Exam 1

What is lifespan development?

Systematic changes and continuities in the individual that occur between conception and death.

What are the periods of development?

Prenatal period, infancy, early childhood, middle and late childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, middle adulthood, late adulthood.

What characterizes emerging adulthood?

College years, unstable life and trying to find identity.

What does SES stand for?

Socioeconomic status.

Define rites of passage.

A ritual that marks a person’s passage from one status to another.

What is the focus of evolutionary theories?

Look to the evolution of the human species for explanations of why humans develop as they do.

What do psychoanalytic theories emphasize?

The development and dynamics of the personality.

Describe bioecological systems theories.

Ongoing interactions between a changing person and a changing environment.

What is the role of cognitive theories?

Active processing of information plays a critical role in learning, behavior, and development.

What are the key themes of lifespan development?

Nature/nurture, where nature refers to genetics and biology, and nurture refers to experience and learning.

List primary methods used to study development.

Case study, correlational method, experimental method, meta-analysis.

What is a case study?

An in-depth examination of an individual or a small number of individuals.

What does the correlational method determine?

Whether two or more variables are related in a systematic way.

Describe the experimental method.

The investigator manipulates some aspect of the environment to see how it affects the behavior of the sample studied.

What is meta-analysis?

Combining results of multiple studies addressing the same question to produce overall conclusions.

What are the major designs used to study development?

Cross-Sectional Design, Longitudinal Design, Sequential Design.

What ethical considerations are important in developmental research?

Informed consent, debriefing, protection from harm, confidentiality.

What are chromosomes?

Threadlike structures made up of DNA.

How many chromosomes are contributed by each parent during fertilization?

23 chromosomes from each parent.

What is genotype?

Actual genetic material.

Define phenotype.

Outward expression of the genotype.

What is dominant transmission in genetics?

Only one dominant allele is needed for expression.

Define recessive transmission.

Both alleles must be recessive for expression.

What is meant by heterozygous?

A carrier that does not express the trait.

What is partial expression in genetics?

When both alleles express traits.

What does single-gene genetic transmission refer to?

Genotypes associated with specific expressions.

What are sex-linked characteristics?

Traits determined by genes located on the sex chromosomes.

What is polygenic inheritance?

When multiple genes contribute to a trait.

What are common issues in genetics?

Mutations, copy number variations, and structural abnormalities in chromosomes.

Define mutations.

Changes in structure or arrangement of genes that affect phenotype.

What are copy number variations?

Deletion or duplication of parts of the genome.

What do twin studies compare?

The similarity of identical twins with fraternal twins.

What are concordance rates?

The percentage of cases where both twins share a specific attribute.

What is the gene x environment interaction?

The effects of genes depending on environmental experiences.

What is the diathesis-stress model?

A psychological disorder results from an interaction of predisposition and stressful events.

What does the differential susceptibility hypothesis suggest?

Some people's genes make them more reactive to environmental influences.

What are the three types of gene-environment correlations?

Passive, active, and evocative.

What are the three periods of prenatal development?

Germinal, embryonic, fetal.

What occurs during the germinal period?

Conception to 2 weeks, considered a zygote.

What happens during the embryonic period?

Implantation to 8 weeks, considered an embryo.

Define the fetal period.

8 weeks to birth, considered a fetus.

At what week does the heartbeat start?

8 weeks.

When does sex differentiation occur?

Between 7 to 8 weeks.

At how many weeks can a fetus be viable outside the womb?

23 weeks.

What is fetal programming?

Environmental events during pregnancy that alter genetic development.

What are teratogens?

Agents that can harm a developing fetus.

What are examples of teratogens?

Opioids and cocaine.

When is the organism most vulnerable during pregnancy?

During the first 2 months.

Name three maternal factors that can affect prenatal development.

Age, malnutrition, stress.

What are the three stages of labor/delivery?

1st stage: Uterine contractions; 2nd stage: Delivery; 3rd stage: Afterbirth.

What occurs during the first stage of birth?

Uterine contractions, longest stage lasting 6-12 hours.

What happens during the second stage of birth?

Delivery begins when the baby's head moves through the cervix.

What occurs in the third stage of birth?

Detachment of the placenta and umbilical cord.

What is the APGAR score used for?

Identifying at-risk newborns.

How is the APGAR scored?

Scores from 0 to 2 based on heart rate, respiratory effort, reflexes, muscle tone, and color.

What are the major structures of the endocrine system?

Adrenal glands, pituitary gland, hypothalamus, pancreas, ovaries, thyroid.

What is the primary responsibility of the endocrine system?

Regulation of hormones.

What are the four lobes of the brain?

Frontal, occipital, parietal, temporal.

What is the major function of the frontal lobe?

Movement and problem-solving.

What does the occipital lobe primarily handle?

Vision and perception.

What is the function of the parietal lobe?

Sensations and body awareness.

What is the major role of the temporal lobe?

Hearing and language.

What are the parts of a neuron?

Dendrites, cell body, axon hillock, nucleus, myelin sheath, axon, terminals.

What does the cephalocaudal principle state?

Growth occurs in a head-to-tail direction.

Define the proximodistal principle.

Development of muscles from the center outward to the extremities.

What is the orthogenetic principle?

Development starts globally and becomes increasingly differentiated.

What percentage of adult brain size does a newborn's brain have at birth?

25%.

What is 'blooming and pruning' in early brain growth?

Forming connections and then eliminating unused connections.

What is myelination?

When axons are wrapped in a fatty insulating layer.

What is plasticity in the context of brain development?

The ability of the brain to adapt to environmental factors.

How sensitive is the brain to experience in early life?

Much more sensitive during the first few years.

What are early reflexes important for?

Adaptive responses before learning occurs.

What are characteristics of an adolescent brain?

Increased gray matter, heightened reward sensitivity, and risk-taking behaviors.

What is andrenarche?

Circulation of adrenal hormones between ages 6-8.

What is menarche?

The first menstruation in females, usually between ages 11-15.

Define semenarche.

The first ejaculation in males, usually around age 13.

What does the secular trend refer to?

Historical trend toward earlier menstruation and greater body size.

Who are centenarians?

Individuals aged 100 years or older living healthy lifestyles.

What happens to vision as a person ages?

Visual acuity declines from 40 to 59 years.

What hearing changes occur in middle adulthood?

Difficulty in hearing high pitches.