Lecture Notes on Developmental Psychology

Reflexes in Infants

• Babinski Reflex: Stroking a baby's foot causes toes to spread.
• Moreau Reflex: When a baby is dropped backwards, arms fling out.

Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development

• Sensory Motor Stage (0-2 years)

  • Interaction through senses and movement.
  • Development of object permanence.

• Pre-operational Stage (2-7 years)

  • Simple language development.
  • Egocentrism: Inability to understand that others have different beliefs and desires.
  • Development of theory of mind in latter half.

• Concrete Operational Stage (7-12 years)

  • Concept of conservation: Understanding that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape/form.

• Formal Operational Stage (12+ years)

  • Hypothetical-deductive reasoning develops.

Criticisms of Piaget’s Theory

• Underestimation of variability in children’s development.
• Overlooking cultural influences on development.
• Possible earlier development of object permanence.

Vygotsky's Theory of Development

• Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD): Tasks a child can do with help.
• Scaffolding: Support provided by adults to help children learn new skills.
• Emphasis on continuous learning over distinct stages.

Theory of Mind

• Understanding that others have different beliefs and knowledge.
• Tested with false belief tasks.
• Development typically around 4-6 years, delayed in autism.

Early Emotions and Self-awareness

• Universal facial expressions for six emotions: happiness, sadness, disgust, anger, surprise, fear.
• Mirror Test: Self-awareness test passed around 18 months.

Temperament in Children

• Three types: Easy, Difficult, Slow to warm up.
  • Genetic component; evident from birth.

Erickson's Psychosocial Stages

• Eight stages from infancy to old age, each with two possible outcomes.
  • Examples: Trust vs mistrust (0-1), Autonomy vs shame (1-2), Initiative vs guilt (3-5).

Attachment and Imprinting

• Imprinting: Rapid learning that occurs during a brief receptive period, typically in animals.
• Attachment in Humans:
  • Critical vs sensitive periods.
  • Harlow’s studies on monkeys showed importance of contact comfort.

Mary Ainsworth’s Attachment Styles

• Secure Attachment: Sad when mother leaves, happy when returns.
• Resistant Attachment: Very upset when mother leaves, not comforted when returns.
• Avoidant Attachment: Indifferent to mother’s presence.
• Disorganized Attachment: Inconsistent reactions.

Adult Attachment Styles

• Secure: Low anxiety, low avoidance.
• Preoccupied: High anxiety, low avoidance.
• Fearful: High anxiety, high avoidance.
• Dismissive: Low anxiety, high avoidance.

Effects of No Attachment

• Studies on Romanian orphanages: Poor attachment linked to behavioral problems and lower IQ.

Parenting Styles

• Authoritative: Warm and restrictive.
• Authoritarian: Hostile and restrictive.
• Indulgent: Warm and permissive.
• Neglectful: Hostile and permissive.
  • Authoritative parenting generally leads to best outcomes.

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Additional Topics

Impact of Divorce and Daycare

• Divorce can correlate with behavioral issues, but less adverse than a contentious household.
• Quality daycare does not negatively impact attachment.

Modern Concerns

• Effects of technology on new generations (e.g., Gen Alpha) are emerging areas of research.

Lecture Logistics

• Next class will continue chapter discussions and review for upcoming tests.