Psych Ch 4 + 5

behavior genetics

study of relative power and limitations of genetic and environmental influences on behavior

environment

nongenetic influence (nutrition, people and things around us)

chromosome

threadlike structure made of DNA molecules containing genes

DNA

molecule containing genetic info making up chromosomes

genes

biochemical units of heredity that make up chromosomes, either expressed or not expressed

protein molecule

body's building blocks when genes are turned on

genome

common genetic profile, instructions to create organism consisting of all genetic material in chromosomes, small differences can change behavior and show uniqueness between humans

identical twins

develop as single egg fertilized that is split into two, genetically identical

fraternal twins

two separate fertilized eggs, genetically the same as siblings

temperament

emotional reactivity and excitability, genetically influenced

heritability

proportion of variation in individuals attributed to genes, varies from range in populations and environments studied, a uniform environment would show a high heritability because there are no environmental differences

molecular genetics

studies molecular structure and function of genes

molecular behavior genetics

studies structure and function of genes in interacting with environment to influence behavior

epigenetics

study of molecular mechanisms of which environment triggers or blocks genetic expression

self-regulating

genes react instead of acting as blueprints that leads to the same result no matter context

epigenetic marks

organic methyl molecules attached to part of DNA strand that tells cell to ignore gene, based on environmental factors

evolutionary psychology

study of evolution of behavior and mind, use principals of natural selection, focus on what makes humans so alike

natural selection

an inherited trait variation that contributes to reproduction and survival will be passed on to generations

mutation

random error in gene replication leads to change

adapt

changing to survive in new or different envrionments

sexual overperception bias

believing partners express more sexual interest than actually, strongest in men who don't require emotional closeness before sex

social scripts

culturally modeled guide for how to act in various situations created from watching and imitating others and figuring out what's safe

interaction

interplay occurs when the effect of one factor depends on another, ex environment depends on heredity

pruning process

experiences trigger and strengthen neural pathways, unused neural pathways weaken and gradually disappear

peer influence

more will be likely to have behaviors if peers are also doing it

culture

behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted to each generation

preservation of innovation

use of technology like language to maintain culture

division of labor

group of people divide work

norms

understood rule for accepted and expected behaviors (how to dress, etc)

culture shock

don't understand what expected or accepted in different cultures

individualist

giving priority to ones own goals over group goals and defining ones identity in terms of personal attribute rather than group identifications

collectivist

priority to goals of group and defining ones identity accordingly

group identification

role in group, provides sense of belonging, set of values, security

sex

biologically influenced characteristics, male and female

gender

socially influenced characteristics which people define "men and women"

aggression

physical or verbal behavior intended to harm someone physically or emotional

relational aggression

act of aggression intended to harm persons relationship or social standing

male answer syndrome

men are more likely to hazard answers than admit they don't know them

interdependent

females compete less and imitate social relationships

x-chromosomes

sex chromosomes found in men and women, females have 2, males have 1

y-chromosomes

sex chromosome only found in males

testosterone

most important male sex hormone, found in both male and female, stimulates growth of male sex organs during fetal period and puberty

puberty

puberty of sexual maturation, when they are capable of reproducing

primary sex characteristics

body structures that make sexual reproduction possible (ovaries, testes, external genitalia)

secondary sex characteristics

non-reproductive sexual traits (female breasts/hips, male voice quality, body hair)

spermarche

first ejaculation, male puberty landmark, often occurring in sleep, about age 14

menarche

first menstrual period, female puberty landmark, usually age 12

disorder of sexual development

inherited condition involving unusual development of sex chromosomes and anatomy, fetus exposed to unusual levels of sex hormones or sensitive to hormones

gender role

set of expected behaviors, attitudes, traits for male/female, shift over time/culture

gender identity

sense of being male, female, etc

social learning theory

theory we learn social behavior by being observed and punished/rewarded

gender typing

taking on traditional male/female role, varies between child

androgyny

show both traditional masc and fem psychological characteristics

schemas

concepts that help us make sense of world, built by maturing brain

transgender

umbrella term for people whose gender identity/expression differs from that associated with their birth sex

developmental psychology

studies physical, cognitive, social change throughout life span, nature vs nurture, continuity and stages, stability and change

