Psych 251 - Final Study Guide

Epigenetics

The study of biological mechanisms that switch genes on and off without altering the DNA sequence, influencing gene expression through modifications in the epigenome.

DNA Methylation

Addition of methyl groups to DNA, leading to gene silencing and affecting gene expression without altering the DNA sequence.

Histone Modification

Addition or removal of chemical groups to histones, regulating gene expression by adjusting DNA compaction.

Nature vs

Discussion on the relative impacts of genetic inheritance (nature) and environmental factors (nurture) on human development, where epigenetics reveals their intertwined influence.

Three Domains of Human Development

Physical development, cognitive development, and social-emotional development, interconnected facets shaping an individual's growth and well-being.

Microsystem

Immediate environmental settings containing the developing individual, like family and school, influencing development significantly.

Mesosystem

Interactions between different microsystems in a child's life, shaping development through interconnected influences.

Exosystem

Social structures indirectly influencing microsystems, including a parent's job or community resources.

Macrosystem

Cultural elements impacting a child's development, encompassing beliefs and social conditions.

Chronosystem

Shifts and transitions over a child's lifetime, including environmental changes and historical events impacting development.

Psychoanalytic Perspective

Focus on early childhood experiences, unconscious conflicts, and neurobiological processes on personality development, with Freud's Psychosexual Theory emphasizing distinct stages of development.

John Watson

Considered the "Father of Behaviorism," emphasizing observable behavior and the environment's role in shaping personality, known for the "Little Albert" experiment.

Ivan Pavlov

Russian physiologist known for classical conditioning, demonstrating how behaviors are learned through stimulus association, influencing human development.

B

Prominent behaviorist known for operant conditioning, asserting that behavior is shaped by consequences, with the "Skinner Box" experiments illustrating reinforcement principles.

Skinner's Operant Conditioning

Skinner's research in operant conditioning emphasized how behavior can be modified through reinforcement, contributing significantly to understanding human development.

Reinforcement Schedules

Skinner's development of reinforcement schedules explained the nuances of habit formation and behavior change, guiding and maintaining actions in both animals and humans.

Albert Bandura

Albert Bandura was a psychologist known for the social cognitive theory, highlighting the importance of observing, imitating, and modeling behaviors in learning processes.

Bobo Doll Experiments

Bandura's Bobo doll experiments demonstrated that children can learn behaviors through observing aggressive actions, challenging established behavioral doctrines.

Jean Piaget

Jean Piaget, a Swiss psychologist, identified four stages of mental development and genetic epistemology, revolutionizing the understanding of children's cognitive development.

Independent Variable

The independent variable is manipulated in an experiment and is not influenced by other variables, such as the type of soda consumed in a study on blood sugar levels.

Dependent Variable

The dependent variable changes as a result of the independent variable manipulation, such as blood sugar levels changing based on the type of soda consumed in an experiment.