Child development in psychology: midterm concepts

¶ … Naturalistic Observations

The advantages of naturalistic observations are that they require researchers to draw their theories from 'real life' and the fact that empirical data can often challenge conventional wisdom. For example, anecdotal observations of children at play may defy gender stereotypes more than previous research suggests. There are exceptions to every rule. On the other hand, appearances may deceive or create impressions of false causality. The emotional biases or expectations of the researcher can also impede objectivity

What are the three main purposes of a theory?

Theories can provide clarity and illustrate consistency to enable better cognitive functioning on the part of observers. Theories can describe a phenomenon with relative accuracy and predict future phenomenon.

Chapter 3

What factors determine whether an at-risk couple should have children?

The degree to which the risk is likely to occur (a slim vs. A highly likely eventuality), the nature of the risk (whether the condition is mild and treatable or life-threatening and incapacitating), and the ability of the couple to realistically anticipate and cope with the challenges of raising a child with special needs are all determining factors as to whether a couple should proceed with an at-risk pregnancy. Finally, the risk to the mother should also be evaluated, as well as her ability to realistically gauge her personal risk should complications occur over the course of her pregnancy.

Chapter 4

What do you think about laws that would prevent pregnant women from taking recreational drugs, such as alcohol, cocaine, or marijuana or even smoking?

It is absurd to attempt to legally force a woman to have a perfect pregnancy because it cannot be done without infringing upon a woman's individual liberties. First of all, to place special regulations upon women regarding cocaine and marijuana is unnecessary, as these substances are illegal for all individuals, not simply pregnant women. Secondly, although it is certainly better for a pregnant woman not to smoke or drink, a free society must exhibit some degree of trust that its citizens can make good decisions. Even if this is not always the case, the fact people make bad decisions at times is inevitable, and while a potential child's eventual health and well-being may be at stake, to take that argument to its logical extent would be to say that the state could regulate pregnant women's diet and activity, in the interest of the developing fetus' health.

Chapter 5

Describe what you found most interesting in this chapter and why?

Often the 'nature vs. nurture' is reduced to an 'either or' equation by the media. This chapter illustrated that nature and nurture go hand-in-hand. It is well-known that someone may have a biological tendency to develop alcoholism, for example, but the environmental impact of a culture that glorifies drinking, peer pressure to drink early in life before an individual is really ready to cope with the stresses of drinking, and a lack of hope about the future can all create fertile ground for alcoholism in a predisposed individual, even though someone without the predisposition might emerge unscathed. This chapter points out how early environmental influences, however, are also part of the nurture equation, something that is often forgotten. A baby who is picked up when he or she cries, is given stimulation in the nursery, and is given good nutrition will have a better start in life than a baby who is given none of these advantages, even if the deprived and enriched infants in this hypothetical scenario may have relatively the same genetic material. Nurture, in other words, begins very early on, and nurture can affect the later biology of the brain just as much as genetics.

Chapter 6

From birth, it seems as though humans are predisposed to communicate, and to make meaning out of sounds and gestures. Yet despite this apparent hard-wiring to create language, culture also has a profound influence on individual's communication styles, from the words that are used to nonverbal cues. Infants learn from their caregivers and through observation, even while they are predisposed to develop along a certain biological pattern of making meanings from sounds and conveying those meanings to others. Although this pattern may not be as direct as growing taller and heavier with age, it is still a discernable pattern, thus supporting the mixed theory of language and communication.