PSYC 2000 Chapter : Developing Through The Life Span
Document Summary
Developmental psychology is a branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span. Conception when a single sperm cell penetrates the outer coating of the egg and fuses to form a fertilized cell. Zygote: fertilized egg cell; cells divide rapidly for the first two weeks after conception and begin to differentiate. Embryo: developing human organism from 2 9 weeks after conception; cells differentiate. Fetus: developing human organism from 9 weeks after conception to birth. Teratogens: agents, such as chemicals and viruses, that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm. Fetal alcohol syndrome: physical and cognitive abnormalities in children caused by a pregnant woman"s heavy drinking. It results in lower iq, odd facial features and physical abnormalities. 4 month olds showed habituation to a series of cat pictures and looked longer at the novel dog stimulus because the dog is a different stimulus than all the other pictures.
