Developmental psychology (Chapter 11)
Foundational aspects of human development
• The lifespan spans from prenatal development to death
• Developmental stages include prenatal, childhood, adolescent and adult
development
• Aspects of development are especially dynamic during childhood, including
personality development, cognitive development and moral development
• Development is a lifelong process that extends into late adulthood
Prenatal development
• The prenatal period extends from conception to birth, usually encompassing nine
months of pregnancy
• Science and society considers the role of genetics, environment and parental
factors on child development
• As a result, the debate about the importance of biological and environmental
factors is ongoing
Stages of prenatal development
Stages Time period Explanation
Germinal stage 0- 2 weeks Rapid cell division occurs,
and the mass of cells
migrates to the uterus and
implants into the uterine
wall, forming a placenta
during the implantation
stage
Embryonic stage 2- 8 weeks Most vital organs and
bodily systems emerge
which is a vulnerable time
period. Effects if anything
interferes is devastating
Foetal stage 9 weeks- birth Muscles and bones begin to
form. Continues to grow
and function. Age of
viability reached by 22
weeks.
,Factors that influence prenatal development
Genetic
disorders
Culture,
family and Maternal
environmental nutrition
toxins
Influences
on prenatal
development
Maternal Maternal
illness and stress and
psycho- emotion
pathology
Maternal
drug use
Genetic disorders
• Gene abnormalities are the consequence of defective genes, the faulty genes
transmitted from one generation to the next
• Chromosome abnormalities are conditions that arise as a result of extra
chromosome example Down’s Syndrome
Maternal nutrition
• Sufficient quantities of particular nutrients are required for neural tube growth
• Total number of calories is critical to good prenatal development of the nervous
system
Maternal stress and emotion
• High levels of stress hormones cause increase in blood pressure, heart rate and
activity level
• The child has an increased vulnerability to diseases and disorder and are likely
to experience problems
, Maternal drug use
• Alcohol cause severe mental and physical deficiencies
• Smoking can cause children to have low weight at birth
• Other substances can cause low birth weight, early birth and withdrawal
symptoms
• Prescription and over-the-counter drugs can cause foetal abnormalities
Maternal illness and psychopathology
• Many illnesses poses high risks for damaging brain development
• Infectious diseases affect the foetus’s central nervous system
Culture, family and environmental toxins
• Culture influences thoughts and decisions around pregnancy and child-rearing
• Miscarriages in the family can be passed on
• Changes in family structure over time can influence development
• Environmental toxins include air pollution, radioactivity etc.
Foundational aspects of human development
• The lifespan spans from prenatal development to death
• Developmental stages include prenatal, childhood, adolescent and adult
development
• Aspects of development are especially dynamic during childhood, including
personality development, cognitive development and moral development
• Development is a lifelong process that extends into late adulthood
Prenatal development
• The prenatal period extends from conception to birth, usually encompassing nine
months of pregnancy
• Science and society considers the role of genetics, environment and parental
factors on child development
• As a result, the debate about the importance of biological and environmental
factors is ongoing
Stages of prenatal development
Stages Time period Explanation
Germinal stage 0- 2 weeks Rapid cell division occurs,
and the mass of cells
migrates to the uterus and
implants into the uterine
wall, forming a placenta
during the implantation
stage
Embryonic stage 2- 8 weeks Most vital organs and
bodily systems emerge
which is a vulnerable time
period. Effects if anything
interferes is devastating
Foetal stage 9 weeks- birth Muscles and bones begin to
form. Continues to grow
and function. Age of
viability reached by 22
weeks.
,Factors that influence prenatal development
Genetic
disorders
Culture,
family and Maternal
environmental nutrition
toxins
Influences
on prenatal
development
Maternal Maternal
illness and stress and
psycho- emotion
pathology
Maternal
drug use
Genetic disorders
• Gene abnormalities are the consequence of defective genes, the faulty genes
transmitted from one generation to the next
• Chromosome abnormalities are conditions that arise as a result of extra
chromosome example Down’s Syndrome
Maternal nutrition
• Sufficient quantities of particular nutrients are required for neural tube growth
• Total number of calories is critical to good prenatal development of the nervous
system
Maternal stress and emotion
• High levels of stress hormones cause increase in blood pressure, heart rate and
activity level
• The child has an increased vulnerability to diseases and disorder and are likely
to experience problems
, Maternal drug use
• Alcohol cause severe mental and physical deficiencies
• Smoking can cause children to have low weight at birth
• Other substances can cause low birth weight, early birth and withdrawal
symptoms
• Prescription and over-the-counter drugs can cause foetal abnormalities
Maternal illness and psychopathology
• Many illnesses poses high risks for damaging brain development
• Infectious diseases affect the foetus’s central nervous system
Culture, family and environmental toxins
• Culture influences thoughts and decisions around pregnancy and child-rearing
• Miscarriages in the family can be passed on
• Changes in family structure over time can influence development
• Environmental toxins include air pollution, radioactivity etc.
