Question

Question 1

Theories of Development

Discuss one specific theorist and debate their theory of development

Erikson

Question 2

Prenatal Influences on Healthy Development

Discuss genetic influences on pregnancy

Question 3

The Infant & Early Childhood

Discuss the physical development of the infant.

Answer 1

1.Theory of development

Erikson's stage theory characterizes an individual advancing through the eight life stages as a function of negotiating their biological and sociocultural forces. Each stage is characterized by a psychosocial crisis of these two conflicting forces. If an individual does indeed successfully reconcile these forces (favoring the first mentioned attribute in the crisis), they emerge from the stage with the corresponding virtue

Eriksons' work is as relevant today as when he first outlined his original theory, in fact given the modern pressures on society, family and relationships - and the quest for personal development and fulfilment - his ideas are probably more relevant now than ever

2. Prenatal Influences on Healthy Development

Fetal programming is the hypothesis that certain environmental factors, such as maternal stress, can alter the development of the embryo and fetus during the prenatal period with lasting effects on later health and development across the lifespan. The idea of fetal programming led to the developmental origins of health and disease field of study that has linked biological experiences in the womb with vulnerability for chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease later in life. The articles in this issue explore the influence of factors such as maternal stress and anxiety, social and cultural stressors, poverty, and nutrition on pre- and postnatal health and development

Developmental psychologists consider the process of human development as it relates to physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development. This lifespan development is organized into different stages based on age. Prenatal development is the process that occurs during the 40 weeks prior to the birth of a child, and is heavily influenced by genetics.

There are three stages of prenatal development . Germinal, Embrionic and fetal.Prenatal development is also organized into trimesters: the first trimester ends with the end of the embryonic stage, the second trimester ends at week 20, and the third trimester ends at birth.

Differences in gene expression whether as a result of standard regulation processes or through mutation are crucial to an individual’s physical and psychological development. An individual’s genetic makeup at the very least serves as a crucial baseline for such characteristics as the ability to begin learning spoken language, such personality traits as a tendency toward aggressive versus submissive behavior, and risk levels for such diseases as alcoholism and addiction.

Before birth, a fetus has of course had limited opportunity to be shaped by its environment, beyond factors such as the mother’s diet, substance use, and anxiety level. For this reason, genetics play a particularly important role in prenatal development.

3.The physical development of the infant

By four months babies grow about 3 inches and gain an average of 4.5 pounds from their birth length and weight. Their head circumference also grows between .25 and .5 inches a month during the first year of life. By six months, their weight has usually doubled from birth, averaging a gain of .5 oz to 1 oz. a day. Growth may begin to slow around this time for infants and become more gradual. By their first birthday, babies have grown about 10 in. in length and their weight has tripled.

Some babies may begin teething at this age, with the first tooth coming in between four to 18 months.