PSYC 140 Module 4 Exam Review
What differences in skills might you expect to see in a 2 year old as compared to
a 6 year old?
2 year old might be able to jump and catch a ball, but a 6 year old would be able to
do things like skip or ride a bike (gross motor skills). In terms of fine motor skills, a 2
year old should be able to use a spoon, but a six year old might be tying his shoes
or writing some numbers and words.
Gross Motor Skills
are those which require the whole body for movement.
Fine Motor Skills
are the ability to make movements using the small muscles in our hands and wrists.
Describe myelination. How does it affect the way that young children think?
occurs when some neurons become insulated with a layer of fat. This layer serves as
lubrication to speed up messages being relayed among neurons, meaning our
thought processes and thinking literally speeds up. This process usually takes many
years and has a direct impact on a child's thinking process.
, Describe synaptic pruning. What does this imply for the differences between
how children think versus how adults think?
is automatic process where the brain purges synaptic connections that aren't used.
The under-utilized synaptic connections between neurons die away while
important ones become strengthened. This continues throughout childhood into
early adulthood. This process results in a more efficient adult brain. Essentially if
you don't "use it" you "lose it," for memories or experiences that happened in early
childhood development, they will generally fade away unless the experience was
traumatic or pivotal.
What is Symbolic Function?
(ages 2-4) children continue to develop in their abilities to mentally represent
objects that are not right in front of them. Limitations or errors in thinking that
occur in this substage include Egocentrism and Animism. Egocentrism refers to a
problem with taking another person's perspective or point of view. Animism refers
to a child's belief that inanimate objects can have lifelike qualities.
What is Intuitive Thought?
(ages 4-7) children start to develop reasoning ability. However, young children are
prevented from engaging in highly rational thought because of centration.
Centration involves focusing all attention on one feature of an object. In doing so,
the young child may miss the "big picture" as well as any other feature of the
What differences in skills might you expect to see in a 2 year old as compared to
a 6 year old?
2 year old might be able to jump and catch a ball, but a 6 year old would be able to
do things like skip or ride a bike (gross motor skills). In terms of fine motor skills, a 2
year old should be able to use a spoon, but a six year old might be tying his shoes
or writing some numbers and words.
Gross Motor Skills
are those which require the whole body for movement.
Fine Motor Skills
are the ability to make movements using the small muscles in our hands and wrists.
Describe myelination. How does it affect the way that young children think?
occurs when some neurons become insulated with a layer of fat. This layer serves as
lubrication to speed up messages being relayed among neurons, meaning our
thought processes and thinking literally speeds up. This process usually takes many
years and has a direct impact on a child's thinking process.
, Describe synaptic pruning. What does this imply for the differences between
how children think versus how adults think?
is automatic process where the brain purges synaptic connections that aren't used.
The under-utilized synaptic connections between neurons die away while
important ones become strengthened. This continues throughout childhood into
early adulthood. This process results in a more efficient adult brain. Essentially if
you don't "use it" you "lose it," for memories or experiences that happened in early
childhood development, they will generally fade away unless the experience was
traumatic or pivotal.
What is Symbolic Function?
(ages 2-4) children continue to develop in their abilities to mentally represent
objects that are not right in front of them. Limitations or errors in thinking that
occur in this substage include Egocentrism and Animism. Egocentrism refers to a
problem with taking another person's perspective or point of view. Animism refers
to a child's belief that inanimate objects can have lifelike qualities.
What is Intuitive Thought?
(ages 4-7) children start to develop reasoning ability. However, young children are
prevented from engaging in highly rational thought because of centration.
Centration involves focusing all attention on one feature of an object. In doing so,
the young child may miss the "big picture" as well as any other feature of the
