Early Influences on Development - Nature vs. Nurture

Question 1

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 ____ ____.

Answer 1

heredity; early experiences

Question 2

Nature VS. Nurture

list the 3 main mechanisms of inheritance

Answer 2

• Single Gene-Pair
• Sex-Linked
• Polygenic

Question 3

Nature VS. Nurture

when does single-gene pair inheritance occur

Answer 3

when a characteristic is influenced by a single pair of genes
(e.g., 2 recessive genes or 1 recessive & 1 dominant)

Question 4

Nature VS. Nurture

when does sex-linked inheritance occur and most often with which chromosome

Answer 4

when a characteristic is influenced by a gene on one of the sex chromosomes, most often the X chromosome

Question 5

Nature VS. Nurture

when does polygenic inheritance occur & give examples of specific characteristics that are polygenic

Answer 5

• when a characteristic is influenced by multiple genes
  e.g., height, weight, hair color, intelligence, & susceptibility to cancer

Question 6

Nature VS. Nurture

define phenotype

Answer 6

observed characteristics, which are due to a combination of genetic & environmental factors

Question 7

Nature VS. Nurture

define genotype

Answer 7

genetic inheritance

Question 8

Nature VS. Nurture

what is the heritability estimate for height & what is the remaining percentage due to

Answer 8

• .80 = 80%
• environmental factors

Question 9

Nature VS. Nurture

which polygenic characteristic is the most heritable

Answer 9

intelligence

Question 10

Nature VS. Nurture

this environmental factor has been found to affect intelligence the most. What is the reported heritability estimates (low vs. high)

Answer 10

SES

reported heritability estimates:
* younger children from low-SES families: .10
* younger children from high-SES families: .70

Question 11

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

Answer 11

(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

Question 12

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

Answer 12

1. (D) Children born into and adopted by high-SES families (120)
2. (B) children born in low-SES families and adopted by high-SES families (107)
3. (A) children born into high-SES families and adopted by low-SES families (104)
4. (C) children born into and adopted by low-SES families (92)

Question 13

Nature VS. Nurture

define critical vs sensitive periods

Answer 13

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)

Question 14

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

1. elements in the environment that affect the child’s immediate environment, incl. the parents’ places of work, extended family, & community health services
2. 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
3. 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
4. social & cultural environment, incl. cultural practices, economic conditions, & political ideologies
5. immediate environment, incl. parents, siblings, friends, & others at home, school, & church

Answer 14

1) exosystem
2) chronosystem
3) mesosystem
4) macrosystem
5) microsystem

Question 15

Nature VS. Nurture

researchers conducting studies examining environmental factors that influence personality distinguish between shared and non-shared factors. Give examples of both.

Answer 15

shared: parenting style, parental beliefs & values, family SES
non-shared: differential treatment by parents, different interactions/experiences with siblings, peers, and teachers

Question 16

Nature VS. Nurture

research findings suggest what about shared and non-shared environmental factors on personality development

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Nature VS. Nurture

this genetic factor has the most affect on intelligence

Answer 17

age

Question 18

Nature VS. Nurture

findings from adoption studies examining the influence of genetics on intelligence (e.g., IQ)

Answer 18

• 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

Question 19

Nature VS. Nurture

give one explanation of the increasing influence of genetics on intelligence over the lifespan

Answer 19

active genotype-environment correlation (niche-picking)

• actively seeking experiences that “fit” genetic predispositions

Question 20

Nature VS. Nurture

describe 1) the influence of shared vs. non-shared genetic factors on intelligence and 2) developmental considerations

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Nature VS. Nurture

twin studies may (overestimate/underestimate) the influence of genetics

Answer 21

overestimate

Question 22

Nature VS. Nurture

(twin/adoption) studies are considered to be more powerful for disentangling genetic & environmental contributirs to a trait. Explain why.

Answer 22

adoption studies
* typically don’t depend on the equal environment assumption

Question 23

Nature VS. Nurture

(twin/adoption/twin-adoption) studies are considered most powerful for disentangling genetic vs environmental factors. Explain why

Answer 23

twin-adoption studies

• they combine the strengths of both types of studies

Question 24

Heredity-Environment Interactions

list the 3 genotype-environment corrleations according to Scarr et al. (1983, 1992)

Answer 24

a) passive genotype - enviornment correlation
b) evocative genotype - environment correlation
c) active genotype - environment correlation

Question 25

# **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

Answer 25

**passive genotype-environment correlation** * child **inherited genes predispose them to a trait** (genotype) * are provided with **many opportunities that reinforce trait** (environment)

Question 26

# **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

Answer 26

**evocative genotype-environment correlation** * a child's **genetic make-up evokes reactions** from parents & other people that **reinforce genetic make-up**

Question 27

# **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?

Answer 27

**active genotype-environment correlation** * aka **niche-picking** & **actively seeking experiences** that "fit" their gentic predispositions

Question 28

# **Heredity-Environment Interactions** which types of Scarr et al.'s (1983, 1992) genotype-environment correlations are most important in infancy & early childhood? why?

Answer 28

**passive & evocative types** * usually when children have **little control over their environments**

Question 29

# **Heredity-Environment Interactions** which types of Scarr et al.'s (1983, 1992) genotype-environment correlation becomes increasingly important over time? why?

Answer 29

**active type (aka niche-picking)** * children become **more independent** & are able to **choose their own niches**

Question 30

# **Heredity-Environment Interactions** define **canalization** assocaited with Gottesman's (1963) **reaction range**

Answer 30

**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**

Question 31

# **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?

Answer 31

Dynamic Systems Theory (DST)

Question 32

# **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

Answer 32

simple repetitive behaviors

Question 33

# **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

Answer 33

epigenetics

Question 34

# **Heredity-Environment Interactions** ____ mechanisms cause changes in phenotype without changing genotype by altering the function or expression of genes

Answer 34

epigenetic

Question 35

# **Heredity-Environment Interactions** what is the best understood epigenetic mechanism?

Answer 35

DNA methylation

Question 36

# **Heredity-Environment Interactions** list the environmental & psychosocial factors that are potential causes of epigenetic changes

Answer 36

* **diet** & environmental **pollutants** * child **abuse**