Unit 4 ~ Infancy - Introduction and Objectives

Subject: Unit 4 ~ Infancy - Introduction and Objectives Mon May 02, 2011 9:31 am

Unit 4 – Infancy

Introduction

During the first few years of life, rapid growth and change takes
place. Changes occur in sensation, perception, motor skills, cognition,
language, emotions, and psychosocial areas. Individuality takes shape
within the context of the environment, highlighting the reciprocal
influences of nature and nurture on development.

Attachment between parent and child is critical. As the infant
develops the capacity to respond to the environment, so the environment
responds to the infant. This ongoing interaction between infant and
parent or caregiver establishes the foundation for the child's
emotional life (Berk, 2008).

Language is another area of development that begins at birth and can
either be stimulated to progress optimally or be impeded in a variety
of ways. Theories of language development are explored in this unit, as
well as factors that promote or impede the process. Awareness of how
language is "normally" acquired can guide counseling advice given to
parents and educators. Research into how language evolves and is
influenced by socio-cultural variables adds another dimension to a
psychologist's understanding of this fundamental capability. The role
of parents and other adults in fostering language development is varied
and rich in possibility (Berk, 2008).

A major model of cognitive development, constructed by Jean Piaget,
explains how children learn to think and begin to make sense of their
world in these first two years. In the first two years of life, Piaget
proposed, children develop sensorimotor intelligence, which is how
babies think by using their senses and motor skills. Another area
related to babies' cognition and intelligence is children's development
of sensory and perceptual skills. For example, habituation is the
process of getting accustomed to an object or event through repeated
exposure. By studying habituation, researchers have been able to learn
about infants' understanding of their world as well as their
intelligence (Berk, 2008; Boyd & Bee, 2008).

Psychosocial development is yet another area that has its beginnings
in infancy. According to the first stage of Erikson's theory of
development, infants negotiate the development of trust with their
primary caregiver, which is a process built upon the availability and
consistency of caregivers' responses to an infant's needs. How the
infant's developmental processes unfold is largely determined by the
interplay of biogenetic factors and environmental factors (Berk, 2008).

Non-parental care has become an issue as a greater number of infants
are attending daycare programs. Debate continues over the quality and
effectiveness of these programs, and in the psychosocial and
educational areas, the effects of non-parental care on development are
continually being assessed by researchers (Boyd & Bee, 2008).

Reference

Berk, L. E. (2008). Infants, children, and adolescents (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education.

Boyd, D. & Bee, H. (2008). Lifespan development (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Unit 4 – Infancy

Objectives

To successfully complete this learning unit, you will be expected to:

Describe the importance of attachment in facilitating the emotional and social development of the infant.
Describe how to integrate the developmental patterns of cognition, early language, memory, and sensory or perceptual skills.
Use appropriate information-gathering strategies to find information in the domain of human lifespan development.
Discuss the effects of non-parental and daycare programs on infant and toddler development.
Review the specific factors that impact continuing brain development of infants and toddlers.

Learning Activities

u04s1 Studies

Unit 4 Activities Overview

Launch Overview |
Unit 4 ~ Infancy - Introduction and Objectives Ico_transcript

Transcript

Multimedia

Click Launch Overview to listen to the Unit 4 Activities Overview. Dr. Nancy Longo describes the study activities for this unit.

Checklist

Read each unit checklist at the start of each week and use it however it will be most helpful for you.

Unit 4 Checklist.

Readings

Read the following in the Boyd and Bee text:

Chapter 4, "Physical, Sensory, and Perceptual Development in Infancy," pages 94–118.
Chapter 5, "Cognitive Development in Infancy," pages 120–145.
Chapter 6, "Social and Personality Development in Infancy," pages 146–173.

u04s2 Reference List Preparation

Your first assignment for your course project, the identification of
the professional you will interview, is due in this unit. This week,
you also need to begin work on your second assignment, the development
of your reference list, in order to allow yourself sufficient time for
the exploration of the many sources available. Your reference list is
due in Unit 6. Read the u06a1 Reference List assignment and its scoring
guide to begin work on this component of the course project.

The Capella University Library now offers all learners access to a
RefWorks account. RefWorks is a way to manage your research citations.
You can annotate and organize your citations, and create APA-formatted
bibliographies, using simple steps. Click here to set up a new RefWorks account.

For the Unit 6 assignment, you will provide a list of resources you
have identified as resources for your project. For each reference,
provide a brief assessment of the reference that includes how you
believe the source will contribute to your project.

