Psych 2010 Clemson Richard Pak Exam 2

chromosome

threadlike structure made largely of DNA molecules

DNA

a spiraling complex molecule containing genes

genes

individual sections of DNA that code for a particular protein, determine our individual biological development, don't directly affect behavior, code for proteins, a bunch of genes work together

behavior geneticists

study our differences and weigh the effects and interplay of heredity and environment

identical twins

same-sex only and monozygotic, developed from a single fertilized egg that split, share 100% DNA, genetically identical, human clones

fraternal twins

can be the same or opposite sex, two different eggs are fertilized by two different sperm cells, share about 50% of the DNA, no more similar than other siblings

separated twins

identical twins separated at birth or close thereafter had numerous similarities

biological vs. adoptive relaties

adoption studies show that adoptees tend to be different from their adoptive parents and siblings, more similar to biological parents

genetic relatives

biological

environmental relatives

adoptive

temperament

emotional excitability, an aspect of personality, how you act as an infant often shows how you will act as an adult, persist into adulthood

gene-environment interaction

genes and environment interact to determine personality, genes influence behavior which affects environment which affects genes

genetic predisposition - nature or nurture

restless and hyperactive - nature or nurture

angry response - nature or nurture

nature

nurture

nurture

stressful environment - nature or nurture

trigger genes - nature or nurture

manufacture neurotransmitters - nature or nurture

nurture

nature

nature

epigenetics

study of how environment affects gene expression

molecular genetics

studies the molecular structure and function of genes, specific genes that influence behavior

heritability of traits

the extent to which variation among individuals can be attributed to their different genes

evolutionary psychology

a study of the behavior and mind using principles of natural selection

natural selection

-organisms compete for survival

-some biological and behavioral tendencies increase probability of survival/reproduction

-those who survive are likely to pass on these tendencies to the next generation

artificial selection

selectively breeding for characteristics that are desirable, any trait that is favored naturally or artificially spread to future generations

current behavior

nature selects behaviors that increase likelihood of sending one's genes into future and enhance reproduction

evolutionary history of organisms

gender differences in mating preferences

-men are attracted to women who portray fertility like big hips

-women tend to be attracted to dominance, affluence

genetic determinism

says that we have no free will in who we are and how we act

criticisms of evolutionary psychology

too little emphasis on social influences (nurture) on behavior, way too much emphasis on genes

parental influence

largely genetic, support is essential in nurturing children

peer influence

much stronger than parental influence, language, accent

variation across cultures

they differ, develop norms, can change

norms

rules for accepted and expected behavior

culture

behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted through generations

America is

individualist

Japan is

collectivist

individualism

personal control and individual achievement

collectivist

attachments to their groups

gender differences

differences between two males or two females is much larger than differences between male/female

XX is _____

XY is _______

female

male

Y chromosome

determines everything, develops and produces testosterone

gender differences and connectedness

women form more connections with people than do men, men emphasize freedom and self-reliance, evident in childhood play styles - boys play in large groups and girls play with often one friend, females are more interdependent

nature in gender

our biology

nurture in gender

gender roles

role

set of expectations of a social position

gender roles

culture expects men and women to act a certain way

gender identity

how a person views them self

social learning theory

assumes children learn gender identity by observing others

conception

a single sperm cell (male) penetrates the outer coating of the egg (female) and fuses to form one fertilized cell

zygote

a fertilized egg with 100 cells

at ______ days the zygote turns into an embryo

14

at _____ weeks the embryo turns into a fetus

9

teratogens

chemicals or viruses that can enter the placenta and harm the developing fetus

developmental psych

physical, cognitive, and social development across lifespan

-nature and nurture

-continuity and stages

-stability and change

placenta

have nutrients and oxygen for the embryo

fetal alcohol syndrome is due to

pregnant woman's heavy drinking

epigenetic effect

chemical marks on DNA that switch genes abormally on and off

habituation

decrease in responding with repeated stimulation

maturation

the orderly sequence of biological growth (nature)

schemas

a way to organize a lot of ideas: "a concept" or category, are mental molds into which we pour our experiences

