PSYC 1215 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Thalidomide
Document Summary
Developmental psychology realms of growth a)physical b)cognitive c)psycho-social d)moral. We are more comfortable with people who are like us, who look like us. (heaps of different ways to look at this) Self-shaping" process determined by genetic factors (innate mechanisms control a)physical abilities development) Diet, disease, alcohol/drug use can disrupt self-shaping" e. g. thalidomide : 2 weeks-3 months after conception most impact. Look at the relationship between innate and environmental. Not nature or nurture, but nature and nurture. Grasping, rooting, sucking - (involuntary responses) is intact and operational. When self-shaping goes well: operation of several reflexes (among other things): Poor muscle development / control; weak visual activity (8-12 inches) / object tracking. Very sensitive to auditory stimulation/small range of taste detection (sweet/bitter) But by 3-4months before sensory systems are operating effectively. Reflexes beginning to become less important than voluntary motor control which is beginning to improve (e. g. rase head, roll, crawl) becoming more and more important.