Resources

u04a1 Informational Interview

For your course project, you will develop a paper that explores an
area of lifespan development that applies to your professional goals,
or a specific area of lifespan development that interests you. You will
conduct an informational interview with a lifespan development
professional, and conduct extensive research pertaining to the area of
lifespan development you have selected.

For this assignment, identify a lifespan development professional
you will interview, to increase your understanding about the area of
lifespan development you have selected. Questions must focus on a
lifespan development area of professional or personal interest (do not
simply ask questions about a particular profession). However, you want
to be able to relate the lifespan development area of interest to your
professional or personal goals. As we cover new chapters and topics,
feel free to refine your questions in order to make sure they actually
cover an area that interests you.

In this assignment, include the following:

The area of lifespan development you will explore for the course project.
Your rationale for selecting that area.
Information about the lifespan development professional you will interview, including:
- The professional's job title and brief description.
- The company the professional is associated with.
- An explanation for why you believe this person is appropriate for your interview.
- How you located this person.

A list of questions you plan to ask and a rationale for each,
focusing on an area of lifespan development, not just a specific
profession.

Submission Requirements

Written Communication: Written communication should be free of errors that detract from the overall message.
APA Formatting: Resources and citations should be formatted according to APA (6th edition) style and formatting.
Font and Font Size: Times New Roman, 12 point, double-spaced. Use Microsoft Word.

Use the resources provided in the Resources list below. Read the
Informational Interview Scoring Guide to learn how this assignment will
be evaluated. Review the Professional Application of Lifespan
Development Project Description and Scoring Guide for guidance in
completing this assignment. Refer to the PSYC3210 APA Guidelines for
instructions specific to the APA expectations in this course.

Submit your Informational Interview assignment in the Assignment box.

Note: Your instructor may also use the Writing
Feedback Tool to provide feedback on your writing. In the tool, click
on the linked resources for helpful writing information.

Resources

u04d1 Infant Attachment

Analyze how infant attachment
develops in terms of the parent-child relationship. What is the
potential impact of attachment on a child's later psychosocial
development?
In your answer, include the following:

Either: Refer to and integrate ideas presented in
the text and supplemental information. Cite the textbook at least twice
within your discussion.
Or: Cite at least one scholarly resource from the
Capella library to support your discussion. Do not use Internet Web
sites such as Wikipedia.

Follow APA style rules for citing references.
You will be evaluated on how well you can demonstrate that you
understand the ideas presented throughout the unit, including assigned
readings, discussions, media and independent research. You will also be
evaluated on the quality of your work—its academic rigor, how well it
shows your ability to think critically, and how completely it covers
the discussion topic. Refer to the Discussion Participation Scoring
Guide in the Resources below to learn how your discussions will be
evaluated.

Response Guidelines

Respond to at least two other learners in a manner that advances the discussion in a meaningful way. Your response is expected to be substantive in nature and to reference the assigned readings, as well as other theoretical,empirical, or professional literature to support your views. Cite your sources using APA style.

Resources

u04d2 Cognitive Development and Sensory Perceptual Skills

For this discussion, analyze the
various theories or concepts regarding infant cognitive and sensory and
perceptual development and the research that supports these theories
(two or more if theories only, and three or more if concepts only).
Based on your studies and research, which theories in the area of brain
development, cognition, and sensory or perceptual skills do you feel
are most credible or applicable to real life?
In your answer, include the following:

Either: Refer to and integrate ideas presented in
the text and supplemental information. Cite the textbook at least twice
within your discussion.
Or: Cite at least one scholarly resource from the
Capella library to support your discussion. Do not use Internet Web
sites such as Wikipedia.

Follow APA style rules for citing references.
You will be evaluated on how well you can demonstrate that you
understand the ideas presented throughout the unit, including assigned
readings, discussions, media and independent research. You will also be
evaluated on the quality of your work—its academic rigor, how well it
shows your ability to think critically, and how completely it covers
the discussion topic. Refer to the Discussion Participation Scoring
Guide in the Resources below to learn how your discussions will be
evaluated.

Response Guidelines

Respond to at least two
other learners in a manner that advances the discussion in a meaningful
way. Your response is expected to be substantive in nature and to
reference the assigned readings, as well as other theoretical,
empirical, or professional literature to support your views. Cite your
sources using APA style.

Resources

» Unit 5 - Introduction & Objectives ~ Early Childhood
» Unit 3 Introduction - Prenatal Development, Birth, and Infancy
» Unit 1 - Overview
» Unit 2 Objective and Activities
» Unit 3 - Objective & Learning Activities