***Chapter 9: Human Development Flashcards
developmental psychology
the study of how behavior changes over the life span
MAOA gene
a gene that causes low production of MAOA enzyme, which causing heightened risk for developing into a criminal
nature-nurture debate
gene-environment interactions
the impact of genes on behavior depends on the environment in which the behavior develops
nature-nurture debate
example of gene-environment interactions
MAOA gene + delinquent peer -> violent behaviors
nature-nurture debate
nature via nurture
genetic predispositions can drive us to select + create particular environments that influence our behaviors, leading to the mistaken appearance of a pure effect of nature
nature-nurture debate
example of nature via nurture
quiet children seek out quiet environments that reinforce the quiet nature
nature-nurture debate
gene expression
some genes “turn on” only in response to specific environmental triggers
nature-nurture debate
example of gene expression
early family loss triggers the genes that predispose one to anxiety to be turned on
nature-nurture debate
epigenetics
whether genes are active is regulated day-by-day + moment-by-moment environmental conditions
nature-nurture debate
example of epigenetics
genes that are turned on don’t necessarily stay on because of environmental factors
during the course of human development, developmental influences are ____
bidirectional
cohort effect
effect observed in a sample of participants that results from individuals in the sample growing up at the same time
cross-sectional design
research design that examines people of different ages at a single point in time
-snapshots
-no control for cohort effect
longitudinal design
research design that examines development in the same group of people on multiple occasions over time
-examines true developmental effect
-costly, time-consuming
post hoc fallacy
the mistake of assuming that because A comes before B, A must cause B
zygote
fertilized egg
blastocyst
ball of identical cells that hasn’t yet begun to take on any specific function in a body part
-zygote divides to form this
course of prenatal development
germinal period, embryonic period, fetal period
prenatal development
germinal period
first 2 weeks after conception
-first week: the fertilized egg (zygote) + divides to form blastocyst (a ball of identical cells that haven’t yet begun to take on any specific function in a body part)
second week: embedding of blastocyst in the uterine wall (implantation); differentiation of cells/task specialization begins
prenatal development
embryonic period
2-8 weeks after conception, blastocyst becomes an embryo
-limbs, facial features, major organs begin to take shape
-life support systems (amnion, umbilical cord, placenta) develop
-spontaneous miscarriages often occur during this period
prenatal development
in what period do spontaneus miscarriages tend to occur?
embryonic period
prenatal development
fetal period
2 months after conception until birth
-heart begins to beat
-embryo becomes fetus
-major job is physical maturation, fleshing out
-last third of pregnancy for bulking up
prenatal development
brain development time period
18 days of pregnancy + beyond
prenatal development
brain development
-brain continues to develop into early adulthood
-between 18th day of pregnancy + end of 6th month, neurons begin developing at astronomical rate (proliferation)
-4th month + throughout pregnancy, migration of cells begins to occur, moving to final positions in specific structures of brain