Environmental Influences on Behavior - Module 13

Vocabulary flashcards covering environmental influences on behavior, including gene expression hypotheses, prenatal influences, parental and peer effects, and cultural concepts like individualism vs. collectivism, and the distinction between sex and gender.

Vulnerability Hypothesis

The idea that 'bad' genes require an environmental trigger to show negative results.

Orchid Hypothesis

The idea that 'bad' genes require an environmental trigger to show negative results, but different environmental triggers may also lead to positive results, potentially outperforming peers with 'dandelion' genes in the right environment.

Dandelion Genes

Genes that allow individuals to thrive in all kinds of environments, being sturdy and resilient.

Orchid Genes

Genes that make individuals sensitive to their environment; in a poor environment they may struggle, but in the right environment, they can exceptionally flourish.

Placenta

A spongy organ created by the fetus that protects and feeds the developing baby nutrient and removes wastes, attaching to the umbilical cord.

Teratogens

Harmful substances that can pass through the placenta and cause birth defects, especially damaging early in pregnancy.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

A condition caused by a mother drinking alcohol during pregnancy, marked by disproportionate heads/faces and being the leading preventable cause of cognitive delay.

Freud's View on Parental Upbringing

Overemphasized the importance of parenting on psychology throughout life, a strong stance that may have stalled scientific advances.

Peer Influences

The impact of one's peers on behavior and choices, which can affect individuals through their entire life, from childhood to adulthood.

Individualistic Culture

A culture (typical in countries like the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Western Europe) with a focus on personal identity, self-responsibility, and independence.

Collectivistic Culture

A culture (typical in regions like Asia, Latin America, Africa) with a focus on group identity, responsibility to the group, and interdependence.

Independent Self

A self-concept emphasizing internal abilities, thoughts, feelings, being unique, promoting one's own goals, and direct communication, associated with individualistic cultures.

Interdependent Self

A self-concept emphasizing external, public features (status, roles, relationships), belonging, fitting in, occupying one’s proper place, and indirect communication, associated with collectivistic cultures.

Norms

Rules for accepted and expected behavior provided by cultures that shape how individuals view themselves and others.

Sex

The biological characteristics that scientifically define one as male or female.

Gender

The biological and social characteristics by which societies define male or female, which is partially a social construction.