Piaget's Theory of cognitive development

two processes allow infants to gain new knowledge about the world

assimilation

the process of trying to fit new objects into existing schemas

accommodation

the process of changing existing schemas to fit new objects

cognitive

all mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating

Sensorimotor stage (0-2 years)

mental activity is confined to schemas about sensory functions and motor skills; learning by conducting experiments to understand time, space, causality; end is object permeance

object permeance

awareness that objects continue to exist when not percieved, solid objects are permanent

Preoperational stage (2-7 years)

begin to understand, create, and use symbols to represent things that are not present; make intuitive guesses about the world; thinking is still dominated by what they see; highly egocentric (preschool kids); do not yet understand conservation; too young to perform mental operations

conservation

principle that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape

Concrete operational (7-11 years)

start to use logical rules to guide thinking; mentally transform info; cognition still limited to concrete objects; cannot think abstract or hypothetical ideas; diminished ego; able to comprehend math transformations and conservation

Formal operational (12+ years)

engage in hypothetical, abstract thinking; scientific reasoning ability develops; self-awareness/self-consciousness; systematic reasoning

adolescents in the formal operational stage

think about themselves and their place in the world; discover their individual identity in society; coincides with "rebellious" phase

abstract thinking leads to two types of cognitive distortions

adolescent egocentrism, personal fable; also allows more advanced moral reasoning

adolescent egocentrism (imaginary audience)

"everyone is looking at me", "they are just as preoccupied with me as I am"

personal fable

"my experiences are unique", "no one can understand what I am feeling"

theory of mind

the ability to understand another's mental state

autism

deficient communication, social interaction, and understanding of others states of mind

parent-infant attachment

deep, affectionate, close, and enduring relationship between parent and infant

origin of attachment

infant bonds with mothers because of bodily contact and not because of nourishment, familiarity also causes attachment, animal imprinting

imprinting

certain animals form attachments during a critical period early in life

stranger anxiety

children's ability to evaluate people as unfamiliar and possibly threatening (8+ months)

attachment bond

powerful survival impulse that keeps infants close to caregivers

experiment with monkey

rocking, warmth, feeding made the cloth mother more appealing

critical period

optimal period when certain events must take place to facilitate proper development

secure attachment

infants urge to be close to mother is balanced by urge to explore the surrounding environment, approach life with a sense of basic trust

insecure attachment - avoidant

infant tends to avoid or ignore mother when she approaches or returns after a brief separation

insecure attachment - ambivalent

infant is upset when mother leaves but acts angry and rejects mother's efforts at contact after a brief separation

insecure attachment - disorganized

infant's behavior is inconsistent, disturbed, and disturbing

parenting styles - authoritarian

parents tend to be strict, punishing, and unsympathetic; kids have less social skills and self-esteem

parenting styles - permissive

parents give their children complete freedom and provide little discipline, agressive and immature kids

parenting styles - authoritative

parents fall between these extremes, a mix, best one, selfish kids ?

adolescence

life between childhood and adulthood, 13-17 years old

physical development during adolescence

puberty

-occurs earlier in females than males

-height in females increases before males

puberty

sexual maturation, before it boys and girls start to feel attraction

primary sex characteristics that develop during puberty

organs and genitalia

secondary sex characteristics that develop during puberty

boobs, hips, facial hair, deep voice, hair

menarche

first menstrual period

self concept

our understanding and evaluation of who we are

adolescents search for identity

identity: our sense of self, who one is

social identity

"we" aspect of our self-concept

intimacy

ability to form close, loving relationships; late adolescence and early adulthood

frontal cortex during adolescence

increased myelination, lags behind the limbic system's development, poor teen judgement

developing reasoning power

Piaget says adolescents can handle abstract problems; can judge good from evil, trust and justice, and think about God

developing morality

Kohlberg posed moral dilemmas to children and adolescents and found stages of moral development; Piaget and Kohlberg say moral reasoning guides moral actions

Preconventional level

moral choices tend to be selfish in nature; up to age 9

Conventional level

choices based on following rules and conventions; from age 9-19