PSYC 289 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Programmed Cell Death, Prefrontal Cortex, Synaptic Pruning
Document Summary
Why study physical development? (in a psychology class) It affects how we all function in the world. How physical development affects how children behave. Makes new behaviors possible : being able to sit up or walk. Or the ability to write or draw- fine motor skills). Determines experiences: physical developments (height) can influence how well you play basketball. Affe(cid:272)ts others" respo(cid:374)ses: people who are taller are assumed to be taller (tall first grader treated like a 3rd grader) Affects self-concept: how we look at ourselves (height, weight) affect the self-concept. More rapid in infancy that during any other period after birth. Body does not grow symmetrically: we grow cephalocaudal which means from head to foot. Around 12 years is when we get the normal body to leg ratio. Development progress from the center of the body outwards- proximodistal pattern. Passes information from one cell to another. At birth the brain has 100+ billion neurons.
