Lesson One
(Chapters 1 and 2)
Lesson 1 Assignments:
Nature and Nurture
"Nature" refers to the effects of heredity on development.
"Nurture" refers to the effects of the environment and experience on development.
A. Effects of Nature on development
1. Instincts
Learn the following four instinctive reflexes of newborns:
a. Grasping reflex:
Baby will close his fingers around an object that touches his palm
b. Rooting reflex:
Baby will turn his mouth toward a touch on his cheek (this is a feeding reflex – the baby is searching for the nipple)
c. Sucking reflex:
When the baby’s lip is touched, he makes automatic, rhythmic sucking movements (this is a feeding reflex – the baby is attempting to nurse)
d. Moro reflex:
When the baby experiences a sudden stimulus, such as a light, noise, or especially a change in body position, he extends his arms outward, then brings them together (it looks similar to a big hug – this is a startle reflex)
2. Inherited Behavior
Learn the following concepts that demonstrate inherited behaviors:
a. Readiness:
The baby must reach a certain level of physical development before she is able to learn related skills.
For example, the baby must have the proper muscle control before she can toilet train. Similarly, she must have the proper muscle control before she can learn to walk.
b. Critical periods:
Period in development when a child is most receptive to learning something specific. When the critical period has ended, the learning of that skill may be impossible, or in some cases possible, but greatly slowed. Learn the following two examples.
1) Attachment:
A secure emotional bond with at least one person.
The critical period for attachment is the first year of life.
2). Language-learning:
Refers to the time in childhood when language(s) are learned easily and rapidly.
Children effortlessly learn up to ten new words per day for several years, and may learn several languages at once without confusion.
The critical period for language-learning is 1 year of age through approximately age 12.
B. Effects of Nurture on Development
1. Prenatal effects
These are some environmental toxins that can adversely affect a developing baby (before birth):
a. Drugs:
Prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, alcohol, etc.
(Some effects of these substances may be fetal alcohol syndrome, born addicted to a drug, birth defects, etc.)
b. Nicotine:
Cigarette smoking while pregnant increases the risk of low birth weight, SIDS, stillbirth, and miscarriage.
c. Diseases:
Some diseases caught by a pregnant woman are particularly dangerous for the baby. For example, rubella or syphilis are likely to cause mental retardation, and an HIV-positive mother can pass the disease to her baby.
d. Radiation:
Some common sources of radiation are X-rays, computers, television, fluorescent lights, and power lines. Prenatal exposure to radiation can cause anything from mental retardation to physical defects.
All of the above are referred to as birth defects (or congenital defects)
They are caused by the behavior of the mother, or her exposure to something harmful, and therefore are usually preventable.
2. Neonatal learning
Each of the following demonstrates learning by newborn or very young babies.
a. Crying:
The baby learns to cry for attention, or to have her needs met
b. Mimic adult facial expressions:
When an adult makes a face at a baby, he often tries to imitate the facial expression. Facial language is a critical means of communication for humans, and this indicates that the baby is already attempting to look at and produce facial language.
c. Prefer novel visual images:
When given a choice, babies have a strong preference to look at a new image rather than a familiar image. The baby is demonstrating the ability to learn from newly presented information. (You learn less from something that is already familiar.)
d. Prefer human faces:
When given a choice, babies would rather look at a human face - even picture or drawing of human face – than anything else. This reflects the importance of learning facial language.
e. Voices associated with human faces:
By 4-8 weeks, babies will cry if they hear a human voice, but cannot see anyone around. This shows that the baby has learned that voices come from people – not other objects. Also, hearing a voice often causes the baby to turn his head to look for a face – again, remember the importance of facial language communication.
Discussion 1 (worth 20 points):
Part A (10 points)
In the Discussion 1 forum, answer the following question. For full credit (10 points), your answer must be at least 150 words long. For half credit (5 points), your answer must be at least 75 words long.
Discussion Question 1: Look through the chapters of your textbook, and choose one that sounds interesting to you. In the discussion forum, name the chapter you chose, and explain why it is interesting and what you hope to learn from it. Be sure to read the grading criteria and plagiarism information (scroll down) before answering the discussion question.
Part B (10 points)
In the Discussion 1 forum, respond to the "Part A" post of a classmate. Your response may further explain his/her post, or it may provide supporting information from the textbook or a website (not Wikipedia). For full credit (10 points), your answer must be at least 150 words long. For half credit (5 points), your answer must be at least 75 words long. You are always welcome to post supportive comments for your classmates, but short answers (less than 75 words) will not count for credit.
Grading Criteria
Plagiarism:
 |
 |
 |