Untitled Flashcard Set
Behavioral Genetics
Flashcard Q: What is Behavioral Genetics?
Flashcard A: The scientific study of how genetic and environmental factors interact to influence behavior.
Flashcard Q: What are Genes and their function?
Flashcard A: Genes are "recipes" for making proteins, which in turn affect the structure and function of cells. Humans have about 20,500 genes located on chromosomes.
Periods of Prenatal Development
Flashcard Q: List the three periods of prenatal development.
Flashcard A:
Germinal period
Embryonic period
Fetal period
Flashcard Q: Describe the Germinal period.
Flashcard A: It begins with conception and ends when the fertilized egg (zygote) implants in the uterine wall, lasting approximately 2 weeks. Cell division (mitosis) occurs during this period.
Flashcard Q: Describe the Embryonic period.
Flashcard A: Lasts from 3 to 8 weeks after conception. Blood vessels from the trophoblast form the placenta, and major body structures begin to develop. Growth follows two patterns:
Cephalocaudal: From head to tail.
Proximodistal: From the midline outward.
Flashcard Q: Describe the Fetal period.
Flashcard A: Extends from 9 weeks post-conception until birth. Major structures continue to develop and grow. The age of viability (first chance of survival outside the uterus) is typically 24 weeks.
Teratogens and Prenatal Assessments
Flashcard Q: What are Teratogens and the factors influencing their impact?
Flashcard A: Environmental factors that can contribute to birth defects. Their impact is influenced by:
Timing: Earlier exposure is usually worse.
Number: Multiple teratogens may interact.
Exposure: Greater exposure is usually worse.
Genetics: Individual genetic vulnerabilities (e.g., sex of the fetus).
Flashcard Q: Name and briefly describe common Prenatal Assessment Methods.
Flashcard A:
Ultrasound: Uses sound waves to examine the fetus.
Amniocentesis: Samples amniotic fluid for genetic analysis.
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS): Samples placental tissue for genetic analysis.
Complications in Pregnancy
Flashcard Q: What is an Ectopic pregnancy?
Flashcard A: Occurs when the zygote implants in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus.
Flashcard Q: What is Preeclampsia (toxemia)?
Flashcard A: A condition characterized by increased blood pressure and leakage of protein in the urine during pregnancy.
Flashcard Q: What is the most common cause of Miscarriage?
Flashcard A: Usually caused by chromosomal abnormalities.
Methods of Delivery & Infant Characteristics
Flashcard Q: Name two common Methods of Delivery.
Flashcard A:
Cesarean sections (C-sections)
Induced Labor
Flashcard Q: List reasons for performing a C-section.
Flashcard A: Usually done when problems occur or are expected, such as:
Multiple births.
Baby not positioned correctly or too large.
Mother's or baby's health is in danger.
Flashcard Q: What are Infant Reflexes? Give examples of different types.
Flashcard A: Involuntary movements in response to stimulation.
Feeding-related: Rooting, Sucking.
Replaced by voluntary behaviors: Grasping, Stepping.
Indicate nervous/sensory system functioning: Eyeblink, Babinski, Moro, Tonic neck.
Motor Skill Development
Flashcard Q: Describe Fine Motor Skills and give examples of their development.
Flashcard A: Involve the muscles in our fingers, toes, and eyes, enabling coordination of small actions.
Palmar Grasp (4 months): Using fingers and palm (not thumb) to grasp objects.
Pincer Grasp (9 months): Using the thumb and forefinger to grasp objects.
Flashcard Q: Describe Gross Motor Skills.
Flashcard A: Involve large muscle groups that control our head, torso, arms, and legs, enabling larger movements. They generally develop before fine motor skills.
Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development
Flashcard Q: Explain Piaget's core idea about children's cognitive development.
Flashcard A: Children are continuously trying to make sense of the world.
Flashcard Q: Define Schema, Assimilation, and Accommodation in Piaget's theory.
Flashcard A:
Schema: A framework for organizing information.
Assimilation: Fitting new information into an existing schema.
Accommodation: Expanding or modifying a schema to incorporate new information that doesn't fit.
Flashcard Q: Describe Piaget's Sensorimotor Stage and its substages.
Flashcard A: Infants use sensory input and motor skills to explore the world (birth to ~2 years).
Reflexes (Birth-1 month).
Primary circular reactions (1-4 months): Repeated actions involving the body.
Secondary circular reactions (4-8 months): Repeated actions involving objects/environment.
Coordination of secondary circular reactions (8-12 months): Combining actions to achieve goals.
Tertiary circular reactions (12-18 months): Exploring the world through trial and error.
Beginning of representational thought (18-24 months): Using symbols (pictures, words, make-believe) to represent ideas.
Early Childhood Development Concepts
Flashcard Q: What is the most important goal of infancy according to Erikson's Trust vs. Mistrust stage?
Flashcard A: Developing a basic sense of trust in one's caregivers.
Flashcard Q: What is Object Permanence, and when does it typically develop?
Flashcard A: The understanding that even if something is out of sight, it still exists. It typically develops by 8 months.
Flashcard Q: Outline the Sequence of language development in Infants.
Flashcard A:
2 months: Cooing (vowel sounds).
7 months: Babbling (simple syllables).
12 months: First word.
18 months: Naming explosion (rapid vocabulary growth).
By 2 years: Putting words together (two-word phrases).
Flashcard Q: What is Temperament?
Flashcard A: Innate characteristics of the infant, including mood, activity level, and emotional reactivity.
Flashcard Q: Describe the three common Temperament Styles.
Flashcard A:
Easy: Easily soothed, adaptable, generally positive mood.
Difficult: React negatively to new situations, cries frequently, generally negative mood.
Slow-to-warm-up: Low activity level, adjusts slowly to new situations, often negative in mood.
Flashcard Q: What is Goodness-of-fit in relation to temperament?
Flashcard A: Refers to how well the infant's and parent's interaction styles match, influencing temperament.
Flashcard Q: When do Self-conscious emotions appear in infants/toddlers, and what do they require?
Flashcard A: Appear between 1 and 2 years (e.g., envy, pride, shame, guilt, doubt, embarrassment). They require self-awareness and social understanding.
Attachment
Flashcard Q: What is Attachment, and why is it important?
Flashcard A: A close bond associated with security. Infant-caregiver attachment forms the basic for future relationships and influences confidence, curiosity, and self-concept.
Flashcard Q: What was Bowlby's theory on attachment, and what is a secure base?
Flashcard A: Bowlby's theory states that attachment is important for survival, and infant behaviors promote attachment. A secure base is the parental presence that gives the child a sense of safety from which to explore.
Flashcard Q: Define Stranger Wariness and Separation Anxiety.
Flashcard A:
Stranger Wariness: A fear response to the presence of a stranger.
Separation Anxiety: A fear response to the absence of a primary caregiver.
Flashcard Q: List and describe the different Attachment types.
Flashcard A:
Secure: Infant trusts the caregiver, showing distress when they leave but easily soothed upon return.
Ambivalent (Resistant): Shows mistrust through uncertainty, often distressed by separation and ambivalent upon reunion (seeking comfort but resisting).
Avoidant: Shows mistrust by avoiding the caregiver, often little distress at separation and avoiding contact upon reunion.
Disorganized/Disoriented: Inconsistent coping strategies, showing confused or contradictory behaviors; often associated with fear of the caregiver or unresolved trauma.