Psych 250 Unit 1

Nature

inherited genetically during conception

Nurture

Environmental influences that affect development AFTER conception

Development is

multidirectional, multicontextual, multicultural, multidisciplinary, and plastic

Critical period

time when a particular type of developmental growth MUST happen if it’s going to (first language)

Sensitive period

Time when a particular type of development is most likely to happen or happens EASIER (2nd language) —> may happen later in life with more difficulty

Ecological Systems Approach (Bronfenbrenner)

Multicontextual development; the person should be considered in ALL contexts and interactions in life

Levels of ecological systems approach

Individual: gender, sex, age

Microsystem: family, school, peers

Mesosystem

Exosystem: neighbors, friends of family

Macrosystem: culture of society; media, politics

Multidisciplinary

all important human characteristics are EPIGENETIC; environmental factors influence expression of genes

Ex: socioeconomic status, mother behaviors, food, etc.

Difference equals deficit

mistaken belief that deviation from norm is INFERIOR to standard behavior/charactersitics

Scientific method

A process that is necessary to ensure accurate results and to test a hypothesis about the world

Steps in scientific method

1. Pose a question

2. Form hypothesis

3. Test

4. Draw conclusions

5. Report results

6. Repeat

Hypothesis

question about the world

Correlational design

2 variables that are more or less likely to occur together

Correlation /=/ causation

Experimental design

cause and effect relationship between 2 variables; has an IV and DV

Random assignment

involves using procedures that rely on chance to assign participants to groups

IV

manipulated variable

DV

variable that changes due to IV

Validity

degree to which a test/experiment measures what is it INTENDED TO MEASURE

Reliability

degree to which independent measurements of a given behavior are CONSISTENT

Interrater reliability

2 people arrive at same conclusion

Test retest reliability

score similar on retests

Internal validity

difference due to manipulations (IV)

External validity

differences in natural settings

Cross sectional research

groups of people of ONE AGE compared to groups of OTHER AGES

-convenient

-quick

-differences in ages

Longitudinal research

collect data on SAME PERSON as they age

-takes long time

-can compare 1 person data

Cross sequential research

study several groups of people of diff ages over long time

-best of both worlds

Ethics

use to caution research and provide safe results

Race

social construct (physical appearance)

Purpose of theories

interpret observations, framework for how/why, and group ideas together

Freud’s theory (psychoanalytic)

basic human drives — many emotional problems originate from childhood relationships

Id

devil on shoulder; UNCONCIOUS raw, innate part of personality

Sole purpose: reduce tension by primitive drives and survive off of pleasure principle

Ego

Mediator; buffers Id and outside world

Reality principle- compromise

Superego

Angle of shoulder; rights and wrongs of society

Conscience and morality principle

Oedipus complex

boys sexual desire for mom

Electra complex

girls sexual desire for dad

Erik Erikson

8 age stages with specific crisis; incorporates social and cultural influences on dev.

Genotype

genes

Phenotype

person’s physical appearance (observable)

Sex of child determined by

2 gametes: sperm + egg. Egg only gives X so father’s sperm determines sex (X or Y)

Alleles

variation of a gene

Additive genes

These genes act independently, and the effects of each gene add up to determine the overall phenotype of an individual.

Polygenic

multiple genes influence 1 trait (height)

Mendelian inheritance

dominant vs recessive alleles

carriers

x-linked genes

Monozygotic (identical twins)

1 zygote splits EARLY in dev.

SAME genotype but slight variations in phenotype (environmental influences)

Dizygotic (fraternal twins)

fertilization of 2 SEPARATE ova by 2 SEPARATE sperm

share 50% of genotype

2x as likely as monozygotic

Down syndrome

Trisomy 21- 3 copies of chromosome 21

PKU (phenyl ketonuria)

recessive

cannot metabolize phenylalanine (buildup causes brain damage)

fixed: phenylalanine free diet

Epigenetics

environmental influences on gene expression

3 phases of pregnancy

germinal, embryonic, and fetal

germinal period

first 2 weeks after conception

rapid cell division and some cell differentiation

placenta forms

embryonic period

3rd-8th week

basic forms of all body structures develop (head, CNS, ears, heart, extremities)

