Lecture notes
PSY1002 - Developmental and Social Psychology Full Notes
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- Newcastle University (NCL)
The full notes for PSY1002 course - Developmental and Social Psychology at Newcastle University
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Lecture 1 – Prenatal Development Developmental psychology - branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive and social
change throughout the lifespan
Human development is continuous process - goes from prenatal to death. Therefore, we study
lifespan in entirety
Module focus however is on childhood, but opens up as course goes on
Key issues and debates
o Nature v nurture (nativism v empiricism/constructivism), biological process (maturation)
v experience
o Stability v change during life span - what changes, when does it change, what periods
are critical
Link these questions to EVERYTHING
Key question for lecture: how can psychologists learn about development prenatally?
Prenatal development - conception to birth: 40 weeks https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=sqpmzEefWrk
o Zygote
0-2 weeks
Cells at conception -> divides repeatedly -> cells specialise e.g. into digestive,
nervous system
Zygote = single cell embryo made of 46 unique chromosomes (genetic blueprint)
22 pairs of autosomes, 1 pair of sex chromosomes, so 23 pairs and 46
single
Enters rapid cell division (100 cells that specialize) by week 1
Develops into embryo
o Embryo
2-8 weeks
Human features develop rapidly -> sexual development -> susceptibility to
damage -> reflexive responses
Issue is many women don't know they are pregnant at this stage - health
implications
Chemical reactions drive organ formation
18 days -> embryo heart
3 weeks and 1 day -> heart begins to beat
4 weeks -> heart beats between 105-121 bpm
8 weeks -> major features can be defined - arms, hands, fingers, legs,
toes, head, eyes
, Brain and spinal cord
Site of future brain is recognizable in development of neural plate by 2
weeks, 4 days
3 weeks -> neural plate thickens at head end of embryo and folds into
neural tube which forms brain and spinal cortex
4 weeks -> midbrain, hindbrain and forebrain recognisable
Movement:
Embryo moves between 5-6 weeks, and is felt at 10
Movement essential for development of bones and joints
Leads to reflex development
Sexual development
Chromosomes: XX female, XY male
Gene on Y chromosome initiates chemical processes for development of
testies
Y chromosome initiates development of testes, which secret sex
hormones called androgens, e.g. testosterone which is involved in
dominance and aggression
Androgens form gonads into testes - no androgens create ovaries
o Foetal
From two months
Bone cells to birth -> organs fully develop -> premature birth from approx. 27 weeks
gives a fair chance of survival (variable) but rates of foetal development vary
9 weeks -> foetus swallows (Campbell, 2004) and sucks thumb (Hepper et al, 1991)
Also can sense light touch with face, palms of hands and soles of feet (Reinis and
Goldman, 1980)
10 weeks fingernails and toenails are growing (O'Rahilly and Müller, 2001)
Most of foetus is touch-sensitive by 13-14 weeks (Carlson, 1994)
14 weeks -> mouth shows rooting reflex used by new-borns to find food (Carlson,
1994)
Due to advances in technology, we gain more insight into feotal development
14 weeks clear gender differences as females move jaws more than males (Hepper
at al, 1997)
From 20 weeks foetus hears and responds to sounds (Lecanuet and Schaal, 1996)
Size
Month 2 - 3cm long and 28g - appearance of bone cells
M3 - 7-8cm long, 28g - complete development of major organs
M4 - 18 cm long, 180g - sleep cycle, feotal movement
M6 - 33cm, 1kg
M7 - critical, as foetus can be born prematurely
25 weeks foetus responds to taste
Sweet substances placed in amniotic fluid increase feotal swallowing
Bitter substances decrease swallowing and may alter facial expression
(Moore and Persaud, 2003)
Evolutionarily this may be because sweet substances indicate nutrients,
whereas bitter can be dangerous
,
Methodological approaches to studying the foetus
o Ultrasound (ultra-sonography) scan
Low cost
Good availability
Superb safety profile
o Foetal heart rate (FHR) insights
If a foetus responds to an external stimuli there will be a change in FHR
E.g. De Casper et al (1994) - Foetal reactions to recurrent maternal speech
Pregnant women recited a short rhyme (called the target) aloud
each day between 30-37 weeks of pregnancy
When new-borns heard the 'target' their heart rate was lower than
when mother read a 'control' rhyme - more relaxed
Researchers conclude that a level of foetal learning has occurred
E.g. Hepper - Foetal Reactions to Exposure to television theme tunes
, Babies of mothers who had heard the sound tracks during
pregnancy showed a more calm response than those who hadn't
New-borns exhibited changes in heart rate and number of body
movements (reduction)
o Insights from new-borns
Testing new-borns may reveal components of development from the
prenatal phase (foetal learning)
E.g. exposure learning - if new-born responds to stimuli they
hear/experienced could suggest they learn about the stimulus
Damage during prenatal development
o Most babies are born healthy despite complexities
o However, defects occur in 3-5% of new-borns
o Teratogens = substances which, when ingested by the mother can adversely affect
her unborn child
Diseases/infections
Rubella
Paediatric AIDS
HIV
Herpes virus
Syphilis
Medicine/drugs
Legal and illegal drugs - e.g. heroin and cocaine can cause baby to be
addicted, have attachment disorders and have a cleft palate
Aspirin (controversal)
Nicotine
Alcohol
Some antibiotics - e.g. tetracycline can cause irregularities in the
bones and discoloration of teeth
Timing of exposure
Critical period = time when a particular organ or other body part of
the organism is the most susceptible to teratogenic damage
Zygote = before implantation teratogens rarely have an impact - if
they do there is complete cell death
Embryonic = source of serious deficits as foundations of body parts
in place
Foetal: damage is minor, but brain eyes and genitals can be effected
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