Development PD

Newborn's readiness for life

• newborn reflexes - involuntary, automatic response to stimuli 
• > survival - adaptive value, satisfy needs, eg. breathing, sucking, swallowing
• > primitive - not as useful, disappear first year, eg. swimming, grasping
• sensation - detection of sensory stimulation
• perception - interpretation of sensory input

Preference technique

• baby shown two pictures of objects, researcher keeps track of how long a baby looks at each one 
• 1. baby indicates he/she sees some difference between the two
• 2. reveals something about kind of objects that capture baby's attention

Habituation

• researchers present a baby with a certain signt or sound over and over until they habituate
• researchers present another sight or sound slightly different, see if baby shows renewed interest

Baillargeon & DeVos (1991)

• 3 month old babies
• > habituated on small or tall carrot passing behind small screen so look less over time
• > will they dishabituate and show surprise at larger shows?
• 3 month olds look larger at impossible event
• > does this show evidence of object permanence and instant knowledge of object states?

Principles of operant…