Transcript thefirsttwoyearspsyc2314 (2)x

The First Two Years: Body and Brain
A Newborn’s Brain
 A newborn’s brain has billions of neurons, as brain
cells are called. Neurons are connected to other
neurons by a network of nerve fibers called axons and
dendrites. The axon of one dendrite meets, but does
not touch at intersections called synapse, which are
critical in communication links within the brain.
Neurons communicate with each other by sending
action potentials or chemical messages to another
neuron.
The neuron
Brain growth in the first two
years of life
 During the first months and years of life, rapid growth
and refinement occur in axons, dendrites, and
synapses, especially in the cortex.
 Dendrite growth is the major reason that the brain
triples in size (75%) of it’s adult weight.
 The prefrontal cortex is very immature the first two
years of life. The prefrontal cortex assists in selfcontrol, planning, and self-regulation.
Jean Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive
Development
 Stage One- Sensorimotor Intelligence
 This stage occurs from birth to two years old.
 “Sensorimotor” is Piaget’s term for the way infants
think. Infants use their senses and motor skills to
understand their world. They learn to assimilate and
accommodate to what their senses and motor skills
let them experience.
Assimilation and Accommodation
 Assimilation are when new experience are
incorporated into old experiences, concepts and
perceptions.
 Accommodation requires changing one’s perception
and assumptions to adjust to new experiences.
 The Process of Assimilation and Accommodation
result in Adaptation.
Schemas
 Schemas are integrated networks of
knowledge of people, things and situations
that are developed as a result of Adaptation.
Six stages of sensorimotor
intelligence
Primary Circular Reactions
Stage One (birth-1 month): Reflexes
Stage Two (1-4 months): first acquired adaptations.
Secondary Circular Reactions
Stage Three (4-8 months): responding to people and objects
Stage Four (8-12 months): purposeful and deliberate in
responding to people and objects. Object Permanence.
Tertiary Circular Reactions
Stage Five (12-18 months) : the “little scientist” stage
Stage Six (18-24 months): they develop their own schema
about their world through mini theories.
Object Permanence
 Object Permanence is the awareness that
objects or people continue to exist when
they are no longer in sight. It should emerge
at about 8 months. Piaget believed that this
is the cognitive ability that must be reached
in the first two years of life.
The First Two Years: Psychosocial
Development
Theories in Psychosocial Development
 In Erik Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development
in each stage there is a psychosocial conflict which
needs to be resolved or development throughout the
lifespan will be effected.
 In Sigmund Freud’s Psychosexual Theory of
Development in the first six years of life, there is a
“pleasure” that needs to be met or resolved or an
individual will become fixated on that pleasure.
Fixation at a stage will have an effect on the adult
development of that individual.
Psychoanalytic Theories
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Psychosexual Theory
Stage One- Oral Stage
Ages (birth- one year)
Pleasure- mouth
Fixation- oral
If a fixation occurs at this
stage an individual will
become an adult who has an
oral fixation by eating,
drinking, chewing, or talking
excessively.
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Psychosocial Theory
Stage One- “Trust vs.
Mistrust”
Ages (birth- one year)
Psychosocial Goal- an infant
learns to trust their
environment by having basic
needs met.
Psychosocial Conflict- an
infant who is not provided
with a safe, warm and
comfortable environment will
lack the ability to trust and
explore their world.
Psychoanalytic Theories
Psychosexual Theory
 Stage Two- Anal Stage
 Ages (1-3 yrs.)
 Pleasure: Anus
 Fixation: Anal
 If a fixation occurs at this
stage, an adult will become
an adult who is anal
retentive or anal expulsive.
Psychosocial Theory
 Stage Two- “Autonomy v s.
Shame and Doubt”
 Ages (1-3 yrs.)
 Psychosocial Goal- A toddler
will be able to have control
over their own bodies, actions
and thoughts.
 Psychosocial Conflict- A
toddler will feel shameful of
their actions and doubt their
abilities.
Strange Situation
 Strange Situation is a laboratory procedure for
measuring attachment between infants and their
caregivers from various comings and goings in a
playroom.
 Mary Ainsworth developed the attachment theory
(1973) using the strange situation.
Mary Ainsworth’s Attachment Theory
Type of
Attachment
Mom in Play
Room
Mom leaves
Mom returns
Percentage
Secure
Child is happy
Child is not
happy, stops
playing
Child
welcomes
Mom
50-70%
InsecureAvoidant
Child is happy
Child keeps
playing
Child ignore
Mom
10-20%
InsecureResistant
Child clings to Child is
Mom
unhappy, may
stop playing
Child is angry,
may hit or cry
or cling to
Mom
10-20%
Disorganized
Child is
cautious
Child acts
odd, may
scream, hit or
throw things
5-10%
Child may yell
or stare, look
confused