Psychological Development

Compiled and Organized by: OLAYEMI.

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Development is a lifelong process that encompasses age-related changes from conception to death. It involves both biological and behavioral transformations as individuals grow older. Psychologists have traditionally focused on childhood development, but research has shown that development occurs throughout life. The life span is divided into four periods: prenatal, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.

Prenatal development occurs from conception to birth and consists of three phases: germinal, embryonic, and fetal. The germinal stage lasts two weeks and involves rapid cell division and implantation in the uterine wall. The embryonic stage, lasting from 2 weeks to 2 months, is characterized by the formation of vital organs and bodily systems. The fetal stage, from 2 months to birth, is a period of rapid growth, organ development, and the potential for viability.

Environmental factors during prenatal development can have significant effects. Maternal nutrition, stress, drug use, alcohol consumption, and maternal illness all impact the developing fetus. Additionally, exposure to environmental toxins can affect prenatal development.

Motor development, attachment formation, and language development are key aspects of early development. Motor skills progress as infants grow, primarily through maturation. Attachment refers to the emotional bond between infants and caregivers, with the mother typically being the first important attachment figure. Language development starts with the learning of sound structures, progresses to babbling, and eventually includes the understanding and production of words.

Questions and Answers

1. What is development?

a) The process of aging

b) The sequence of age-related changes

c) The transition from childhood to adulthood

d) The process of learning and growth

Answer: b) The sequence of age-related changes

2. Which of the following is NOT a period of development mentioned in the text?

a) Prenatal period

b) Childhood

c) Adolescence

d) Elderhood

Answer: d) Elderhood

3. How many phases are there in prenatal development?

a) One

b) Two

c) Three

d) Four

Answer: c) Three

4. During which stage of prenatal development does most of the vital organs and bodily systems begin to form?

a) Germinal stage

b) Embryonic stage

c) Fetal stage

d) Neonatal stage

Answer: b) Embryonic stage

5. At what stage of prenatal development does the developing organism become capable of physical movements?

a) Germinal stage

b) Embryonic stage

c) Fetal stage

d) Neonatal stage

Answer: c) Fetal stage

6. What is the function of the placenta during prenatal development?

a) Allows oxygen and nutrients to pass to the fetus

b) Allows waste materials to pass from the fetus to the mother

c) Separates the fetal and maternal bloodstreams

d) All of the above

Answer: d) All of the above

7. Which of the following is NOT an environmental factor that can affect prenatal development?

a) Maternal nutrition

b) Stress and emotion

c) Drug use

d) Social media exposure

Answer: d) Social media exposure

8. How does maternal nutrition impact prenatal development?

a) It influences the risk of birth complications

b) It affects neurological deficits in the newborn

c) It provides essential nutrients for the fetus

d) All of the above

Answer: d) All of the above

9. Which of the following drugs consumed by a pregnant woman can be particularly dangerous?

a) Antidepressants

b) Antibiotics

c) Sedatives

d) Painkillers

Answer: c) Sedatives

10. What is the term used to describe a collection of congenital problems associated with excessive alcohol use during pregnancy?

a) Fetal alcohol syndrome

b) Maternal alcohol disorder

c) Prenatal alcohol impairment

d) Alcohol-induced birth defects

Answer: a) Fetal alcohol syndrome

11. What impact can maternal illness have on prenatal development?

a) It can interfere with the formation of vital organs

b) It can lead to birth defects

c) It depends on the specific illness contracted

d) Both a and b

Answer: d) Both a and b

12. How are babies in the womb exposed to environmental toxins?

a) Through the placenta

b) Through the mother's bloodstream

c) Through the amniotic fluid

d) All of the above

Answer: d) All of the above

13. What is motor development?

a) The ability to speak and understand language

b) The progression of muscular coordination required for physical activities

c) The development of cognitive skills

d) The development of social skills

Answer: b) The progression of muscular coordination required for physical activities

