Chapter 2 Flashcards
Natural selection
the evolutionary process by which those individuals of a species that are best adapted to their environment are the ones that are most likely to survive & reproduce (darwin)
behavior genetics
the field that seeks to discover the influence of heredity & environment on individual differences in human traits & development
evolutionary psychology
emphasizes the importance of adaptation, reproduction, & “survival of the fittest” in shaping behavior (darwin)
genes
units of hereditary info, short segments of DNA; Help cells to reproduce themselves & to assemble proteins
passive genotype-environment correlation
occur bc biological parents provide environment for child
evocative genotype-environment correlation
occur bc a child’s genetically influenced characteristics elicit certain types of environments
active (niche picking) genotype-environment correlation
occur when children seek out environments that they find compatible & stimulating
epigenetic view
states that development is the result of an ongoing, bidirectional interchange between heredity & environment
conception
a single sperm cell from a male unites w/ an ovum/egg in a female’s fallopian tube in a process called fertilization
germinal period
first 2 weeks after conception; creation of zygote (fertilized egg), cell division (mitosis), & attachment of the zygote to the uterine wall
embryonic period
2 to 8 weeks after conception; rate of cell differentiation intensifies, support systems for cells forms, & organs appear (organogenesis)
fetal period
2 months to birth; fast development
neural tube
Long, hollow, pear-shaped tube on embryo’s back; forms about 21 days after conception out of the ectoderm; tube closes at the top & bottom by about 27 days after conception
neurogenesis
Massive proliferation of new immature neurons; generation of new neurons
neural migration
15 wks after conception; cells migrate to create different levels, structures, & regions of the brain
neural connectivity
23 wks after conception; connections between neurons form & continues postnatally
teratogen
any agent that can cause a birth defect or negatively alter cognitive & behavioral outcomes
First stage of birth
? stage of birth; The longest, uterine contractions are 15-20 min apart at beginning & last up to a min each; contractions open up cervix; lasts avg 6-12 hrs
Second stage of birth
? stage of birth; Babys head starts to move thru cervix & birth canal; terminates when baby completely emerges; lasts avg 45 min to 1 hr
Third stage of birth
? stage of birth; Aka afterbirth; placenta, umbilical cord, & other membranes are expelled from uterus & pass thru vagina; lasts few minutes
Apgar scale
widely used to assess the health of newborns at one & five min after birth; evaluates infants heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, body color, & reflex irritability
○ total score of 7-10 indicates good condition, score of 5 indicates some developmental difficulty, & score of 3 or less is emergency
bonding
formation of a connection between parents & their newborn during the period after birth; bonding can happen later on
postpartum period
period after childbirth or delivery that lasts for about 6 wks or until moms body has completed its adjustment & returned to prepregnant state; physical, emotional, & psychological adjustments
What are the consequences of a low birth weight?
Brain damage, impaired cognitive development (adhd, autism, learning disabilities), breathing problems (asthma)
