Key Concepts in Developmental Psychology

Oct 9, 2024

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.

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.