3: Developmental 2

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts from the developmental psychology lecture notes.

Developmental psychology

The study of how and why human beings change over the course of their life.

Cross-sectional design

A research design that compares different participants of various ages at a single point in time.

Cohort effect

A variable that can affect the results in a cross-sectional study, where differences in age groups might be influenced by background factors.

Nature vs. Nurture

The debate regarding the relative contributions of genetic inheritance and environmental factors to human development.

Heritability

The degree to which variation in a trait across individuals can be explained by genetic differences.

Genotype

An individual's complete set of genes inherited from their parents.

Phenotype

The observable physical and psychological traits of an individual influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.

Monozygotic twins

Identical twins that share 100% of their genes as they develop from a single fertilized egg.

Dizygotic twins

Fraternal twins that share approximately 50% of their genes, developing from two separate fertilized eggs.

Behavioral genetics

A subfield of psychology that examines the interactions of genetic and environmental factors in shaping individual differences.

MAO A gene

A gene that codes for an enzyme involved in metabolizing neurotransmitters, with variants associated with aggression and conduct disorder.

FADS2 gene

A gene involved in fatty acid metabolism, important for brain development and myelination.

Gene-environment interaction

The dynamic interplay between genetic predispositions and environmental factors in determining individual traits.

Attrition rate

The rate at which participants drop out of a study over time, potentially affecting the study’s outcomes.

Compressibility of psychological traits

The idea that while individuals may express traits, they are influenced by a combination of genetics and environment.