VCE Nature of Hereditary and environmental factors

Question 1

Development

Answer 1

Psychologists generally use the term development to refer to changes that occur over time.

Question 2

physical development

Answer 2

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Physical development involves changes in the body and its various systems, such as development of the brain and its nervous system, bones and muscles, motor skills, and the hormonal changes of puberty and menopause.​

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Question 3

social development

Answer 3

Social development involves changes in an individual’s relationships with other people and their skills in interacting with others, such as the ability to form and maintain close relationships with others in a group situation.

Question 4

emotional development

Answer 4

Emotional development involves changes in how an individual experiences different feelings and how these feelings are expressed, interpreted and dealt with; for example, the way in which anger is expressed by a two-year-old, compared with a 16-year-old or an 80-year-old person.​

Question 5

cognitive development

Answer 5

Cognitive development involves changes in an individual’s mental abilities, such as reasoning, problem solving, decision making, perception, learning, memory and use of language. ​

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Question 6

psychological development

Answer 6

Psychological devlopment involves changes associated with social, cognitive and emotional development involve mental processes that occur within the individual and are therefore not directly observable or measurable.​

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Question 7

Nature

Answer 7

Nature- The inborn, inherited factors gained genetically from biological parents.​

Examples- eye colour, hair colour, skin colour​

Also influence height and weight but environmental factors play a part in these too​

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Question 8

nurture

Answer 8

Nurture- refers to the environmental or external conditions that affect an individual’s development. These are the experiences we have or the stimulus we are exposed to throughout the lifespan.​

This can include food, education, money, love, support, friends and enemies

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Question 9

enriched environment

Answer 9

Enriched Environment: an environment where all of one’s basic needs and more are provided.​

Eg: nutrition, love, education​

This exposure to the stimuli in the environment allows for a positive contribution to the growth and development of a child.

Question 10

Deprived environment

Answer 10

​Deprived Environment: an environment where basic needs are lacking.​

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E.g: poor diet, lack of sensory stimulation, no socialisation​

This lack of exposure does not allow for meeting stimulation to develop and grow normally.