zygote

fertilized egg, enters 2-week period of rapid cell division

embryo

developing human organism, 2 weeks after fertilization through second month, inner cells of zygote, embryos organs start to develop at 6 weeks

placenta

life-link that transfers nutrients and oxygen from mother and screen out harmful substances, outer cells of zygote

fetus

developing human organism 9 weeks after conception to birth, organs developed at six months

teratogens

agents reach embryo/fetus during prenatal development that causes harm (alcohol, drugs, etc)

fetal alcohol syndrome

physical and cognitive abnormalities in children caused by pregnant woman's heavy drinking, in severe cases shown as small head and abnormal facial features

habituation

decreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation, babies become more disinterested with familiar stimuli

maturation

biological growth processes enable orderly changes in behavior, not influenced by experience

cognition

mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicated

Jean Piaget

development psychologist studying child cognitive development, believed intellectual progression reflects struggle to make sense of experience

assimilate

interpreting our new experiences in terms of our existing schemas

accomodate

adapting current understandings (schemas) to incorporate new info

sensorimotor stage

Piaget stage birth to 2 yrs, infants know world in sensory impressions and motor activities (looking, hearing, touching, mouthing, grasping), no object permanence

object permenance

awareness things exist even when not perceived

preoperational stage

Paiget stage 2-6 yrs, learn to use language, doesn't comprehend mental operations of concrete logic

conservation

quantity remains same despite changes in shape, child believes tall glass holds more liquid than wide glass even if it is the same amount of liquid

egocentric

difficulty perceiving things from another point of view

curse of knowledge

overestimate extent to which others share opinions and perspectives, assuming if something's clear to us, its clear to others

theory of mind

peoples ideas about their own/others mental states about their feelings, perceptions, thoughts, behaviors might predict

concrete operational stage

Piaget state 7-11 yrs, gain mental operations enabling them to think logically about concrete events

formal operation stage

Piaget stage 12-adulthood, abstract thinking, imagined realities and symbols, hypothetical propositions and deduce result, "if then than that"

Lev Vygotsky

Russian psychologist who believed that the mind grows through social environment, children think in word and use words to solve problems, using words like "no no" for self control, language is the building blocks of thinking

Autism Spectrum Disorder

disorder in childhood with significant deficiencies in communication and social interaction, have rigidly fixed interests and repetitive behaviors

Asperger's syndrome

high level functioning

stranger anxiety

fear of unfamiliar faces, cannot assimilate new face into schemas for familiar faces, reach for familiar caregivers

attachment

emotional tie with another person, young children seek closeness with caregivers and show distress on separation

critical period

optimal period early in life when exposure to certain stimuli/experiences produce normal development

imprinting

process which certain animals form strong attachments during early life, ducklings follow thing first moving

secure attachment

infants play comfortably in presence of mother, distressed when mother not present, look to seek contact

insecure attachment

anxiety avoiding trusting relationships, infants didn't explore surroundings, cling to mother, cry loudly or seem indifferent when left alone

anxiety

insecure attached, crave acceptance, remain vigilant to signs of possible rejection, sensitive to threat

avoidance

discomfort getting close to others, maintain distance from others, decrease in commitment

self-concept

all thoughts and feelings about ourself

authoritarian

parents impose rules and expect obedience, kids have less social skill and self-esteem

permissive

parents make few demands and use little punishment, indifferent, unresponsive, unwilling, kids more aggressive and immature

authoritative

parents both demanding and responsive, set rules but encourage open discussion allow exceptions, kids have highest self-esteem, self-reliance, social competence

life-span perspectives

development life long, how maturation and experience shape up

adolescence

transition period from childhood to adulthood, begins at puberty

puberty

period of sexual maturation during which a period becomes capable of reproducing

moral reasoning

thinking occurring consider right and wrong, build on cognitive development

Laurence Kohlberg

believed in three levels of moral thinking form moral ladder

moral intuition

quick, gut feelings, make judgement automatically, ex disgust when seeing degrading acts

Preconventional morality

Kohlberg level before age 9, self-interest, obey rules to avoid punishment or gain concrete rewards

conventional morality

Kohlberg level early adolescence, uphold laws to gain social approval and maintain social order