Psych Test 1

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering fundamental developmental psychology concepts, historical perspectives, theories, research designs, and genetics based on lecture notes.

Continuous Development

A developmental process characterized by gradual change over time. Cells are dividing everyday.

Discontinuous Development

A developmental process occurring in distinct stages or abrupt shifts. Growth spurts, physical growth, brain growth, and language development.

Nature vrs. Nurture

The ongoing debate regarding the relative influences of genetics (nature) and environment (nurture) on individual development and behavior. It examines how traits and behaviors are shaped by biological inheritance and experiential learning. Nature is heredity - mainly stable. Nuture is forces of the world - more plastic.

Tabula Rasa

John Locke's concept that the mind begins as a blank slate and that development is driven entirely by experience and nurture.

Theory

A set of beliefs used to explain observations and guide understanding.

Neutral Stimulus

A stimulus that gets paired with a meaningful stimulus and takes on its meaning to produce a conditioned response in classical conditioning.

Conditioned Response & Conditioned Stimulus

Conditioned response → A learned response (salivating at sound of bell because dog knew that meant food was coming)

Conditioned stimulus → Previous neutral signal, that after associated with unconditioned stimulus, triggers a learned or conditioned response (bell introduced).

BOTH LEARNED

Unconditioned Response & Unconditioned Stimulus

Unconditioned Response → An automatic, natural reaction to something that happens without any prior training or learning. Innate → born with it. (trolling at dog food)

Unconditioned Stimulus → An event or thing that naturally and automatically triggers a reaction without any prior learning or training (dog food)

Cognitive Neuroscience

The study of brain structure and function using neuroimaging techniques to understand cognitive processes.

Reciprocal Determinism

We influence our surroundings, we are not just the products of our surroundings. So, parents and children both influence each other.

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

Lev Vygotsky's sociocultural concept describing how development occurs through learning with scaffolding from others; increased by teachers. WHAT A LEARNER CAN DO WITH AND WO HELP.

Correlational Research

Non-experimental scientific method used to measure two or more variables and assess the statistical relationship between them w/o any manipulation by the researcher. NO CAUSATION. Ex: surveys, naturalistic observations. Strength and direction between variables (positive vrs negative correlation)

Experiment

A research design used to determine cause-and-effect relationships by manipulating an independent variable and measuring a dependent variable.

Random Selection

The method of choosing participants from a larger population, such as pulling names from a hat.

Random Assignment

The method of placing selected participants into different experimental conditions or study groups, such as by flipping a coin.

Within subjects vrs between subjects

Within → same participants exposed to every condition

Between → different participants for each condition

Double-blind Study

An experimental setup in which neither the subject nor the experimenter knows who has received the real or fake treatment.

Longitudinal Design

Test 3yo multiple times until they are 11 years old. This is a within subjects design, one group of people tested repeatedly on variable of interest until a certain age.

Genes

How traits are passed down - the biological units of heredity. Molecules attach to genes to enhance or repress their expression. The environment interacts with genetic expression. Ex: born with big hands, tall, but practice is required.

Phenotype

The observable physical or behavioral trait expressed by an individual. AA Aa aA.

Polygenic Inheritance

The genetic process in which multiple genes work together to produce complex characteristics or behaviors.

Relatedness

How much do we vary genetically?

Humans are 99.9% the same genetically.

Monozygotic Twins

Identical twins who share 100% of the 0.1% genetic variance among humans and have a 60% chance of developing Alzheimer's if their twin has it. ONE EGG. IDENTICAL.

Dizygotic Twins

Fraternal twins who share 50% of the 0.1% genetic variance among humans and have a 30% chance of developing Alzheimer's if their twin has it. TWO EGGS. FERTILIZED BY 2 SEPERATE SPERM.

Heritability

A statistical measure ranging from 0 to 1 that describes how much of the variation in a trait within a specific population is due to genetic differences rather than environmental factors. 0→ environmental factors cause almost all of the differences seen in that trait among people (language or religion aren’t controlled by genes). 1→ genetic differences cause almost all the variation in that trait. Most complex traits are in the middle.

