PSY100H1 Chapter 11: Chapter 11
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PSY100H1 Full Course Notes
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Many factors in prenatal environment (nuturition and hormones) can affect development. Exposure to teratogens (drugs, alcohol, viruses) can result in death, deformity or mental disorders. Synaptic pruning= process whereby the synaptic connections in the brain that are frequently used are preserved and those that are not are lost. Brain s physical development continues through growth of neurons. Critical periods= biologically determined time periods for the development of specific skills. Sensitive periods= biologically determined time periods when specific skills develop most easily. Attachment= strong, intimate, emotional connection between people that persists over time and across circumstances, feeling of safety and security: attachment is adaptive. In the past, mother thought as source of food, source of libidinal pleasure, provider of food. Harlow s experiment: infant monkeys prefer and form attachment to surrogate mother that provides warmth and comfort over a wire surrogate mother that provides milk.
