1. Physical, Perceptual, and Language Development
Chapter 3, Section 1
Physical, Perceptual, and Language Development

2. When does learning begin?
At birth.
What sensations does a newborn experience?
Developmental psychology: the study of how one’s physical, social, emotional, moral, and intellectual development occur throughout the life cycle.

3. Developmental Psychology
Nature vs. Nurture
Heredity
Environment

4. Newborns’Capacities
Sucking Reflex
Rooting Reflex
Grasping Reflex

5. Physical Development Maturation:
The internally programmed growth of a child.
Ex: if not talking by age 36 months, may recommend testing.

6. Perceptual Development
Infants have mature perception skills.
They prefer human faces and patterned material.
Visual cliff experiment:
Age 6 months and older were afraid of the cliff.

7. Language Development Major milestone of development.
Animals can be taught language also.
How do children acquire language?
Critical period or inborn?
1st year: babbling (sounds like your language).
2nd year: telegraphic speech (“Daddy get ball”, “Where my doll?”).
Vocabulary is around words, but with incorrect grammar.

8. Language Development The Case of Genie: The Wild Child
What happens to a child if they don’t learn language?

9. “Secret of the Wild Child”
1. What kind of behavior did Genie exhibit when she was first found at age 13?
2. Describe Genie’s ability to learn to use language properly. How much progress in language development did Genie make?
3. What conclusions can you draw from this case about a window of opportunity to learn language? Are the results conclusive?
4. What makes us human? What do the cases of Genie, Victor, and other “feral children” tell us about human nature?