Developmental Psychology M42-45

1. The first two weeks of prenatal development is the period of the: ​ (a)   . The period of the ​ (b)   lasts from 9 weeks after conception until birth. The time between those two prenatal periods is considered the period of the ​ (c)   .

• zygote
• fetus
• embryo
• blastocyst

1. Your friend’s older sister—a regular drinker—hopes to become pregnant soon and has stopped drinking. Why is this a good idea? What negative effects might alcohol consumed during pregnancy have on a developing fetus?

Answer explanation

1. There is no known safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy, so your friend’s older sister is wise to quit drinking before becoming pregnant. Harmful effects may occur even before a woman knows she is pregnant. If a woman drinks persistently and heavily during her pregnancy, the fetus will be at risk for severe physical and cognitive impairments (such as occurs with fetal alcohol syndrome).

1. __________ psychologists study physical, mental, and social changes throughout the life span.

• Cognitive

• 1. Developmental

• Infantile

• Clinical

1. Match the following major three issues form developmental psychology:

• 1. nature and nurture

• 1. the interaction between our genetic inheritance and our experiences

• 1. continuity and stages

• 1. whether our traits endure or change as we age

• 1. stability and change

• 1. which aspects of development are gradual and continuous, and which change relatively abruptly

1. _________ are potentially harmful agents, such as viruses or drugs, that can pass through the placental screen and harm the developing embryo or fetus.

• teratogens

• habituations

• epigenetics

• reflexs

What is the biological growth process that explains why most children begin walking by about 12 to 15 months?

• teratogens

• reflexes

• maturation

• amnesia

The brain’s nerve cells are sculpted by ​ (a)   (nature) and ​ (b)   (nurture). Their interconnections multiply rapidly after ​ (c)   , a process that continues until ​ (d)   , when a pruning process - aka ​ (e)   - begins shutting down unused connections.

• heredity
• experience
• birth
• puberty
• use it or lose it

We have few or no ​ (a)   memories of events occurring before about age ​ (b)   , in part because major brain areas, like the ​ (c)   , have not yet matured. This is called ​ (d)  

• conscious
• unconscious
• 4
• 2
• hippocampus
• cerebellum
• infantile amnesia
• assimilation

Match the correct cognitive developmental stage to each developmental phenomenon

Groups:

(a) Sensorimotor

,

(b) Preoperational

,

(c) Concrete Operational

,

(d) Formal Operational

• Having difficulty taking another’s point of view (as when blocking someone’s view of the TV).

• Thinking about abstract concepts, such as “freedom.”

• Having the ability to reverse math operations.

• Understanding that something is not gone for good when it disappears from sight

• Enjoying imaginary play (such as dress-up).

• Understanding that physical properties stay the same even when objects change form.

What does theory of mind have to do with autism spectrum disorder?

Answer explanation

Theory of mind focuses on our ability to understand our own and others’ mental states. Those with autism spectrum disorder struggle with this ability.