#AP Psychology: Physical Development Across the Lifespan 👶

Hey there, future psych expert! Let's get you prepped for the exam with a super-focused review of physical development. We'll cover everything from prenatal influences to the golden years, making sure you're feeling confident and ready to ace it! Let's dive in!

#Physical Development Before Birth

#Prenatal Influences on Development

• Teratogens: These are the baddies—substances that can mess with fetal development. Think of them as unwanted guests at a very important party. 🚫
  • Examples: Alcohol, drugs, certain meds, environmental toxins.

* **Maternal Illnesses**: Some illnesses can cross the placenta and harm the fetus. * Examples: Rubella (German measles), STIs. * **Genetic Mutations**: Inherited or spontaneous changes can lead to abnormalities. * Down syndrome (extra chromosome 21). * Sickle cell anemia (hemoglobin gene mutation). * **Hormonal Imbalances**: Mother's hormones can affect fetal development. * Excess androgens can masculinize female fetuses. * Insufficient thyroid hormone can impair brain development. * **Environmental Factors**: Poor nutrition, lack of prenatal care, and toxins can impact fetal growth.

#Physical Development in Infancy and Childhood

#Motor Skill Development

• Gross Motor Skills: Big movements using large muscles.
  • Examples: Crawling, walking, running.

* **Fine Motor Skills**: Precise, coordinated movements of hands and fingers. * Examples: Grasping, manipulating objects, drawing. * * Timing varies among children due to genetics, nutrition, and opportunities for practice. * Mastering motor skills allows exploration, play, and independence.

#Infant Reflexes

• Reflexes: Automatic, involuntary responses to stimuli. They're like built-in survival tools. 👶
  • Rooting reflex: Turns head toward touch on cheek and starts sucking (helps with feeding).
  • Other reflexes: Moro (startle), grasping, stepping.
• Presence and strength indicate healthy neurological development.
• Absence or persistence beyond expected age may signal issues.

#Visual Cliff Experiment

• Developed by Eleanor Gibson and Richard Walk to study depth perception in infants.
• A raised platform with a clear glass surface over a drop-off.
• Checkered pattern creates the illusion of a cliff.

* Demonstrates depth perception emerges early, typically by 6-8 months.

#Critical Periods and Imprinting

• Critical Periods: Specific times when the brain is super sensitive to experiences. 💡
  • Example: Language acquisition. If you miss the boat early on, it's tough to catch up later.
• Imprinting: Rapid, instinctive learning during a critical period in some animals. 🐣
  • Young animals form a strong attachment to the first moving object they see (usually a parent).
  • Konrad Lorenz and his geese – they followed him like he was their mom!

#Physical Development in Adolescence

#Puberty and Sexual Maturation

• Puberty: Transition from childhood to adulthood, triggered by hormones.
  • Starts with the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis activation.
  • Leads to sex hormone production (testosterone in males, estrogen in females).
• Adolescent Growth Spurt: Rapid height and weight increase.
  • Starts earlier in females (around 10) than males (around 12).
• Primary Sex Characteristics: Reproductive organs that develop.
  • Males: Enlargement of testes and penis, sperm production (spermarche).
  • Females: Ovaries and uterus mature, menstruation begins (menarche).
• Secondary Sex Characteristics: Physical features that distinguish males and females, but not directly involved in reproduction.
  • Examples: Breast development in females, facial hair in males, changes in body hair, voice, and skin.

#Physical Development in Adulthood

#Age-Related Physical Changes

• Adulthood: Longest stage, from end of adolescence to end of life.
• Reproductive ability peaks in early adulthood, then declines.
  • Menopause (cessation of menstruation) in females around age 50. 🍂
  • Male fertility declines gradually, with decreased testosterone and sperm quality.
• Mobility and flexibility decrease due to muscle loss and joint changes.
  • Regular exercise and stretching help maintain function.
• Reaction time slows, especially for complex tasks.
• Visual and auditory acuity decline.
  • Presbyopia (age-related farsightedness) and hearing loss are common.
  • Regular check-ups and corrective devices can help.
• Healthy lifestyle helps preserve function and quality of life in older adulthood.

#Final Exam Focus

Okay, let's bring it all together! Here are the high-priority topics and question types to focus on:

• High-Priority Topics:
  • Teratogens and their impact during critical periods.
  • Motor skill development (gross vs. fine).
  • Infant reflexes and their significance.
  • The visual cliff experiment and depth perception.
  • Puberty and its hormonal changes.
  • Age-related physical changes in adulthood.
• Common Question Types:
  • Multiple-choice questions testing your understanding of key terms and concepts.
  • Short-answer questions requiring you to apply concepts to scenarios.
  • Free-response questions (FRQs) that ask you to explain and connect multiple ideas.
• Last-Minute Tips:
  • Time Management: Pace yourself during the exam. Don't get stuck on one question.
  • Common Pitfalls: Avoid confusing critical periods with sensitive periods. Be clear on the difference between primary and secondary sex characteristics.
  • Strategies for Challenging Questions: Break down complex questions into smaller parts. Use examples to support your answers.

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Practice Question

Practice Questions

Multiple Choice Questions

1. A researcher is studying the effects of prenatal exposure to alcohol on cognitive development. Which of the following concepts is most relevant to the researcher's study? (A) Accommodation (B) Assimilation (C) Teratogens (D) Maturation (E) Habituation

2. An infant is placed on the shallow side of a visual cliff apparatus. Which of the following behaviors would most likely indicate that the infant has developed depth perception? (A) The infant crawls across the deep side of the cliff without hesitation. (B) The infant cries when placed on the shallow side of the cliff. (C) The infant refuses to crawl across the deep side of the cliff. (D) The infant reaches for an object placed on the deep side of the cliff. (E) The infant shows no interest in the visual cliff.

3. Which of the following is an example of a primary sex characteristic that develops during puberty? (A) Breast development (B) Facial hair growth (C) Enlargement of the testes (D) Changes in voice (E) Increased body hair

Free Response Question (FRQ)

Explain how both nature and nurture contribute to the development of motor skills in infants and toddlers. In your response, be sure to:

• Define gross motor skills and fine motor skills.
• Provide one example of a gross motor skill and one example of a fine motor skill.
• Explain how genetics (nature) can influence the development of motor skills.
• Explain how environmental factors (nurture) can influence the development of motor skills.

Scoring Breakdown

• Definition of Gross Motor Skills (1 point): Movements involving large muscle groups (e.g., walking, running).
• Definition of Fine Motor Skills (1 point): Movements involving small muscle groups, particularly in the hands and fingers (e.g., grasping, drawing).
• Example of Gross Motor Skill (1 point): Walking, crawling, running, jumping, etc.
• Example of Fine Motor Skill (1 point): Grasping, drawing, picking up small objects, etc.
• Explanation of Nature (1 point): Genetics can influence the rate and sequence of motor skill development (e.g., some children may have a genetic predisposition to develop certain skills earlier or later than others).
• Explanation of Nurture (1 point): Environmental factors like opportunities for practice, nutrition, and parental encouragement can impact the development of motor skills (e.g., a child who is given more opportunities to play and explore may develop motor skills faster).