PSY 1102 Lecture 3: Lecture 3

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 1102
• Professor: Najwa Haddad

Document Summary

Developmental psychology: scientific study of lifespan of a human, how we develop and change morally, perceptually. Development: systematic changes from birth to death, positive change and deterioration. Does development occur in stages or is it continuous: between stages there is a period of plateau. Or: development changes slowly with no dramatic changes, most believe it could be both. What are the critical periods in development: window of time where experience must happen or else loss or handicap of ability. Woman: to date, one is born with all eggs needed then mature later. Men: produce sperm from puberty to lifetime, quality deteriorates. Teratogens: anything that could harm the baby in the womb. Effects of teratogens depend on: type, stage of birth, dosage, time of exposure, different birth defects, genetic susceptibility, gender (boys are more vulnerable) Maternal factors: prescription and non-prescription drugs, psychoactive drugs. Infectious disease: nutrition, stress/depression, age, environmental hazards.