PSY210H5 Lecture Notes - Random Assignment, Field Experiment, Psychodynamics
7 May 2012
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Developmental psychology defined: scientific study of changes or continuities in an organism between initial conception and death. Child development : gradual evolution of child"s cognitive, social, and other capacities first by describing change in child"s observed behaviours and then uncovering the processes and strategies that underlie these changes. Historical roots: plato: experience is not the souce of human knowledge because our senses are too fallible. Plato: children enter the world armed with innate knowledge about the world and experience simply riggers this pre-existing knowledge. nativist. Nativist: emphasizes the role of nature or innate factors in development. John locke: childs mind is a blank slate. Jaques rousseau: children enter the world with innate knowledge. with plato. Fetal development: first trimester: the embryonic stage begins 3 to 4 weeks following fertilization. Most body parts including the nervous system and limbs are formed. Second trimester: fetus is 12 to 15 inches long and mother can feel their movements.
