Human Development Notes- Mod 1

Chapter 1- History, Theory, Research Strategies

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human development- what changes and what remains constant

throughout a humans life
theory- orderly, integrated set of statements that describe, explain, and
predict
basic conflicts in theory
o continuous or discontinuous development
o stages in development
o nature vs nurture
nature- biological, genetic inheritance
nurture- environment, physical and social influences
development as a dynamic system- ongoing process
o biological
o social
lifespan perspectivelifelong, multidimensional, multidirectional, plastic,
multiple and interacting forces
periods of development- changing
o prenatal- conception to birth
o infancy and toddler- birth to 2
o early childhood- 2 to 6
o middle childhood- 6 to 11
o adolescence- 11 to 18
o early adulthood- 18 to 40
o middle adulthood- 40 to 65
o late adulthood- 65 to death
major domains of development- physical, cognitive, emotional and social
resilience- how one is able to adapt when they are threatened
o factors in resilience
personal characteristics
parental relationship
social support
community resources and opportunities
key principles of Darwins theory of evolution
o natural selection- species have characters that are adapted to their
environments
o survival of the fittest
early scientific study of development
o normative approach- Hall, Gesell
measured large numbers of people
age-related averages
o mental testing movement- Simon and binet
created intelligence tests
working with mentally disabled and intelligence
psychoanalytic perspective
o Freud and Erikson
Freud- never really worked with children, just had people talk
about their childhoods, theories no longer considered
o Conflicts- biological drives and social expectations
o Freuds 3 parts of the personality

Id- largest portion of the mid, unconscious, present at birth,

source of biological needs/ desires
Ego
Conscious, rational part of the mind
Emerges in early infancy
Redirects id impulses
Super ego
The conscience
Develops form ages 3 to 6 with interactions from
caregivers
o Freuds psychosexual stages- oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital
o Eriksons psychosocial stages
Birth to 1 yrbasic trust v mistrust
1 to 3autonomy v shame/ doubt
3 to 6initiative v guilt
6 to 11industry vs. inferiority
Adolescenceidentity v role confusion
Early adulthoodintimacy vs isolation
Generativity vs stagnationmiddle adulthood
Late adulthoodintegrity vs despair
Behaviorism and social learning
o Behaviorismdirectly observable events study how people behaved
in certain situations
Narrow view of influences
Too little emphasis on environment
Skinner
o Cognitive-developmental theory
Piagetlooked at children, 4 broad stages
Children actively construct knowledge
Adaptation to environment to achieve equilibrium
o Information-processing theory
Human brain is symbol-manipulating system
Input is experiences
Output is behavioral response
Developmental cognitive neuroscience
o Study of relationships between
Changes in the brain
Development of cognition/ behavior
o Brings together researchers frompsychology, bio, neuro, med
Ethologystudy of adaptive value of behavior and its evo history
o Critical period- time when things are dramatic
o Sensitivebody available to have changes
Vygotskys sociocultural theory
o Transmission of culture to a new generationvalues, beliefs,
customs, skills
o Social interaction necessary
Cooperative dialogues with more knowledgeable members of
society
Ecological systems theoryo Microsystem- individual

o Macrosystem- nation= laws, customs

Choosing a research strategy
o Methodsbasic approach to gathering info
Systematic observations
Naturalisticin the field, natural environment where
behavior happens
Structuredlab situation
o Set up to evoke behave of interest
o All participants have equal chance to display
behav
Self-reports
Clinical interview
o Flexible, conversational style
o Probes for participants pov
Structured interview
o Each participant is asked the same questions in
the same way
o May use questionnaires, group answer
Clinical/ case study- bring together wide range of info on one
person
Interviews, observations, test scores
Ethnographies
o Design- overall plan
Permits the best test of research question
Correlational
Reveals relationships between variables
Not reveal cause and effect
Experimental
Allows for cause and effect statements
Lab experiments may not apply to the real world
Independent variable
Changes, manipulated
Dependent variable
Measured
Not manipulated
Expected to have an effect on the independent
variable
Random assignment
Unbiased procedure to assign participants to treatment
conditions
Increases chances that characteristics will be equally
distributed
Development research designs
Longitudinalsame group studied at different time
o Problems:
People drop out, move away
Cross-sectionaldiffering groups studied at the same
time

