Discussion Post 1: Infant Intelligence
Developmental researchers have taken an interest in measuring infant intelligence and exploring whether it is an effective predictor of academic intelligence later in life. What is your position on the matter? Do you believe that one's intelligence as a baby will yield the same level of intelligence later in life? Use your knowledge about the factors that can influence infant brain development and your understanding of nature and nurture influences to support your answer. Support your reasoning with information from the text, other course materials, and these supplemental articles:
Gauging the Intelligence of Infants
The History of Child Intelligence Testing
Discussion Post 2: Infant Emotional Stress
There is some debate regarding how often and how a parent should respond and soothe an infant who is emotionally distressed. Some claim that soothing an infant every time it cries may lead to developmental issues where others claim that it does not. Based on your own opinion and the research of developmental theorists, do you feel that repeatedly soothing an infant is beneficial or detrimental to development? Why or why not? What issues do developmental theorists claim may arise on either side of the debate? How might attachment theory fit into this debate? Support your reasoning with information from the text and other course materials.
The response must include a reference list. Using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, double-space, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.