PSYA02H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Plantar Reflex, Pacifier, Color Vision
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PSYA02H3 Full Course Notes
Verified Note
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Document Summary
Developmental psych: the scientific study of biological, cognitive, social and personality development throughout the lifespan. Development at different points of a lifespan or different age groups. Major issue: nature vs. nurture question it is always both of them. Human conception begins when a sperm penetrates the membrane of an ovum: when the two combine, a complete set of genetic instructions is formed, half from father and half from mother. Influences: function of zygote"s genetic code (nature) and environment (nurture, teratogens are environmental agents (ex. drugs and viruses), diseases (ex. German measles), physical conditions (ex. malnutrition) that impair prenatal development and lead to birth defects or even death. Important times in development: in general, a child"s reaction to their environment depends on their age (and amount of knowledge, critical periods, sensitive periods. How we develop during infancy: motor development. Times in development when certain events have an enormous impact. The same events have less impact if they occur earlier or later.