Sequentialseveral similar cross-sectional or

longitudinal groups at varying times
Rights of research participants
o Protected from harm
o Informed consent
o Privacy
o Knowledge of results
o Beneficial treatment

Chapter 2- biological and environmental foundations

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Genotypegenetic make up of an individual

Phenotypeobservable characteristics
Genetic foundations
o Chromosomes- store and transmit genetic info
o Genes- segments of DNA located along the chromosomes
o DNA- make up chromosomes and genes
Watson and Crickdiscovered and described in 1962
o Mitosisduplicate cells
o Autosomes22 chromosomes
o Sex chromosomes- 23rd pair, determine sex
o Gamete- sperm and ova, haploid
o Zygote- sperm and ovum united, diploid
o Twins
Fraternal/ dizygotictwo zygotes, fertilized ova
Identical/ monozygoticone zygote that divides into two
individuals
o Alleles- two forms of the same gene, one from each parent
Appear at the same place on both chromosomes in a pair
One inherited from each parent
Homozygous- same allele
Heterozygousdifferent alleles
o Dominant-recessive inheritance
o Incomplete dominance
Both alleles of a single gene are expressed
Combined trait
Intermediate trait
o X-linked dominance
o Polygenetic inheritance- many genes influence single trait
o Genomic imprinting
Chemical marker that activates fathers or mothers gene
Chromosomal abnormalities
o Down syndrome (21)
o Sex chromosome abnormalities
Reproductive technologies
o Donor insemination
o In vitro fertilization
o Surrogate mother
o New tech
Genetic counselingassess chances of hereditary disorders
Choose best course of actionrisk, family goals

Recommended when:
o Mother is over 35
o Having difficulties getting pregnant
o Hereditary disease risk
Prenatal diagnostic methods
o Amniocentesis- sample of amniotic fluid
Needle inserted in abdomen to placenta
Can test for genetic problems
Risk of miscarriage
o Chorionic villus sampling
Needle inserted to villi
Risk of miscarriage
o Fetoscopy
o Ultrasound
o Maternal blood analysis
o Preimplantation genetic analysis
Adoption
o Trendsinternational adoption, older children, developmental issues
o May exhibit some difficulties
Environmental contexts for development
o Family
Direct- two person relationship
Parent-child relationship
Indirect- third parties
Parents get along well
Adapting to changechanges from within and outside the
family
Illness, death, divorce, travel
o Socioeconomic status
Social status- years of education, job prestige, skill
Economic status- income
o Family functioning- timing and duration of family life cycle
Values and expectations
Communication and discipline styles
Education, status of women
o Poverty
13% are poor
Elderly living alone, women
Parents under 25 with children
Minorities
Women
Children
Poor nutrition
Poor education in poor neighborhoods
Homelessness23% of homeless are families with children
Majority under 5
Poor school attendance
Health issuespoor nutrition
Developmental delays
o Neighborhoods, towns, cities

Cultural context
of affluence
Though that affluent children better life
Often have unavailable patentshigh pressure job, out of town
Overscheduled
Demanding
o Alcohol and drug use
o Anxiety, depression
Importance of regularly eating dinner as a family
o Better outcome than those who do not
Benefits of strong communities
o Social interaction, activity
o Cooperation to provide safe environment
o Participation in important tasks
o Mutual assistant
Extended familiesthree or more generations living together
o Common in many minority cultures
o Benefits
Reduces stress of poverty
Assistance form all generations
Emotional bonds support
Individualist and collectivist society
o Ind= define separate, personal goals needs
o Group, group goals over ind
Indicators of childrens health and well beings
Percentage of elderly living in poverty
How much does heredity contribute to behavior
o Heritability- portion of individual differences attributable to genetics
o Range of reaction
o Genetic environment correlation
Passiveno way of picking environment, children
Evocative Niche-picking- actively involved in picking their environment
Epigenetic
o
Risks
o
o