to environment Prenatal Development  3 stages of prenatal development Major achievements of each stage  Factors that affect prenatal development Teratogens Critical periods 3 stages of prenatal development 1. Germinal stage 2. Embryonic stage 3. Fetal stage Duration Germinal Embryonic Fetal 1. Germinal Stage Start – conception End – attachment to the uterine wall Duration: 2 weeks, “Zygote period” Major achievements: Rapid cell division  formation of blastocyst Implantation into the uterine wall Germinal Embryonic Fetal Ovum Sperm The lucky few that make it. Implantation Second major achievement of the germinal stage. Implantation Attachment to the uterine wall  Formation of the amnion and the placenta 2. Embryonic Stage Start – attachment to uterine wall End – formation of bone cells Duration: 3rd to 8th week Major achievements: Growth (from ¼ inch to 1 inch) Major organs formed (~6.5 weeks)  susceptible to external influences Germinal Embryonic Fetal Terms How development takes place 1. Cephalocaudal: head-to-tail or top-down direction. 2. Proximal-Distal: from the center outward. 3. Cell migration: migrate to form new structures 4. Cell differentiation: Homogenous  specialized for specific functions 5. Apoptosis: Cell death Cephalocaudal Proximal-Distal Neural Tube This portion will eventually become brain and spinal cord. Spina bifida  Taking folic acid can reduce the risk. Neural Tube Head 3mm (0.12 in) 26 days Heart Starts beating at about 3 weeks Find the human …. Fish Tortoise Rabbit Human 9 weeks 3. Fetal Stage Start – formation of bones End – birth Duration: 9th to 38th week Major achievements: Growth (3 in. to 20 in.) Movement felt by mother Sex (~12 weeks) Hearing (~5months) Sensitive to light Germinal Embryonic Fetal 11 weeks Bones formed Can move 16 weeks Lower body grows rapidly; More active; Reflexes developed; 17 weeks Brain Lateralization 18 weeks Skin is very vulnerable. Has sleeping and waking states. 20 weeks Sex organs formed 10 inches long 22 weeks Vernix: Layer of fat that protects skin Growth: slows down If the same growth rate is maintained, the baby would weigh around 200 lbs (90kg) at birth. Viable： able to survive if born Fully functioning digestive and respiratory system. Babies born with a weight as low as 1 lb (~450g) have been able to survive. 28 weeks (7 months) 16 inches / 3 lbs (1.3kg) 35 weeks Almost there! Birth Birth Average Length = 20 inches (51 cm) Average weight = 7 lbs (3.2kg) Brain Development 25 days 35 days 5 months 40 days 6 months 50 days 7 months Embryonic & Fetal Stages from simplicity to complexity 8 months 9 months 100 days Brain Development  Occurs throughout prenatal period and continues after birth. major aspects of changes in brain cells during the prenatal period: 1) Cell Proliferation: Development of new neurons. 2) Cell Migration: Neurons move to “proper” location. 3) Cell Differentiation: Neurons become different from one another and acquire specialized functions. Brain Development Animation Prenatal Development  3 stages of prenatal development Major achievements of each stage  Factors influencing prenatal development Teratogens Critical periods Teratogens Any environmental agents that cause damage during prenatal period. The extent of harm depends on: 1) Dose: To what extent is the developing organism exposed to the teratogen? 2) Heredity: Some individuals may better withstand negative influences 3) *Timing*: Sensitive periods  Most influential! Sensitive / Critical Periods A timeframe of greater vulnerability to damage from teratogens. Q: Which of the three stages is the most susceptible to teratogens? Why?  Embryonic stage rd (3 - th 8 week) Major organ systems form and begin to function Each organ has a UNIQUE sensitive period, influenced by different teratogens WHAT are the specific factors that influence prenatal development? WHY do they have such an impact? Alcohol  High prenatal exposure can lead to: Small and underdeveloped brain Facial and limb defects Emotional and cognitive disorders  Even lower levels of alcohol consumption can have negative influence (2 ounces per day, Astley et al, 1992)  Lifelong consequences: the leading nongenetic cause of mental retardation in the US. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) http://www.aafp.org/afp/2005/0715/p279.html https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/06/health/pregnancy-drinking-fetal-alcohol.html https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2671465 Smoking Lack of oxygen  Underdeveloped lungs and potential cognitive problems Increased risk for various outcomes: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): unexpected death often happens during sleep. Lower IQ  impact cognitive development Cancer  long-term health Mother’s smoking? Second-hand smoke? Other Teratogens  Maternal diseases e.g., toxoplasmosis, HIV, syphilis  Drugs legal/prescription drugs: e.g., Thalidomide, Aspirin illegal drugs: e.g., Cocaine, Heroin Example: Thalidomide  A Hint from a Teratogen th th 4 -6  deformities of / no limbs https://www.thalidomidetrust.org/wpcontent/uploads/2016/10/Simple-timeline.pdf week Other Teratogens  Environmental Pollutants: e.g., lead, mercury  Radiation: x-rays  Extreme exercise  Poor nutrition  Sever emotional stress Other Factors  Age at the time of conception Mother’s age (Specifically, age of the egg) Father’s age?  The effects of these factors are cumulative.  Infants of mothers with low socioeconomic status are particularly at risk. Getting to term isn’t easy... The first hazard is conception! 30-45% of pregnancies do not make it to the embryonic stage. 15-20% may end in miscarriage But… Amazingly, most babies will be just fine! 90% of the babies who are born in the US are healthy. Most of the other 10% only have minor defects. 2023-2024 T HANK YO U!