Developmental Psychology

Developmental Psychology

Developmental Psychology

• The study of you from womb to tomb

Nature Versus Nurture

• The way you were born- nature
• The way you were raised- nurture

Physical Development

• Focus on your physical changes over time

Prenatal Development

• Conception begins with the drop of an egg and the release of about 200 million sperm
• The sperm seeks out the egg and attempts to penetrate the egg surface
• Once the sperm penetrates the egg-we have a fertilized egg called a zygote
• Zygote
• the first stage of prenatal development. Lasts about two weeks and consists of rapid cell division
• After two weeks, the zygote develops into an embryo
• Embryo
• lasts about 6 weeks
• Heart begins to beat and the organs begin to develop
• Fetus
• By nine weeks to 6th month
• Teratogens- Chemical agents that harm the prenatal environment
• Reflexes:
• Inborn automatic responses
• Rooting- Baby’s tendency when touched on the cheek to open the mouth and search for a nipple
• Grasping- Baby tries to grasp anything in their reach
• Maturation
• Physical growth, regardless of the environment
• Although the timing of our growth may be different, the sequence is almost always the same
• Puberty
• The period of sexual maturation, during which a person becomes capable of reproducing
• Primary Sexual Characteristics
• Body structures that make reproduction possible
• Secondary Sexual Characteristics
• Non-reproductive sexual characteristics
• Widening of the hips; deeper voice; breast development; hairy
• Landmarks for puberty
• Menarche for girls
• First ejaculation for boys (spermarche)
• Physical Milestones
• Menopause
• Death
• Elizabeth Kubler-Ross’s Stages of Death/Grief:
• Denial
• Anger
• Bargaining
• Depression
• Acceptance