The environment can have an important influence on development, and this also includes the prenatal period. The growth that happens during the nine months of prenatal development is nothing short of astonishing, but this period is also a time of potential vulnerability. Fortunately, the effects of many of these hazards can be greatly lessened or even avoided entirely. While dangers do exist, the vast majority of babies are born healthy....
You want to get breastfeeding started as soon as you can after delivery. If you and your baby are doing well, you should be able to attempt the first breastfeeding right in the delivery room within one hour of your baby’s birth. How Do Babies Breastfeed for the First Time? Right after your baby is born, she can be dried off and placed directly on your chest. This skin-to-skin (chest-to-chest) contact helps your baby transition to the outside world....
Generic Adderall is a combination medication used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. It belongs to a group of drugs known as stimulants and comes in the form of a pill. It’s called a combination drug because it is made up of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, which are drugs that stimulate your central nervous system. They work by helping to increase attention and control behavioral problems. The generic name for Adderall is dextroamphetamine-amphetamine....
In recent years, it’s become increasingly common to see marijuana praised as a natural medicine for countless conditions, and expanding legalization has largely destigmatized its use. Key Takeaways A recent study explored the impact of states’ legalization of recreational cannabis on usage in women of various reproductive stages.The findings showed an increase in usage for women during the 12 months prior to pregnancy, as well as the six months after giving birth....
One effect of chronic alcoholism is the damage that long-term heavy alcohol consumption does to the brain. Certain regions in the brains of alcoholics shrink, creating lesions that result in deficits in brain function. Brain imaging research has shown that the prefrontal cortex (in the front of the brain) and regions of the cerebellum (in the lower back of the brain) are particularly vulnerable to the effects of long-term alcohol abuse....
Recently, it feels as if every purchase serves as a reminder of inflation. Things that used to seem affordable have suddenly become unattainable or shocking as the cashier rings them up. If all this talk of inflation is confusing and overwhelming, you are far from alone. Key Takeaways Last month inflation reached 9.1%, a four-decade high.When the value of people’s money decreases, it impacts how much they can spend and their overall stress levels....
When most people think about trolls, they picture the creatures from fairytales that live under bridges taunting people as they pass by. And while these trolls are only fictional characters, there are some real-life trolls that behave just like them. In fact, these real-life trolls live in the shadows of cyberspace with the sole purpose of making people’s lives miserable. In general, trolls are people who intentionally attack others online by posting offensive comments, content, or pictures....
Research has indicated that the percentage of Americans who are stressed at work is high—and it’s only getting higher. According to a survey of more than 2,000 full-time U.S. employees, ages 18-79, more than half of employees find themselves stressed during at least 60 percent of the workweek. Work stress has significant health consequences that range from relatively benign (like getting more colds and flus) to potentially serious (such as heart disease and metabolic syndrome)....
Grandmothers sometimes really do know best. Grandma’s rule of discipline is a great way to teach kids that they have an option to earn their privileges. It gives them an opportunity to recognize that they have some control over what privileges they earn and when they earn them. How Grandma’s Rule of Discipline Works Grandma’s rule of discipline involves framing things as an incentive rather than pointing out the negative consequence....
For almost a year, the COVID-19 pandemic raged on with one light at the end of the tunnel: vaccines. Then, the vaccines came and eventually, almost every American was eligible to receive the injection that would protect them from potentially life-threatening disease. And yet, so many people didn’t get it. Instead of running towards the solution and herd immunity, many individuals said no. Key Takeaways A recent study found that cash prizes from lottery incentives across 16 states didn’t do much to entice people to get vaccinated....
What is inhalant use disorder? It is a problem that can develop when people deliberately breathe in the fumes of various substances, in order to experience intoxication. Basically, the disorder develops in people who frequently use inhalants as a recreational drug. Inhalants are a range of different substances, including volatile hydrocarbons, which are toxic gasses typically found in household products such as glue, paint thinners, white-out, and various cleaning products, leading to the term “glue sniffing....
Have you ever felt like you learn best in a particular way? Learning styles affect how well we learn under certain conditions. Some students learn best by hearing information, while others learn best by seeing it. Different theories have emerged to describe how students prefer to learn best, including Jungian learning styles, the VARK learning style model, and the Kolb learning style model. Jungian Learning Styles One learning style theory is based on the work of analytical psychologist Carl Jung, who developed a theory of psychological types designed to categorize people in terms of various personality patterns....
The logical-mathematical learning style is one of eight types of learning styles, or intelligences, defined in developmental psychologist Howard Gardner’s theory of Multiple Intelligences. It refers to your child’s ability to reason, solve problems, and learn using numbers, abstract visual information, and analysis of cause-and-effect relationships. Gardner, a developmental psychologist and professor, published a book in the 1980s titled “Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences.” In it, he suggested that people are not born with a fixed intelligence....
Leaving prison isn’t as simple as walking out the door and returning to the life you had before. For many, jobs have been lost, relationships have been harmed, and living situations have changed. You may not have a social network, financial support, insurance, or the resources needed to secure a job, find a home, meet with a therapist, or reconnect with the community. Former inmates face numerous psychological challenges when released from prison, including stigma, discrimination, isolation, and instability....
Rather than delivering an aversive stimulus (punishment) or a reward (positive reinforcement), negative reinforcement works by taking away something that the individual finds undesirable. This removal reinforces the behavior that proceeds it, making it more likely that the response will occur again in the future. Negative reinforcement strengthens a response or behavior by stopping, removing, or avoiding a negative outcome or aversive stimulus. B. F. Skinner first described the term in his theory of operant conditioning....
By now, we’re used to hearing about (and dealing with) Zoom fatigue. And one of the simplest ways suggested to combat it is by hiding the “self-view” feature. If greater Zoom use has lead to increased levels of exhaustion and anxiety, and research has shown that seeing yourself in a mirror can increase self-evaluation and negative affect, it would make sense that less self-viewing might make virtual meetings more bearable....
Pregnancy melasma, also known as a “pregnancy mask,” is an extremely common condition that causes skin hyperpigmentation (i.e. darkening), especially among people who are pregnant. It largely affects people who were assigned female at birth—a whopping 90% of them—during their reproductive years, when they’re 20 to 40 years old. As you’ve likely already inferred from its alternate moniker, becoming pregnant puts you at a higher risk of developing pregnancy melasma. Between 50% to 70% of all melasma cases are among those who are pregnant....
If you think the days of handing out party favors are behind you, think again. Tweens may be growing up and developing a newfound sense of independence, but they still love their parties. Whether you’re planning a birthday party, Halloween party or another special event, don’t forget to send guests home with a bag full of fun treats. Sure, tweens may no longer be interested in finger puppets and tiny jars of Play-Doh, but there are plenty of age-appropriate goodies that are sure to please....
In most cases, prenatal development occurs normally and follows the established patterns of development with little variation. However, a number of things, usually caused by genetics or environmental problems, can go wrong during this time. Genetic Problems Genetics plays a major role in development. In some cases, genetic problems can emerge that may impact both the current and future growth of the developing child in the womb. Down Syndrome: Also known as trisomy 21, Down syndrome is the most common genetic anomaly during prenatal development....
Punishment is a term used in operant conditioning psychology to refer to any change that occurs after a behavior that reduces the likelihood that that behavior will occur again in the future. While positive and negative reinforcements are used to increase behaviors, punishment is focused on reducing or eliminating unwanted behaviors. Punishment is often mistakenly confused with negative reinforcement. The difference: Reinforcement increases the chances that a behavior will occur and punishment decreases the chances that a behavior will occur....
