pre-natal and environmental influences on development- lecture 6

Question 1

pre natal environment

Answer 1

• environment foetus lives in
• development starts from conception
• gestation- 40 weeks
• teratogen- an environmental agent that causes harm to an unborn child- drugs

Question 2

drugs-legal and illegal

Answer 2

effect- varied
sensitive period phase dependent

Question 3

tobacco (including 2nd hand smoke)

Answer 3

effect- low birth weight, asthma, attention difficulties
sensitive period- 1st/2nd trimester

Question 4

alcohol

Answer 4

effect- foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)
sensitive period- various

Question 5

caffiene

Answer 5

effect- low birth weight

Question 6

radiation

Answer 6

effect- deformities

Question 7

environmental pollution

Answer 7

effects- gums, nails, smaller head circumference

Question 8

maternal condition, nutrition and disease

Answer 8

effect- low birth weight
sensitive period- 3rd trimester

Question 9

maternal stress

Answer 9

effect- heart/pyloric stenosis, later emotional distress

Question 10

sensitive period

Answer 10

• a limited time span in which a part of the body or a behaviour is prepared to develop rapidly
• if damage occurs during a sensitive period, recovery is impossible or very difficult

Question 11

feotal alcohol syndrome

Answer 11

• FAS is characterised by distinctive physical and facial features
• caused by lack of oxygen to developing cells (body uses oxygen to metabolise alcohol) and by interference with production and migration of neurons in the primitive neural tube
• its associated with a range of psychological problems, notably low school achievement, inappropriate sexual behaviour, substance abuse, and lasting mental health problems including depression (Baer et al, 2003)

Question 12

smoking explained

Answer 12

• nicotine constricts blood vessels, lessening blood flow to the uterus, and causes the placenta to grow abnormally, reducing the transfer of nutrients, also raises concentration of carbon monoxide in the bloodstream (displacing oxygen)
• other potential effects- miscarraige, cleft lip and palate, asthma and cancer in childhood
• as with alcohol these are dose dependent effects
• causes low birth weight

Question 13

sodium valprote

Answer 13

• epilepsy drug (prevents seizures)
• affects physical features of infants- cleft palate, limb defects, identifiable facial features and neuro-cognitive features- language difficulties, intellectual disability
• other potential effects-higher incidence of ADHD
• does dependent

Question 14

pre-term babies

Answer 14

babies born 3 weeks or more before their due date, can be t risk and some difficulties cannot be overcome (johnson 2007), common in multiple births- 60% for twins, more than 90% for triplets

Question 15

low birth weight babies

Answer 15

(less than 5 1/2 pounds or 2500g)- also called small for date, usually have more serious problems than pre-term infants, these dificulties are linked with academic and social maturity (Okeefe et al, 2003)

Question 16

adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)

Answer 16

• potentialy traumatic events that occur during childhood
• and have lasting effects on health (obesity, diabetes, depression, suicide attempts,), behaviours, life potential

Question 17

preventing ACEs

Answer 17

• strengthen economic supports to families
• promote social norms that protect against violence and adversity
• ensure a strong start for children
• teach skills
• connect youth to caring adults and activities
• intervene to lessen immediate and long-term harms

Question 18

extreme deprivation

Answer 18

• deprivation has a measurable effcet on brain growth (skuse 1984)
• a lack of stimulation and nutrition can lead to stunted physical growth and impaired physchological growth
• in complex cases, it can be dificult to establish a cause for specific outcomes as most case studies are non comparable

Question 19

koluchova twins

Answer 19

• twins born in czechoslovakia in 1960, mother died at birth
• in and out of instituional care when out they lived with their father and stepmother who denied them affection, proper warmth and sufficient food, exercise and stimulation. authorities removed them from home at age 7 and placed them in a childrens home
• they were eventually placed in the care of an unmarried middle aged woman who gave them the care they needed
• they didnt know how to interact at age 7, low iq score
• as they recieved a consistent environment their IQ began to improve

Question 20

genie

Answer 20

• from 20 months to 13 she was imprisoned in dark room
• movements restricted and no one spoke to her
• after her escape at 13 she could not walk, was underweight and didnt speak
• she then learned to walk, and to engage in some perception testing, she developed speech but it was atypical so she never asked questions or used pronouns
• these cases tell us:
• maternal and social deprivation are harmful to childrens development
• a poor beginning does not guarentee a poor life outcome
• the age of cessation of these conditions matters