14. At what age do infants typically master walking?

a) 3 months

b) 6 months

c) 9 months

d) 12 months

Answer: d) 12 months

15. What is attachment?

a) The ability to form emotional bonds with others

b) The ability to walk independently

c) The development of language skills

d) The progression of cognitive abilities

Answer: a) The ability to form emotional bonds with others

16. When does a child's first important attachment usually occur?

a) At birth

b) Around 3 months of age

c) Around 6-8 months of age

d) During adolescence

Answer: c) Around 6-8 months of age

17. What is the manifestation of separation anxiety seen in infants when they are separated from their attachment figures?

a) Laughter

b) Crying

c) Social withdrawal

d) Increased motor activity

Answer: b) Crying

18. How does language development typically unfold in children?

a) It is influenced by diverse environmental factors

b) It is primarily determined by genetic factors

c) It occurs at a slower pace for most children

d) It starts with complex vocabulary and grammar

Answer: a) It is influenced by diverse environmental factors

19. At what age do infants start learning the meaning of some words?

a) 3-6 months

b) 6-9 months

c) 9-12 months

d) 12-18 months

Answer: b) 6-9 months

20. When do most children begin to utter sounds that correspond to words?

a) 3-6 months

b) 6-9 months

c) 9-12 months

d) 12-18 months

Answer: c) 9-12 months

21. What is the significance of words like "dada," "mama," and "papa" as infants' first words?

a) They are universal across all languages

b) They represent easy-to-produce sounds for infants

c) They are genetically predetermined

d) They have no significance in language development

Answer: b) They represent easy-to-produce sounds for infants

22. How do infants' vocalizations progress during the first 6 months of life?

a) They consist primarily of crying, cooing, and laughter

b) They involve complex sentence structures

c) They become indistinguishable from adult speech

d) They are absent until around 6 months of age

Answer: a) They consist primarily of crying, cooing, and laughter

23. What is the impact of severe maternal malnutrition on prenatal development?

a) Increased risk of birth complications

b) Neurological deficits in the newborn

c) Enhanced immune response in the fetus

d) Accelerated motor development in the fetus

Answer: a) Increased risk of birth complications

24. Which of the following is NOT a potential effect of prenatal stress on development?

a) Slowed motor development

b) Below-average cognitive development

c) Enhanced immune response

d) Social deficits

Answer: c) Enhanced immune response

25. What is the primary function of the placenta during prenatal development?

a) Exchanging oxygen and nutrients between the fetus and mother

b) Protecting the fetus from environmental toxins

c) Providing structural support to the developing organism

d) Facilitating communication between the fetus and mother

Answer: a) Exchanging oxygen and nutrients between the fetus and mother

26. How does drug use during pregnancy potentially impact prenatal development?

a) It can lead to miscarriages

b) It can cause structural birth defects

c) It can affect cognitive development

d) All of the above

Answer: d) All of the above

27. What is the threshold of viability during prenatal development?

a) The age at which a fetus can survive outside the womb

b) The point at which a fetus can hear sounds in the environment

c) The stage when major organs are formed

d) The time when the placenta is fully developed

Answer: a) The threshold of viability during prenatal development is the age at which a fetus can survive outside the womb.

28. What happens during the embryonic stage of prenatal development?

a) Most major structural birth defects occur.

b) Rapid bodily growth and movement begin.

c) Vital organs and bodily systems start to form.

d) The placenta begins to develop.

Answer: c) Vital organs and bodily systems start to form.

29. What occurs during the fetal stage of prenatal development?

a) Rapid cell division begins.

b) Implantation in the uterine wall takes place.

c) Most major structural birth defects occur.

d) Bodily growth and organ functioning continue.

Answer: d) Bodily growth and organ functioning continue.

30. How does maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy impact the fetus?

a) It increases the risk of birth complications.

b) It can cause microcephaly and heart defects.

c) It enhances motor development in the fetus.

d) It improves cognitive abilities in the newborn.

Answer: b) It can cause microcephaly and heart defects.

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