EMBRYO

fetal period

9th-birth (FETUS)

fetus grows in size

genitals form

heartbeat detectable

matures in functioning

Cell division

mitosis

Cell differentiation

cell becomes more specialized (stem → differentiated)

Apoptosis

programmed cell death

cell migration

cell moves to correct place in body plan

Measures of fetal behavior

spontaneous movement, fetal heart rate (FHR), and breathing

Cognitive tests

reduction in FHR — implies attention

Sucking paradigms — preference for sounds heard prenatally

Teratogens

any agent or condition that can result in birth defects or complications

Types of teratogens

smoking

alcohol

illegal drugs

stress

socioeconomic status

Effects of smoking

retarded growth

SIDs

Low birth weight

effects of alcohol

FASD

facial deformity

mental retardation

effects of illegal drugs

marijuana: affect memory, learning, or visual skills after birth

cocaine: cognitive and social deficits

Effects of teratogens (NOT ALL OR NONE)

effect depends on genetic makeup of organism

effect may be unique

effect depends on time of exposure

dose-response relation

sleeper effects

Dose response relation

The dose–response relationship, or exposure–response relationship, describes the magnitude of the response of an organism, as a function of exposure (or doses) to a stimulus or stressor (usually a chemical) after a certain exposure time

Low birthweight

less than 2250g or 5.5lbs

Very low birth weight

less than 1500g or 3.5lbs

Extremely low birth weight

less than 1000g

Small for gestational age

less than 2600g

preterm

born before 35 weeks

In the first year (body size changes)

body size doubles by 4 months and triples by 1 year

Head sparing

biological mechanism that protects the brain when malnutrition occurs; brain is the LAST body part to be impacted

Prefrontal cortex

front of brain; specializes in anticipation, planning, and impulse control

brain stem

controls autonomic functions

midbrain

emotions and memory

cortex

thinking, feeling, and sensing

Experience dependent development

wiring of your brain CHANGES due to unique life experiences

Experience expectant development

all people should have this development: synapses are formed and maintained only when an organism has undergone expected species-typical experiences during a particular critical period(loving caregivers)

REM sleep in infants

50% of baby sleeping is REM

Active sleep/paradoxical sleep ; paralyzed, but body active

Pros of cosleeping

easier response time

less parental exhaustion

more convenient for breast feeding

Cons of cosleeping

higher risk of SIDs

Ghosts in nursery phenomenon (past trauma impacts how we raise our child)

Perception

mental PROCESSING of sensory info when brain INTERPRETS sensation

sensation

response of sensory system to a stimulus

Habituation

getting bored; repeat exposure to stimulus until response declines

Preferential looking technique

showing infants 2 patterns or objects at a time to see if there is a preference for one or the other

Scanning (visual)

1 month old: scans perimeters of shapes

2 months old: scans perimeters AND interiors of shapes

Own race effect

tendency to more easily recognize faces of the race most associated with; starts as early as 6 months

intermodal perception

2+ senses are present from very early in life and the infant can link these senses to form experiences

Pre reaching movements

clumsy swiping towards vicinity of seen objects (3-4 months of age)

Anticipation reaching

has a motivation for the reach (10 months old)

Self locomotion

crawling: 8 months old

walking ind. 11-12months old

Dynamic systems perspective

integrated system that guides development; with changes, the system becomes more complex and effective

3 elements underlying motor skills

muscle strength

brain maturation

practice

3 goals for motor skills

social interaction

comfort

learning

Benefits of breast feeding

closeness with baby

ideal nutrition

aids in dev.

antibodies

higher IQ for baby

relief for mom

No need to prepare formula (cheaper)

Sensorimotor intelligence

Piaget

infants are active learners

adaptation is the core of intelligence; change cognition

Cognition develops in 4 distinct periods

Assimilation

new experiences are interpreted to fit with OLD ideas

accommodation

old ideas are RECONSTRUCTED to accommodate new ideas

Stages 1 (piaget)

birth to 1 month

primary circular reactions- reaction to OWN BODY

reflexes

Stage 2 (piaget)

1-4months

primary circular reactions- reaction to OWN BODY

first acquired adaption of habits

adapt reflexes though info from repeated responses