Infancy physical development
All other factors held constant, which is better for physical development - breast feeding or bottle feeding?
Breast feeding
When does learning begin? Example? (extra 100 pts)
In the womb
What does the Sensorimotor stage consist of?
Infants construct an understanding of the world by coordinating sensory experiences with physical and motoric actions
Following a life of regularity, warmth, and protection in the mother’s womb, the infant faces a world that is less secure.
Erikson proposed that infants learn trust when they are cared for in a consistent, warm manner. If the infant is not well fed and kept warm on a consistent basis, a sense of mistrust is likely to develop.
What does the initiation vs. guilt phase consist of?
Children start using initiative to start becoming independent and moving about in the world
Stop identifying so much with their parents and have more of a sense of self
This enthusiasm might bring them guilt (for example, if they are reprimanded)
What is myelination?
The process of encasing axons with fat cells
What is habituation?
Decreased responsiveness to a stimulus after repeated presentations of the stimulus
What is object permanence?
The understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen
Describe the strange situation test
An observational measure of infant attachment in which the infant experiences a series of introductions, separations, and reunions with the caregiver and an adult stranger in a prescribed order.
Primary emotions – Emotions that are present in humans and other animals
Appear in the first six months of the human infant’s development.
Surprise, interest, joy, anger, sadness, fear, and disgust
Self-conscious (Secondary) emotions – requires self-awareness and a sense of self
Jealousy, empathy, embarrassment, pride shame, guilt
Controversy of when these emotions develop (Likely after the first year)
Name and describe three reflexes that exist in infancy
Rooting – cheek stroked, the infant turns head to find something to such
Sucking Reflex – automatically suck an object placed in the mouth
Moro Reflex – Startle response in reaction to a sudden, intense noise or movement. Throw head back, arch back, fling out arms and legs and rapidly close arms and legs
Stepping – infant held above surface and feet lowered to touch surface
Grasping – palm touched and infant grasps
Blinking – light flash, air blowing
Babinski – sole of foot stroked – fans out toes, twists foot in
What is size constancy? (100 pts)
What is shape constancy? (100 pts)
Do infants have these? (100 pts)
Size constancy - things don't change sizes when you get closer
Shape - things don't change shape as you change perspectives
Yes
What is joint attention?
Individuals focusing on the same object of event as someone else
Requires
An ability to track another's behavior such as following someone's gaze
One person directing another's attention
Reciprocal interaction
Describe two of the four types of attachment
Securely attached – use caregiver as a secure base to explore the environment
In the presence of their caregiver – explore the room and examine toys that have been placed in it.
Caregiver departs – protest mildly, and when the
Caregiver returns – infants reestablish positive interaction with her, perhaps by smiling or climbing on her lap. and resume playing with the toys in the room.
Insecure avoidant babies show insecurity by avoiding the mother.
Babies engage in little interaction with the caregiver
Not distressed when she leaves the room,
Usually do not reestablish contact on her return, and may even turn their back on her. If contact is established, the infant usually leans away or looks away.
Insecure resistant
Cling to the caregiver and then resist her by fighting against the closeness, perhaps by kicking or pushing away.
Cling anxiously to the caregiver and don’t explore the playroom.
When the caregiver leaves, they often cry loudly and push away if she tries to comfort them on her return.
Insecure disorganized babies are disorganized and disoriented.
Appear dazed, confused, and fearful.
Show strong patterns of avoidance and resistance or display certain specified behaviors, such as extreme fearfulness around the caregiver.
What is heteronomous morality
The first stage of moral development in Piaget’s theory. Children think of justice and rules as unchangeable properties of the world, removed from the control of people.
What is REM sleep and name one reason why it is important?
A deep sleep in which eye lids flutter in sleep
-memory consolidationName the difference between the pincer grasp and palmer grip
Palmer grip – gripping with the whole hand
Pincer grasp – (toward the end of the first year) gripping with thumb and forefinger
Define the following for 100 points each:
Phoneme
Morpheme
Semantics
Pragmatics
Phoneme – basic unit of sound in a language (example: /p/)
Morpheme – a minimal unit of meaning; it is a word or a part of a word that cannot be broken into smaller meaningful parts (example - "ing" "ed")
Semantics – the meaning of words and sentences
Pragmatics – appropriate use of language in different contexts
Describe the two "sides" to the "cry it out" debate
1. Behaviorist view - don't reinforce the crying - teaches the child to continue to cry to get what they want
2. Build healthy trust and attachment by attending to the child
Describe gender schema and give examples
An understanding or organization system for gender roles
Showing preference for same gender playmates
Playing with gender stereotyped toysName the four lobes of the brain
Occipital
Frontal
Parietel
Temporal
Name and describe some gross motor skills that are learned in infancy.
2 months – infants can sit while supported on a lap or infant seat
6-7 months – sit independently
8-9 months – learn to pull themselves up and hold onto a chair
10-12 months – stand alone
~9 months – crawling
Describe how language development is aquired by both biological and environmental influences
1. Language Acquisition Device (LAD) - a biological endowment that enables the child to detect certain features and rules of language, including phonology, syntax, and semantics.
2. Broca's area
3. Wernicke's area
4. Behaviorist view - reinforcement for language
5. based on SES
Describe temperament (250 pts) and goodness of fit (250 points)
Temperament - which involves individual differences in behavioral styles, emotions, and characteristic ways of responding; generally consistent over time
Goodness of fit
The match between a child’s temperament and the environmental demands the child must cope with
Have respect for individuality
Structure the child's environment around these differences
Lack of fit can produce adjustment problems
Avoid putting children in boxes and look at different contexts
Every child is different – avoid comparing and contrasting different children and assuming the same approach will work for different kids
Describe three reasons why spanking in ineffective
When adults punish a child by yelling, screaming, or spanking, they are presenting children with out-of-control models for handling stressful situations. Children may imitate this behavior.
Punishment can instill fear, rage, or avoidance. For example, spanking the child may cause the child to avoid being near the parent and to fear the parent.
Punishment tells children what not to do rather than what to do. Children should be given constructive feedback, such as “Why don’t you try this?”
Parents might unintentionally become so angry when they are punishing the child that they become abusive.