Intro to Psychology: Unit 2 Chapter 3

What is the nature vs. nurture issue?

How genetic inheritance (nature) interacts with experience (nurture) to influence development

How are individuals formed according to developmental psychology?

Through the interaction of biological, psychological, and sociocultural forces

What is the continuity vs. stages debate?

Whether development is gradual and continuous or occurs in distinct stages

What do stage theories emphasize?

Forces and interests affecting individuals at different points in the lifespan

What is the stability vs. change issue?

Which traits persist across life and which change with age

Why is stability important in development?

It provides identity and consistency in personality

Why is change important in development?

It allows adaptation, growth, and hope for improvement

What are chromosomes?

Threadlike DNA structures that contain genes

What is DNA?

The molecule containing genetic information that makes up chromosomes

What is heredity?

The genetic transfer of traits from parents to offspring

What is a genome?

The complete set of genetic instructions for an organism

What is epigenetics?

The study of how environments influence gene expression without changing DNA

What are epigenetic marks?

Molecules that trigger or block genetic expression

What is a zygote?

A fertilized egg that rapidly divides during the first two weeks

What is an embryo?

A developing organism from about 2 weeks after fertilization

What is a fetus?

A developing organism from 9 weeks after conception to birth

What is a teratogen?

An agent that can harm an embryo or fetus during prenatal development

What is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)?

Physical and mental impairments caused by heavy prenatal alcohol exposure

What reflexes do newborns have?

Rooting, sucking, grasping, and startle reflexes

What sensory abilities do newborns have?

Strong smell and hearing; preference for human sights and sounds

What is temperament?

A biologically based emotional and behavioral style

What are identical (monozygotic) twins?

Twins from one fertilized egg with identical genes

What are fraternal (dizygotic) twins?

Twins from two separate fertilized eggs

What do twin studies reveal?

Identical twins are more similar than fraternal twins, even when raised apart

What do adoption studies show about personality?

Shared environment has little impact on personality similarities

What is maturation?

Biological growth processes that produce orderly changes, largely independent of experience

How does experience affect brain development?

Enriched environments strengthen neural pathways; disuse weakens them

When do the frontal lobes grow rapidly?

Between ages 3 and 6

What is a critical period?

A time when certain skills must be learned for normal development

What is cognition?

Mental activities involved in thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating

What is a schema?

A framework that organizes and interprets information

What is assimilation?

Interpreting new information using existing schemas

What is accommodation?

Adjusting schemas to incorporate new information

What is the sensorimotor stage?

Birth to about 2 years; experiencing the world through senses and actions

What is object permanence?

Understanding that objects exist even when not seen

What is the preoperational stage?

Ages 2-6/7; symbolic thinking, pretend play, egocentrism

What is egocentrism?

Difficulty seeing the world from another person's point of view

What is the concrete operational stage?

Ages 7-11; logical thinking about concrete events

What is conservation?

Understanding that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape

What is the formal operational stage?

Age 12+; abstract and hypothetical reasoning

How does Vygotsky view development?

Children learn through social interaction and cultural tools

What is scaffolding?

Temporary support that helps a child reach higher levels of thinking

What is theory of mind?

Understanding that others