Deck 10: C: Lifespan Development

Question 1

Although newborn infants can be very difficult to study,researchers have learned a lot about how they perceive the world soon after birth.Describe some of what is known about newborns' ability to hear,see,and smell.

Answer 1

Newborns recognize and show a preference for their mother's voice soon after birth.In addition,recent research has shown that infants may internalize sounds from their native language and actually cry with an 'accent' as a result.The visual system is not as well equipped at birth as the auditory system;newborns can only really see clearly at distances of about 30 cm or less.Colour discrimination appears to develop at about two months of age,and shape discrimination develops at about 8 months of age.The sense of smell (olfaction)is well developed at birth.Newborns cringe at foul odours in much the same way as adults.It is possible that this acute sense of smell at birth helps ensure infants initiate nursing and get the nourishment they need.

Question 2

Internet use by adolescents can have both positive and negative consequences.In what ways can internet use increase social connectedness? What are some of the potential dangers for adolescents?

Answer 2

Some studies have shown that moderate use of the Internet leads to greater social involvement among adolescents.Other research has shown that Internet use may be linked to depression and loneliness.However,because these are correlations,these studies don't indicate whether the Internet caused the loneliness and depression or whether people sought out the Internet because they were lonely and depressed,or whether a third factor is linked to both loneliness/depression and the Internet.One certain danger of the Internet for adolescents is that it can become a crutch that they use to deal with emotional problems (much like people use alcohol or drugs)and that adolescents can become 'hooked' on it.A second set of dangers are related to Internet bullying and public humiliation associated with 'one bad act' never going away and being forgotten because it was always somewhere 'online.' There have been several cases of teen suicide that have been linked to Internet bullying and humiliation.