Psych 1-22

Upcoming chapter review session scheduled for next Wednesday at 2PM.
Review sessions for each chapter will be held by Mikaela, in addition to exam review sessions as exams approach.
Multiple opportunities for testing understanding of course material and asking questions.

Details and Zoom link for the session are available on the course's Canvas module, specifically on the chapter one review session page.
Study guides created by Mikaela will be posted there, which will include:
- A checklist of important concepts, terms, theories, and influential people.
- These checklists are not completed but serve as a self-guide for exam preparation.
- Study guides will be available as Word documents for student notes and cheat sheets.
- Practice questions related to the material will also be included and discussed during the session.

Students should bring their own questions regarding chapter one to the review session.
It's encouraged to engage actively with practice questions to enhance understanding instead of only looking for answers.

Announcement about PSYCHI, the psychology honor society available for interested students.
Recruitment information is accessible on the course Canvas.
For more details about membership, students can Google "SciChi University of Pittsburgh" to access the society's website.

Nature refers to genetics, while nurture encompasses all environmental factors.
John B. Watson's perspective emphasizes nurture heavily, suggesting people are shaped entirely by their environment; however, this view is outdated as both genetics and environment interact to shape traits.
Nature: Genetics set boundaries on abilities and characteristics.
Nurture: Environmental factors determine how much of genetic potential one achieves, illustrated through self-control and athletic ability examples.
- Example 1: Self Control
  - Genetics influence the biological predisposition to self-control.
  - Environment influences the practice and development of the skill.
- Example 2: Athletic Ability
  - E.g., Michael Phelps' genetic advantages in swimming without denying the importance of nurture in training.

Continuous Development:
- Seen as gradual where skills increase incrementally (e.g., memory and problem-solving ability in children).
- Development is viewed as a somewhat linear process, where skills build progressively over time.
Discontinuous Development:
- Represents development in distinct stages (e.g., language development; children suddenly demonstrate fluent speech after a period of limited vocabulary).
- Illustrative metaphor: Life transformation from caterpillar to butterfly represents a sudden change rather than gradual growth.

Continuous Development Theorists: Typically emphasize gradual learning (e.g., cognitive development theorists).
Discontinuous Development Theorists: Stage theorists like Erikson and Piaget, who believe in distinct stages of development.

Continuous growth in height is depicted on a graph representing total height over time versus changes in height gain.
Children experience rapid growth spurts especially around puberty followed by plateaus.
Understanding these growth patterns assists in understanding overall child development.

Highlighted the importance of community resources like libraries, playgrounds, and after-school programs for nurturing child development and education.
Children's access to safe environments and educational resources greatly influences their developmental opportunities.
Noted importance of educational programs and laws ensuring equal opportunities for students.

Basic understanding of genetics:
- Every human consists of 46 chromosomes: 23 from each parent.
- Genotype: Total genetic makeup; Phenotype: Observable traits derived from genotypes.
- Alleles: Variants of genes, which can be dominant or recessive, influencing the expression of traits.
Examples of Genetic Disorders:
- Recessive Disorders: Require two copies of the recessive allele for manifestation (e.g., Sickle Cell Disease, Cystic Fibrosis).
- Dominant Disorders: Only one copy of the allele is necessary for the disorder to occur (e.g., Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome).

Understanding the importance of heritability in determining the influence of genetics on traits in populations.
Ethical implications of twin studies in assessing nature vs. nurture, including historical unethical practices (e.g., Louise Wise's agency).

Comprehensive overview of chapter content discussed in prior sessions, emphasizing interconnections between genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and developmental outcomes.