Lesson #4, Chapter 3: Prenatal Behavior and Development
The prenatal period is the beginning of individual differences in development. Genetic influences and prenatal experience such as exposure to drugs and chemicals can dramatically effect development. A more controversial topic is how (or if) prenatal experience can affect the psychological growth of otherwise healthy children.
There a also a few ethical issues touched on in this chapter - issues that you may see from time-to-time in the news. For instance, there are many ways for parents to create the type of child they want using in vitro methods, egg or sperm donation, or cloning. Does this concern you or not?
Study Question Assignment #3:. You know what to do....
Experiential Lesson # 3:Early Movements
Prenatal Development (Chapter 3)
| 1. When does the fetal period of development begin? For each of the three periods of fetal development, describe the major developmental changes in behavior. |
| 2. Give one example of how the prenatal environment affects fetal development, such as the effects of amniotic fluid flow through the fetus's body. How does the relationship between fetuses and their environments illustrate the principles of dynamic systems theory? |
Lesson #5, Chapter 4: Childbirth and Newborn Health
We have some more issues in this chapter that parents will likely have to make some decisions on - how and where will they choose to have their child - in a hospital? A birthing center? Somewhere else? Do they want to breastfeed or bottle feed their child? The short videos in this lesson and the subsection on p. 150, cultural differences may give you a small clue to the variety of birthing experiences that are in existence around the world.
I have a trick question for you that is related to the birth statistics found on page 125 of the Infancy textbook. Which of the countries that borders the United States has a higher birthrate than Utah?
Study Question #4: You know what to do...
Experiential Lesson # 4: Prenatal Experience
Video: First days in the life of a New Guinea Baby (4 minutes)Video: Birth in a Hospital (less than 2 minutes).
Video Assignment #1: Write some brief (1-page or less) thoughts about the 2 video clips. You can write about any aspect of the videos that interests you or sparks an association.
Childbirth and Newborn health (Chapter 4)
| 1. What are the pros and cons of different childbirth methods? Which did you choose (or would you choose) for yourself or your partner? Which did your mother choose when you were born? How do you think this choice affected your development? |
| 2.What is prematurity and what are the short and long-term effects? Were you or anyone you know premature? What were the effects on that persons development? |
| What are the pros and cons of breast vs. bottle feeding? Which would (did) you choose for your baby? How were you fed? What was the effect on your or your babys development? |
Lesson #6, Chapter 5: The Newborn
During this period of life (2-5 months) it becomes more obvious to an observer that infants are beginning to take increasing notice of the world. For instance, they smile, coo and increasingly engage with their caregivers. Take some time to consider how this might affect a caregivers behaviors and emotions. During this time we are also beginning to see some of the beginnings of the "self" - basic tracking of differences in sensation, perception and emotion. You have had some adult experiences of these processes through the Feldenkrais lessons. Do you recognize any of them as you read the chapter?
Study Question #5.
Experiential Lesson # 5: Palmer/Plantar Reflex
The Newborn Infant, 0 - 2 months (Chapter 5)
| 1. What is the ecological self? In what ways do infants of this age know themselves? What does the study of the Siamese twins reveal about the infant's sense of an ecological self? Describe an example from your current life in which you experience your differentiated ecological self. |
| 2. Describe the characteristics of Piaget's Stage II. What form would an infant's "knowledge" of the world take at this age? Give some examples. Is there a similar type of knowledge in adults? |
| 3. Describe the new developments in infant emotional expression and emotion regulation during this period. How does dynamic systems theory help us to understand emotions and their development at this age? |
| 4. Describe some of the ways that adults affect infants during interactions. What happens during maternal still-face and depression? |