genes , environment and their interplay

Question 1

prenatal factors

Answer 1

• fetal alcohol syndrome: Condition in a child that results from alcohol exposure, causes brain damage and growth problems
• early taste preferences based on maternal diet in pregnancy
• mothers genes-> influence the environment before and after birth: maternal mental health, culture, parental exposure in utero

Question 2

developement over time reveals genes and environment

Answer 2

some genetic effect srelevants as yıu dev: -runners -short sightedness -schizophrenia, depression

role of environment -> needed to ‘trigger’ the effect of genes : urbanicity, maternal nutrition, stressful life events

Question 3

continuty vs discontinuity factors

Answer 3

-indv level: child at young age predic their later dev
-indv diff: nature vs nurture, react diff to similar experience
-societal level: change in culture and society; technology and social media have impact on child dev.
-atypical and typical
understanding atypical behaviour -> understand typical behaviour: brain damage, cognitive processes, ToM etc..
knowledge on typical behaviour -> tell us about atypical behaviour

Question 4

sex vs gender

Answer 4

sex: bio and physical status as male or female
- gentic diff XX vs XY
- physiological diff
- hormonal diff

gender: psycho, social, cultural status as male and female

cis gender: where bio sex and gender identity align

Question 5

cognitive theory of gender-role dev, kohlberg

Answer 5

gender identity: by 30 m -> child label themselves and others as girls and boys
gender stability: by 3-4 y ->know gender is permanent, link gender to appearance
gender constancy: by 6y-> know gender is permanent across situations

Question 6

gender schema theory

Answer 6

2y ability to label ohtos as B or G associated w identification of gender stereotyped object

gender schema= foster biased processing

Question 7

early behaviour

Answer 7

no diff in infancy
boys more aggressive in toddlerhood
boys more aggressive than girl in childhood

girls more prosocial infancy

Question 8

bio theories of gender diff

Answer 8

genetic diff-> behavioural diff
gender diff as the consequence of evolved personality predispositions
no genetic support (no gene for stereotyped behaviour)

interplay of G&E

brain diff and functioning
male and female brain significantly diff
no link between brain size, weight and intelligence/ cognitive ability

Question 9

societal influences

Answer 9

baby x study
adults without thinking, use toys to convey sex-specific expectations -> interaction w infant can shape their preferences and development

Question 10

parental influences

Answer 10

mothers talk more to bby girls than bby boys. girls learn language faster

parents (fathers) reinforce male behaviour in toys

Question 11

teacher influence

Answer 11

teacher expectations biased by student gender 
perception influenced by:
-child perception
-parent perception
-child achievemnt