Chapters 1-3 Exam Prep (VOCAB)

Developmental Science

Developmental Science

The study of constancy and change throughout the lifespan

Nature

Hereditary information, received from parents at conception

Nurture

Physical and social forces, influences biological makeup and psychological experiences

Stability

Persistence of individual differences, lifelong patterns established by early experiences

Plasticity

Development is open to lifelong change, change occurs based o influential experiences

Influences on Development

Age graded, History graded, Nonnormative

Life Span Perspective

Development is:

• lifelong

• multidimensional and multidirectional

• highly plastic

• influenced by multiple, interacting forces

Domains of Development

Physical, Cognitive, Emotional and Social

Resilience

Ability to adapt effectively in the face of threats to development

Contributions

Behavior modification, modeling, observational learning

Limitations

Narrow view of environmental influences, underestimation of individuals active role

Strength

Provides precise accounts of how children and adults tackle many cognitive tasks

Limitation

Lacks insight into nonlinear cognition, such as imagination and creativity

Developmental Social Neuroscience

- Relationship between brain activity and emotional and \n social development \n - Interest in adolescents’ risk-taking behavior, impact of \n extreme adversity, neurological bases of autism

Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience

- Relationship between brain activity and cognitive \n processing and behavior patterns \n - Incorporates psychology, biology, neuroscience, medicine

Ethology

Concerned with the adaptive, or survival, value of behavior and its evolutionary history

Ethnography

- Participant observation of a culture or distinct social group \n - Mix of observations, self-reports, interpretation by investigator \n - Investigators may observe selectively or misinterpret what they see \n - Findings cannot be assumed to generalize beyond people and \n settings of research study

Independent Variable

\n Manipulated by investigator, expected to cause changes in another variable

Dependent Variable

\n Measured but not manipulated, expected to be influenced by the independent variable

Genotype

An individuals unique genetic information

Phenotype

An individuals directly observable characteristics

Chromosomes

Store and transmit genetic information

DNA

A substance of which genes and chromosomes are made

Gene

A segment of DNA located along the chromosomes

Meiosis

Process of cell division that creates gametes \n (sex cells) \n • Halves the number of cell chromosomes \n • When sperm and ovum unite, the zygote will have 46 \n chromosomes again \n • Facilitates genetic variability that is adaptive

Autosomes

22 matching pairs of chromosomes

Sex Chromosomes

23rd pair of chromosomes (XX= female) (XY= male)

Gametes

Sex cells: sperm and ovum

Zygote

Formed when a sperm and ovum unite

Fraternal/Dizygotic Twins

Two zygotes, or fertilized ova

Identical/Monozygotic Twins

One zygote that divides into two individuals

Alleles

Two forms of the same gene, one inherited from each parent, occur at the same place on both chromosomes in a pair

Homozygous

both alleles are alike

Heterozygous

alleles differ

Dominant–Recessive Inheritance

\n - Only the dominant allele affects child’s \n characteristics \n - Recessive allele can be passed to children \n - Many serious disabilities and diseases result from \n recessive alleles

Incomplete Dominance

- Both alleles are expressed in the phenotype \n - Results in a combined trait, or one that is intermediate between the two \n - Example: sickle cell anemia

X-Linked Inheritance

A harmful allele is carried on the X chromosome

Genomic Imprinting

- Chemical marker activates one allele in a pair \n - Often temporary; may not pass to the next generation

Mutation

- Sudden, permanent change in a DNA segment

- Germline or Somatic

Polygenic Inheritance

Affects characteristics that vary among people, \n such as: \n – height \n – weight \n – intelligence \n – personality

Down Syndrome

– Results when 21st chromosome pair fails to separate \n during meiosis

Sex Chromosome Abnormalities

– Caused by problems with X or Y chromosome \n – Often not recognized until adolescence

Collectivism

- Stress group goals over individual goals \n - Value interdependent qualities, e.g., responsibility to others, social harmony, collaborative endeavors

Individualism

- Concern with own personal needs \n - Value independence: personal achievement, exploration, and choice in relationships

Gene-Environment Correlation

Our genes influence the environments to which we are exposed: - Passive correlation \n - Evocative correlation \n - Active correlation: niche picking

Epigenesis

\n Development resulting from ongoing, bidirectional \n exchanges: \n – Genes affect behavior and experiences \n – Behavior and experiences affect gene expression \n Epigenetics studies how the environment alters gene \n expression, e.g., methylation

Teratogens

Environmental agents that cause damage during the \n prenatal period

Anoxia

Inadequate oxygen supply

Breech Position

May compress the umbilical cord

Preterm

-Born weeks before their due date \n – Smaller weight may be appropriate for the length of pregnancy \n – 1 to 2 more weeks in the womb greatly reduces rates of illness

Small For Date

– Below expected weight considering length of pregnancy \n – May be full-term or preterm \n – Inadequate nutrition before birth \n – Usually more serious problems, especially if also preterm

Infant Mortality

Number of deaths in the first year of life per 1000 live births

Neonatal Mortality

Death rate within the first month of life

Rapid-Eye-Movement (REM) Sleep

– Brain-wave activity similar to waking state \n – Newborns spend more time in REM sleep than ever again \n – Believed to support nervous system development

Non-Rapid-Eye-Movement (NREM) Sleep

– Body is almost motionless \n – Heart rate, breathing, and brain-wave activity slow and even

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Leading cause of infant mortality in industrialized nations

Gene-Environment Interaction

Interactions between genes and environment shape human development