Early Influences on Development - Nature vs. Nurture Flashcards
Nature VS. Nurture
most developmental psychologists agree that both nature & nurture play a role in development. some psychologists emphasize the stability of certain characteristics & stress the role of ____; others emphasize the plasticity of some characteristics & stress the role of ____ ____.
heredity; early experiences
Nature VS. Nurture
list the 3 main mechanisms of inheritance
- Single Gene-Pair
- Sex-Linked
- Polygenic
Nature VS. Nurture
when does single-gene pair inheritance occur
when a characteristic is influenced by a single pair of genes
(e.g., 2 recessive genes or 1 recessive & 1 dominant)
Nature VS. Nurture
when does sex-linked inheritance occur and most often with which chromosome
when a characteristic is influenced by a gene on one of the sex chromosomes, most often the X chromosome
Nature VS. Nurture
when does polygenic inheritance occur & give examples of specific characteristics that are polygenic
- when a characteristic is influenced by multiple genes
e.g., height, weight, hair color, intelligence, & susceptibility to cancer
Nature VS. Nurture
define phenotype
observed characteristics, which are due to a combination of genetic & environmental factors
Nature VS. Nurture
define genotype
genetic inheritance
Nature VS. Nurture
what is the heritability estimate for height & what is the remaining percentage due to
- .80 = 80%
- environmental factors
Nature VS. Nurture
which polygenic characteristic is the most heritable
intelligence
Nature VS. Nurture
this environmental factor has been found to affect intelligence the most. What is the reported heritability estimates (low vs. high)
SES
reported heritability estimates:
* younger children from low-SES families: .10
* younger children from high-SES families: .70
Nature VS. Nurture
adoption studies comparing the IQ scores of young children born into low-SES families that were adopted into higher-SES families have found which of the following: Explain
a) the adopted children subsequently have lower IQ scores than their siblings who remained with their birth parents
b) the adopted children subsequently have similar IQ scores than their siblings who remained with their birth parents
c) the adopted children subsequently have higher IQ scores than their siblings who remained with their birth parents
d) inconsistent results between the IQ scores of the adopted children and their siblings who remained with their birth parents
(C) the adopted children subsequently have higher IQ scores than their siblings who remained with their birth parents
- presumably because the adopted children were provided with advantages, such as enriched environments & greater educational opportunities
Nature VS. Nurture
list, in order from highest to lowest, the IQ scores of the following:
A) children born into high-SES families and adopted by low-SES families
B) children born in low-SES families and adopted by high-SES families
C) children born into and adopted by low-SES families
D) children born into and adopted by high-SES families
- (D) Children born into and adopted by high-SES families (120)
- (B) children born in low-SES families and adopted by high-SES families (107)
- (A) children born into high-SES families and adopted by low-SES families (104)
- (C) children born into and adopted by low-SES families (92)
Nature VS. Nurture
define critical vs sensitive periods
critical: limited period of time when exposure to certain environmental events is necessary for development to occur
sensitive: usually longer than a critical period; a period of time when it’s optimal for certain environmental events to occur (but not necessary for development)
Nature VS. Nurture
Bronfenbrenner’s (2004) ecological theory distinguishes between 5 environmental systems. Match the description with the correct system:
microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, and chronosystem
- elements in the environment that affect the child’s immediate environment, incl. the parents’ places of work, extended family, & community health services
- environmental events that occur over a person’s lifespan and impact their development & circumstances, incl. parental divorce & job loss, the birth of a new sibling, and natural disasters
- interactions between elements of the child’s immediate environment (i.e., microsystem), incl. influence of family relationships on relations w/ peers & teachers at schoool and vice versa
- social & cultural environment, incl. cultural practices, economic conditions, & political ideologies
- immediate environment, incl. parents, siblings, friends, & others at home, school, & church
1) exosystem
2) chronosystem
3) mesosystem
4) macrosystem
5) microsystem
Nature VS. Nurture
researchers conducting studies examining environmental factors that influence personality distinguish between shared and non-shared factors. Give examples of both.
