DP4 - Critical and Sensitive Periods

Question 1

Maturation

Answer 1

About behaviours and activities that occur at particular times in our development. These depend on how ready or mature the central nervous system and the body are to demonstrate a specific behaviour.

Question 2

When does maturation occur?

Answer 2

Typically occurs during early stages of life when the brain is primed and ready for learning experiences.

Question 3

Cause of maturation

Answer 3

When an individual has the necessary learning experiences with these periods of time, development proceeds as normal.

If these periods of time are missed, learning particular cognitive or motor skills, or emotional competence can be difficult, or in some cases impossible.

Question 4

Sensitive periods

Answer 4

A stage during biological maturation when an organism is most able to gain a particular skill set or characteristic.
-Begins and ends gradually
-Is a period of maximal brain growth after which development within a particular area will take more effort, be slower, and be incomplete.
-Is experience-expectant learning.
-Is a period of development when an organism is mature enough to do a behaviour.
-Is the best time to be exposed to a particular environmental stimulus because the brain can process and respond to the stimuli.

Question 5

Critical periods

Answer 5

Involves a stage, when an organism is most open to acquiring a specific cognitive or motor skill or socio-emotional competence, as a normal part of development, that cannot be acquired normally at a later stage of development.