Developmental Psychology: Newborn

When does learning begin? At birth? In the womb? At 6 months or a year? What have you observed and/or leaned about a newborn and the ability to learn? When do you think they begin to learn? What are the first kinds of things a newborn learns? Do they develop automatically, or is something else needed?

I am currently looking for credible resources that could answer these questions. Not all answers have to be answered, I am just looking looking for assistance for some of them. Also, please post the source(s) that you found the information in because it could really help me understand it more by actually reading the information provided on the website.

Thank you :laugh:

 

Eh, I don't really have an answer for exactly when the learning process begins but something you may find interesting is Jean Piaget's cognitive development writings.

http://www.simplypsychology.org/piaget.html> Particularly the slideshow here: http://www.simplypsychology.org/piaget.html#schema

Some videos which are quite interesting:



It may not answer your question as to when children start to learn, but it definitely offers an explanation as to how their thought process works and how learning happens. You could then take this back to their very first 'experiences'.
IMO definitely nurture/empirical than nature/innate though. Sense experience.

 

Before birth we develop individual characteristics that define ourselves. The outside world can affect our progression and from that we evolve. I'm more inclined to say that we learn after we are born. From experience and being taught we acquire the knowledge needed for living life. The first kind of things newborns learn are how to walk and communicate without actually speaking. I wouldn't say it develops automatically because you need to learn from experience, depending on your environment and how you are raised, this can affect the outcome of your decisions.

Resources: Health class. Watched a short clip of Annie Murphy Paul talking about what we learn before we are born. The rest is common sense.

 

Perfect, I was finally able to understand the answer to the questions I asked with a little bit of research and with the use of the information you guys provided. Thank you!