Lesson #7, Chapter 6: Two to Five Months
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 caregiviers 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 #6.
Experiential Lesson # 6: Lifting the head on the stomach.
Video: Precursors to Walking (4 minutes).Video: Sitting to Crawling (9 minutes)
Video Assignment #2: Write a brief (1-page or less) paper about the 2 video clips. You can write about any aspect of the videos that interest you or sparks an association.
Infants from 2 - 5 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" 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? |
Lesson #8, Chapter 7: Six to Nine Months
I tend to think of this time frame in infancy as increasing agency and increasing differentiation. Infants at this age begin to actively repeat sensory-motor behaviors that they have discovered (see the section on Secondary Circular Reactions) and they are beginning to learn appraisal: how to decide what to feel. Various cultural influences may be at play here: family, ethnic, religious, national (see Cultural Differences in Parent-Infant Interaction).
Study Question #7.
Experiential Lesson # 7: Crawling #1.
Video: Walking. (7 minutes)
Video Assignment #3: Write a brief (1-page or less) paper about the 2 video clips. You can write about any aspect of the videos that interest you or sparks an association.
Infants from 6 - 9 months (Chapter 7)
| 1. 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? |
| 2. Defend or contest the following thesis: Infant temperament is a strong predictor of adult personality. |
| 3. Defend or contest the following thesis: Maternal employment outside the home has lasting harmful effects on infant development. |
Lesson #9: Midterm
This first exam covers the material through Chapter 7. The exam has essay questions similar to the ones assigned as study questions. However, they are not exactly the same. Exam questions will ask for integration and application of the study questions and material from the class. The grading criteria for the exams are exactly the same as for the study question papers. If you've kept up with the assignments, you should have little trouble with the exams. The exams will be proctored, either by AOCE or someone who meets their requirements.