Developmental

Question 1

What are the five domains of development?

Answer 1

Physical and motor
Social
Cognitive
Emotional
Memory

Question 2

What are the three characteristics of developmental change?

Answer 2

Orderly, communicative and directional

Question 3

What are the three goals of developmental psych

Answer 3

To identify, explain and apply

Question 4

What are the three big issues surrounding psychology?

Answer 4

1. Nature vs. Nurture
2. Early vs. Later Experience (critical vs. sensitive periods)
3. Continuity vs. Discontinuity

Question 5

What are the advantages and disadvantages longitudinal study

Answer 5

Studying the same group of people as they develop over time.
Ad: make strong conclusions about age-related changes
Dis: time consuming, high attrition, generational differences

Question 6

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a cross-sectional study?

Answer 6

Studying different age groups
Ad: cheaper, limited attrition
Dis: only draw weak conclusions about age-related differences, cohort effects.

Question 7

Describe the experiment conducted by Olivier Pascalis and what he was examining

Answer 7

Pascalis was testing perception narrowing. He found that only 6 month olds were able to distinguish faces. He then gave half of the 6 mo a picture book with monkey faces. He tested them again at 9 mo and found that the babies that has exposure to monkey faces were able to distinguish between them.

Question 8

Define: synaptic pruning

Answer 8

In the absence of experience, synapses responsible for certain functions are pruned. Perception narrowing is an experience driven process.

Question 9

Define: behaviour genetics

Answer 9

Understanding how genes and the environment interact to form varied individuals.

Question 10

What is the relatedness of monozygotic and fraternal twins?

Answer 10

MZ - 1

DZ - 0.5

Question 11

Why may there be discrepancies between the heritability of a gene and its expression?

Answer 11

Environmental factors (such as poor nutrition) can impact the expression of genes.

Question 12

Describe the Dunedin Multi-displinary study

Answer 12

1,000 participants followed from age three and tested every 5-10 years for 40 years. 97% of participants have been retained.

Question 13

Describe the relationship between the MAOA gene, childhood and conduct disorder

Answer 13

Individuals that have the MAOA gene are only more likely to express conduct disorders when exposed to severe childhood mistreatment.

Question 14

What in the function of the MAOA gene?

Answer 14

MAOA metabolises neurotransmitters in the brain. Decreased activity is associated with aggression.

Question 15

Describe the relationship between FADS2 gene, breastfeeding and IQ

Answer 15

Breastfeeding (containing omega 3) is only advantageous in increasing IQ when the the c allele is carried in the FADS2 gene (93% of cases).

Question 16

What is the function on the FADS2 gene?

Answer 16

FADS2 is involved in fatty acid metabolism which is used to increase myelination.

Question 17

Summarise the Germinal Period

Answer 17

Week 1-2 (conception to implantation)
Zygote travels to uterus, dividing into blastocyst (16-64 cells). Because there are a small number of cells, any errors will result in a failed pregnancy.

Question 18

Summarise the Embryonic Period

Answer 18

Week 3-8: formation of major organs (organogenesis) and facial features. Starts with blastocyst implanting on uterine wall.
Layers of cells differentiate: outer layer is nervous system, skin and hair. Inner layer is all organs.
Brain starts forming at Week 3. Neural plate closes to form the brain. If plate doesn’t close at top, anencephaly develops. If it doesn’t close at the bottom, spina bifida forms.
Head is half volume of foetus.
Heart begins beating a week 4.

Question 19

Summarise the Foetal Period

Answer 19

Week 9 - birth. Organ systems begin to function and organisms grows. Period of rapid growth in month 4, then refinement of organs. Foetus is more responsive and rhythms to baby’s behaviour.
Week 12 - sexual differentiation
Week 18 - foetus being practicing breathing
6 months - foetus responds to light. Can hear sounds as mother’s womb is very loud (75db)
Foetus is viable at 22-28 weeks. Limit of viability is at 24 weeks.
30-32 weeks, lung develops surfactant to keep alveolus open.

Question 20

Define: teratogen and give example

Answer 20

Any factor that can harm a developing embryo/foetus. The impact of the teratogen depends on timing (dysmorphology will likely occur in embryonic stage), dose and duration. Teratogens in the foetal stage will result in brain defects.
Excessive drinking leads to FAS, which causes microcephaly, cognitive delays, malformations of the face. Brains are less complex.

Question 21

What is the final system to develop after birth?

Answer 21

Vision

Question 22

Define: critical period

Answer 22

Time during development in which certain experiences are crucial for development

Question 23

Define: sensitive period

Answer 23

Time during develop in which certain experiences are optimal for development.

Question 24

What are the three ways vision is tested in babies?

Answer 24

1. Visual scanning and fixation patterns: babies tend to initially focus on the vertex of the face. At two months, they focus on the middle
2. Habitation: looking at time spend looking at different faces
3. Visual preferences: babies like looking at red, patterns and complexity.

Question 25

What test is used to measure visual acuity?

Answer 25

Taller Acuity Test

Question 26

Give 2 examples of atypical visual development

Answer 26

1. Animal Models: Hubel and Weisel’s kittens. Carlson’s monkeys
2. Clinical: congenital cataracts

Question 27

What did Harlow’s study show about attachment?

Answer 27

Contact comfort is the most necessary way to develop attachment for a child.

Question 28

What theory was Bowlby involved with?

Answer 28

Attachment theory

Question 29

In Mary Ainsworth’s Strange Situation Task, what were the four types of responses children displayed?

Answer 29

Secure Attachment (70%), Insecure-avoidant (10%), insecure-anxious (10%), disorganised (10%)

Question 30

What tasks are used to measure childhood memory?

Answer 30

Mobile Conjugate Reinforcement Task (3-6 months) than train task (6 months - 2 years).

Question 31

What are the ways that schemas are updated during development (according to Piaget)?

Answer 31

Assimilation: reality fits into schema
Accomodation: adjusting scheme to fit with reality.

Question 32

Outline the four stages of Piaget’s model of cognitive development?

Answer 32

Sensorimotor (birth-2): little reasoning, ecocentric, object permanence
Preoperational (2-7):symbolic thought, concentration of single element of task, preservative inhabitation
Concrete (7-12): conservation
Formal (12+): abstract thought.