1 - Development Flashcards
What is development
changes and continuities that occur within the individual between conception and death
What is maturation
biologically-timed unfolding of changes within the individual according to that individual’s genetic plan
What is learning
relatively permanent changes in our thoughts, behaviours, and feelings because of experiences
What is interactionist perspective
maturation and learning interact during development
What are the methods of studying infants
habituation procedure
event-related potentials (ERP)
high-amplitude sucking method
preference method
What does the habituation procedure test
abiltliy to detect novel stimuli
tests repiratory rate
- dishabituation: increase in responsiveness to a stimulus that is somehow different from habituated stimulus
- habituation: decrease in responsiveness to a stimulus after repeated presentation
What does event related potentials test
how brain reacts to stimulus
using electrodes on cap –> detect changes of electrical activity across neurons in the brain (changes in region of interest)
What does the preference method test
Which 2 stimuli likes more
looking chamber –> look simultaneously –> measures the direction they are looking
- equal attention? = used after researchers know infant can discriminate 2 stimuli
- infants prefer lots of patterns and faces
What is competence-performance distinction
the individual may fail a task not because lack cognitive abilities but because unable to demonstrate those abilites
What are the developmental research designs
Describe them
longitudinal design: same individuals are studied repeatedly over some subset of their life
cross sectional design: different age groups are studied same point in time
- drawback –> can’t distinguish age effects from generational effects, doesn’t directly assess developmental change (makes inferences)
longitudinal + cross-sectional
What is a genotype
an individuals inherited genes
What is a phenotype
expression of an individuals genotype in terms of observable characteristics
What are the patterns of genetic expression
- simple dominant-recessive inheritance
- polygenic inheritance
- codominance
- sex-linked inheritance
What is simple-dominant recessive inheritance
expression of a trait is determined by single pair of alleles
homozygous: 2 identical alleles of a particular gene
heterozygous: 2 different alleles of a particular gene
What is polygenic inheritance
expression of a trait is determined by the interaction of multiple genes
no single gene can account for most complex behaviours
What is codominance
expression of trait determined equally by 2 dominant alleles
- ie. blood type
What are sex-linked inheritance
expression of a trait determined by genes on the X or Y chromosome
sex-linked recessive gene disorders less common in females
What is the canalization principle
within a psecies, genotype restricts phenotype to a small number of possible developmental outcomes
some developmental processes are buffered against environemental variability
What is the range of reaction principle
genotype establishes a range of possible phenotypes in response to different kinds of individual life experiences
What are the types of genotype/environment correlations
passive
evocative
active
What is a passive genotype/environment correlation
the environment that parents chose to raise their children in was influenced by their parent’s own genes
- will likely compliment child’s genes
What is evocative genotype/environment correlation
traits that we have inherited affect how otheres react to and behave towards us
What is active genotype/environment correlation
our genotype influences the kind of environments that we seek
Describe the amount of influence each genotype/environment correlations have with age
active: small to significant
evocative: same significance
passive: significant to minimal
What is the critical period
window of opportunity within an individuals development in which particular environmental stimulation is necessary in order to see permanent changes in specific abilities
- can lead to overstimulation
- could affect adoption
- could affect public policy on child intervention
What is experience-expectant brain growth
our brains have evolved to expect a certain amount of environmental input –> our brains develop normally
- sufficient stimulation required
- normal development
What is experience-dependent brain growth
our brains develop according to our own personal experiences (subtle changes)
- unique stimulation
- beyond normal development
What is sensitive periods
developmental periods during which a specific type of learning takes place most easily
- less rigid than critical periods
- flexibility in timing and type of stimulation required for normal development
