pysch u4 pt1 - readings

Charles darwin

natural selection, nature selects traits that best enable survival and reproduction in a specific environment. Biology’s organizing principle

Eugenics

selectively breeding humans to promote certain characteristics

Evolutionary psychology

how humans are alike due to shared biology and evolutionary history

Behavior genetics

how individuals differ because of genes and environment

Contemporary science

nurture works on what nature provides, psychological events are also biological events

Mutations

random errors DNA that effect how genes function

Human genome

our common set of genes/what makes us human 

• less than 5%of our genes are different

Environment

all external influence 

Heredity

genetic transfer from parents to child

Chromosomes

46 per person, create coiled chain (DNA)

Genes

pieces of DNA forming active/inactive chromos based on environment.

• When active they give the code for creating protein molecules

Gene therapies

tech used to prevent or treat genetic diseases

Identical twins

monozygotic, from one egg that splits, same genes not always same copies, share a placenta, one twin may receive better nourishment 

Fraternal twins

dizygotic, from 2 eggs, same as normal siblings (different combo of genes)

Epigenetics

how environments trigger/block genetic expression

• explains why identicals may be a lil different 

Epigenetic marks

attached to DNA strands, tells cells to '“turn off” genes in segments and prevent DNA from producing that gene's protein 

Zygotes

fertilized eggs, splits until 100 identical cells in first week

Germinal stage

zygote attaches to moms uterine wall, zygote inner cells become embryo, outer become placenta

9 weeks pregnant

 embryo -> fetus

Teratogens

viruses/drugs that can harm an embryo/fetus ex. Alc

Fetal alc spectrum disorder

lifelong physical/mental abnormalities bc alc has epigenetic effect, leaving mark on DNA

• most serious form = FAS

Rooting

baby opens mouth and turns towards touch looking for nipple

Sucking

closing on nipple

Startle reflex

arms/legs spring out, fist clench, crying

Grasping reflex

helps baby stay close to mom

Habituation

decreased response to repeated stimuli 

Maturation

order of biological growth

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)

severe abuse that can slow development but not genetic growth patters

Ages 3-6

most rapid brain growth in frontal lobes

Critical period

early childhood when kids can easily learn grammer/accent of another language

Adolescence

child to adult stage, starts w puberty ends when socially an adult

APA case

tried suing SC arguing death penalty for 16-17 yos is not ok bc their brains r not fully developed

Emerging adulthood

18-mid 20s

Early adulthood

20s - 30s

Middle adulthood

until 65

Late adulthood

after 65

Physical decline

begins mid 20s

Menopause

periods end, few years after 50

Exercise

slows aging and Alzheimer's, stimulates neurogenesis (dev of new brain cells and neural links) due to increased O2 and nutrient flow

Relational aggression

aggression meant to harm a person's relationship or social status – women are more likely than men

Male answer syndrome

men are more likely than women to give fake answers than say they dk

Mansplaining

men explaining something to women in a condescending and maybe inaccurate manner 

Tend and befriend

women turn to others for support when stressed

How biology influences gender development

genetically we have gender chromosomes, physiologicly, we have different concentration of hormones 

X/Y chromosomes

x is given from mother, Y is given from father, XX= girl XY= boy

Primary v 2ndary sex characteristics

primary = reproductive organs, 2ndary = nonreproductive traits

puberty landmark

spermarche, girls = 1st period (menarche)

Role

how we behave in society, shaped by culture

Gender roles

social expectations that make people's behavior as men or women

Social learning theory

we acquire our identity in childhood by observing/copying others gender-linked behaviors 

Gender typing

taking on a traditional female/male role

Androgyny

blend of female/male roles

Schemas

concepts that help us understand our world

Critical period for fetal brain development

2nd trimester

epigenetic principle

development occurs in a predetermined, sequential order, with each stage building upon the previous one.