shared: parenting style, parental beliefs & values, family SES
non-shared: differential treatment by parents, different interactions/experiences with siblings, peers, and teachers
Nature VS. Nurture
research findings suggest what about shared and non-shared environmental factors on personality development
shared factors have little to no influence on personality throughout the lifespan
the influence of non-shared factors is substantial & this influence increses with age, while genetic influences decrease with increasing age
Nature VS. Nurture
this genetic factor has the most affect on intelligence
age
Nature VS. Nurture
findings from adoption studies examining the influence of genetics on intelligence (e.g., IQ)
- the adopted child’s IQ correlates more highly with biological parents IQ than the scores of their adoptive parents
- as age increases, so does the correlation between adopted children & biological parents increases
Nature VS. Nurture
give one explanation of the increasing influence of genetics on intelligence over the lifespan
active genotype-environment correlation (niche-picking)
- actively seeking experiences that “fit” genetic predispositions
Nature VS. Nurture
describe 1) the influence of shared vs. non-shared genetic factors on intelligence and 2) developmental considerations
shared: relatively high level of influence
- early childhood: large influence
- adolescence & early adulthood: then decreases
- middle & late adulthood: then stabilizes at a low level of influence
non-shared
* relatively low level of influence throuhgout the lfiespan
Nature VS. Nurture
twin studies may (overestimate/underestimate) the influence of genetics
overestimate
Nature VS. Nurture
(twin/adoption) studies are considered to be more powerful for disentangling genetic & environmental contributirs to a trait. Explain why.
adoption studies
* typically don’t depend on the equal environment assumption
Nature VS. Nurture
(twin/adoption/twin-adoption) studies are considered most powerful for disentangling genetic vs environmental factors. Explain why
twin-adoption studies
- they combine the strengths of both types of studies
Heredity-Environment Interactions
list the 3 genotype-environment corrleations according to Scarr et al. (1983, 1992)
a) passive genotype - enviornment correlation
b) evocative genotype - environment correlation
c) active genotype - environment correlation
Heredity-Environment Interactions
if a child of socialable parents is also sociable, this is an example of which of Scarr et al.’s (1983, 1992) genotype-environment correlation? Explain
passive genotype-environment correlation
* child inherited genes predispose them to a trait (genotype)
* are provided with many opportunities that reinforce trait (environment)
Heredity-Environment Interactions
a sociable child will react to others in ways that encourage them to respond to the child in socially reinforcing ways, this is an example of which of Scarr et al.’s (1983, 1992) genotype-environment correlation? Explain
evocative genotype-environment correlation
* a child’s genetic make-up evokes reactions from parents & other people that reinforce genetic make-up
Heredity-Environment Interactions
sociable children & adolescents will actively seek opportunities for social interactions, this is an example of which of Scarr et al.’s (1983, 1992) genotype-environment correlation?
active genotype-environment correlation
* aka niche-picking & actively seeking experiences that “fit” their gentic predispositions
Heredity-Environment Interactions
which types of Scarr et al.’s (1983, 1992) genotype-environment correlations are most important in infancy & early childhood? why?
passive & evocative types
* usually when children have little control over their environments
Heredity-Environment Interactions
which types of Scarr et al.’s (1983, 1992) genotype-environment correlation becomes increasingly important over time? why?
active type (aka niche-picking)
* children become more independent & are able to choose their own niches
Heredity-Environment Interactions
define canalization assocaited with Gottesman’s (1963) reaction range
genetic make-up can restrict developmental outcomes regardless of environmental circumstances
example:
a genetic defect > mild intellectual disability
+
an enriched environment =
a broad range of positive outcomes
Heredity-Environment Interactions
the assumptions that 1) nature & nurture are both essential for development and 2) development is the result of a complex process involving interactions between a) biology, b) environment, c) how we control ourselves, d) how we interact with others, and e) how we think about or represent our experiences in our mind is associated with which theory?
Dynamic Systems Theory (DST)
Heredity-Environment Interactions
using Dynamic Systems Theory, Thelen et al. (1994, 1995) concluded that which behaviors develop first: voluntary complex behaviors or simple repetitive behaviors
simple repetitive behaviors
Heredity-Environment Interactions
this refers to the study of changes in organisms brought about by modification of gene expression, rather than by alteration of the genetic codes in the form of DNA
epigenetics
Heredity-Environment Interactions
____ mechanisms cause changes in phenotype without changing genotype by altering the function or expression of genes
epigenetic
Heredity-Environment Interactions
what is the best understood epigenetic mechanism?
DNA methylation
Heredity-Environment Interactions
list the environmental & psychosocial factors that are potential causes of epigenetic changes
- diet & environmental pollutants
- child abuse
