PSYCH101 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Prenatal Development, Teratology, Dishabituation

• School: University of Waterloo
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYCH101
• Professor: Stephanie Denison

Document Summary

Developmental psychology: the study of changes that occur in people"s abilities and dispositions as they grow older. The prenatal period is conventionally divided into three phases: the zygotic (or germinal), embryonic, and fetal phases. By the end of the 12th week, all of the major organs are developed. Teratogens: environmental agents that cause harm during prenatal development. Organ system growth is quickest during the 3rd through 8th week. Once an organ has developed, teratogens have little effect on organ development. Fetus" can sense their external environment prior to birth in order to adjust their behaviour for their life after birth. Fetus" sensory system is well developed, except for vision. Babies stare longer a new stimuli than familiar stimuli (phenomenon is known as habituation") If a new pattern is substituted for the old one, infants immediately increase their looking time (this is called dishabituation)