Lifespan Development Flashcards
Phenotype v Genotype
A persons observed characteristics
A persons genetic inheritance
Five levels of Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model
Microsystem - a child’s immediate environment (home, school)
Mesosystem - interactions between immediate environment
Exosystem - elements of broader environment that impacts immediate environment (school board, parents employers, mass media)
Macrosystem - culture, politics, economic conditions
Chronosystem - environmental events that occur over the lifespan
Rutter’s Risk Indicators
Severe marital discord Low SES Overcrowded family Parental criminality Maternal psychopathology Placement of child outside the home
Protective factors for Rutter’s high risk children
Experience fewer stressors after birth
Easy temperament and good social adjustment
Provided with stable support from a caregiver
Canalization
When genotype restricts a phenotype to a small number of possible outcomes
Three types of gene-environment correlation
Passive genotype-environment correlation (child inherits traits and parents provide environment to support them)
Evocative genotype-environment correlation (child’s traits impact how others respond to them and reinforce their genetic makeup)
Active genotype-environment correlation (child finds environments that are consistent with their traits)
Epigenesis
Relationship Between environment and genetics is bidirectional and ongoing (with interactions influencing next steps
Ethology v Evolutionary Psychology
Ethology - study of behavior in natural habitats (instincts, drives, adaptation)
Evolutionary Psychology - study of mental emotional adaptation that increased chances for survival
Critical v Sensitive Periods
CP - distinct, specific, predetermined periods when an organism is especially sensitive to stimuli that can have a positive or negative impact on development (Lorenz, language acquisition, attachment)
SP - longer in duration, flexible, not as tied to developmental or maturational age
Stages of prenatal development
Germinal (first two weeks) - zygote
Embryonic (3-8 weeks) - embryo
Fetal (9 weeks until birth) - fetus
Two major sources of birth defects
Chromosomal Disorders
Teratogens
Autosomal disorder v sex-linked disorder
Autosomal - disorder is carried on an autosome (22 pairs of chromosomes that are not linked to sex)
Sex - disorder carried on the 23rd chromosome pair that determines sex
PKU
Phenylketonuria
Autosomal recessive
Can’t metabolize phenylalanine (bread, dairy, eggs)
Associated with severe intellectual disability
Down Sydrome
Trisomy 21 (three 21st chromosomes)
Intellectual disability, physical features, regarded physical growth, increased susceptibility to leukemia, Alzheimer’s, and heart defects
Aneuploidy
Disorder due to a variation in chrosomal number
Kleinfelter Syndrome
XXY in males
Small genitals, breasts, no sexual interest, sterile, learning disability
Turner Syndrome
Female with only one X chromosome
Short, webbed neck, drooping eyelids, no secondary sex characteristics, cognitive deficits
Stage when teratogens can cause the most damage
3-8 weeks
Embryonic stage
FAS and FASD
FAS is more severe
When drinks a shitload, esp in second half of first trimester
Facial abnormalities, organ issues, vision and hearing impairment, cognitive deficits, behavioral issues
Cocaine as a teratogen
Babies born addicted
Issues last at least into early school years
High pitched cry, trembling, feeding and sleep issues, exaggerated startle, irritability, hard to comfort
Effects of malnutrition on fetal development
Death, low birth weight, immune system issues, intellectual disability
In third trimester, can lead to brain development issues
Limited folic acid can lead to spina bifida
Premature v SGA
Premature - born before 37 weeks, many survive with medical intervention these days, outcomes are fine
SGA - weight below 10% for gestational age, slow development, much worse outcomes
Brain development in newborns
Initially produces more neurons than it needs (then undergoes pruning)
Life sustaining structures fully formed, cerebral cortex is almost undeveloped with the PFC developing into mid-20s
Areas of the brain that develop first in newborns
Sensory and motor areas