Active Gene-Environment Interaction

I seek environments that complement my genes. (Michael Jordan)

Passive Gene-Environment Interaction

Parents provide environment they prioritize; indirect (swimming)

Evocative Gene-Environment Interaction

My genetic traits are from responses from others.

Epigenetic Framework

the psychological development as the result of an ongoing, bi-directional interchange between heredity and the environment.

Adoption study

If the biological child of tall parents were adopted into a short family, would the Childs growth be affected?

Placenta

Temporary organ that connects to the developing fetus via the umbilical cord to the uterine wall to allow nutrient uptake, thermo regulation, waste elimination, and gas exchange via gestational parents blood supply.

Amniotic sack

The bag of waters or the membranes. Holds the developing embryo, and later a fetuss.

Vanishing twins

One of the twins disintegrates and vanishes into uterus, or two zygotes fuse, so only one fetus is brought to full term.

Neurogenesis

Brain development begins at third week of pregnancy, neurogenesis is the formation of neurons. It happens mostly after five months of gestation.

Myelin

A white fatty substance that aids in insulation and efficiency of neural transmission.

Teratogens

Environmental factors that cause birth defects or interfere with prenatal development. Ex: alcohol, tobacco, certain drugs, diseases, infections, pollutants.

Maternal factors

conditions involving the gestational parent that can affect prenatal development and the babies health. Ex: age, gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, weight gain, stress.

HypnoBirthing (approach to childbirth)

Uses relaxation, breathing, education, and support to reduce fear and tension during birth

Lamaze (approach to childbirth)

Breathing, muscle relaxation, a focal point, and support from a coach.

Bradley Method (approach to childbirth)

A more natural birth with nutrition, exercise, relaxation, and partner involvement.

Walter birth (approach to childbirth)

Warm water for relaxation + discomfort during birth

Hospital brith and pain relief (approach to childbirth)

Most births in the U.S. happen in hospitals. You can choose unmedicated vrs medicated pain relief.

Epidural → medicine through tube in lower back

Nitrous oxide → inhaled medication

The three stages of birth

Dilation → contractions; cervix opens; longest stage; labor begins with discharge of blood or amniotic fluid

Birth → passage of baby through birth canal; 10-40 min; umbilical cut; c section if needed

After birth → less painful; placenta delivered; stitch vagina if ripped

Apgar Assessment

Assessing done to newborn, done at 1 and 5 minutes post birth. Checks heart rate, respiration, muscle tone, reflex response, and color. Score of 0-2, 5 or less overall is concerning. Some problems newborns can experience are anoxia (ack of oxygen to brain), low birth rate, preterm (born before 37 weeks), small-for-date.

Colostrum

The first milk produced from breast feeding - especially rich in nutrients and substances that help babies immune systems.

Milk Anemia

Condition which milk consumption leads to a lack of iron in the diet

Motor skills

Our ability to move our bodies and manipulate objects

Gross motor skills vrs Fine Motor Skills

Gross motor skills → Large muscle groups that control our head, torso, arms and legs, and involve larger movements (these develop first)

Fine motor skills → Muscles in fingers, toes, and eyes, and enable coordination of small actions (ex: grasping toy)

Herd Immunity

Each vaccinated child stops the transmission of the disease (if 90% are vaccinated, nobody dies)

Neurons

Specialized cells the receive, process, and send information

Dendrites

branch-like structures on neurons that receive signals from other neurons. During early childhood, dendrites grow rapidly, allowing neurons to make many more connections (TRANSIENT EXUBERANCE - temporary dramatic growth)

Synaptic Blooming vrs Synaptic Pruning

Blooming → Rapid creation of neural connections

Pruning → removing neural connections that are weak, unused, or unnecessary

Adolescent brains affected by dopamine and oxytocin

dopamine → involved reward circuits → sensitivity peaks during adolescence

oxytocin → facilitates bonding and makes social connections more rewarding. Affects adolescent brain.