Hereditary and Environmental Factors in Development

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing core concepts of lifespan development, including domains of development, nature versus nurture, and twin types.

Development

Changes that occur over time across the lifespan that are permanent or long lasting.

Emotional development

Changes in experiencing and expressing different feelings.

Social development

Changes in relationships with other people.

Physical development

Changes in body and systems, including the brain, muscles, hormones, and related structures.

Cognitive development

Changes in mental abilities, such as reasoning and problem solving.

Hereditary (Nature)

The transmission of characteristics from biological parents to their offspring via genes at the time of conception, influencing many aspects of physical development.

Environmental (Nurture)

Experiences, objects, and events to which an individual is exposed throughout their entire lifetime, including upbringing, friendship groups, schooling, occupation, income level, serious illnesses, religion, and ethnic origins.

Monozygotic twins (identical twins)

Twins formed when a single fertilized egg splits into two in the first couple of days after conception; they share $100\%$ of their genes because they develop from the same egg and sperm combination.

Dizygotic twins (fraternal twins)

Twins that develop when a female produces two separate eggs that are independently fertilised by two different sperm cells; they can be the opposite sex, are not genetically identical, and share $50\%$ of their genes and genetic similarities.