week 5 Flashcards
Darwin’s theory of evolution via Natural selection
Variation. Inheritance. Differential reproduction
Appearance of new trait, Trait increases reproductive success, Increases chances of survival, Is passed on to offspring
Genetic transmission
The nucleus has 46 chromosomes
Chromosomes consist of strands of DNA
Portions of DNA containing chemical instructions to make proteins= genes
Implications for human development
Cognitive development: humans’ strength and speed is inferior to other species, therefore larger brain and associated powers of reasoning selected for survival value
Social development: humans evolved as social species. Group co-operation selected for
Cooperation and collaboration
Key skills that set us apart from non-human primates
Interdependence hypothesis= highly social species depend soon each other for survival
Built up to cultural level cooperation
Comparative psychology: collaboration in chimps vs humans
Chimpanzees can collaborate when they want to
Let in another chimp if needed to solve task
Choose more skilled partner
Chimps vs humans part 2
Children begin to collaborate with peers between ages 2 and 3
2.5 year old children and chimps stop collaborating when they receive their reward
3.5 year old children continue until both partners receive rewards
Children age 3 share equally when they collaborate. Children prefer to work together than work alone
Chimps do not
Ethology
the study of animals in their natural setting. Based on detailed, naturalistic observation of behaviour
Ethology
Focus on instinctive behaviours . Typically promote survival so likely to have a genetic origin
Occur in response to external stimuli
Include: fixed action pattern
Lorenz
divided greylag goose eggs into two groups. 1 group hatched by mother goose and started to follow her around
Second group hatched in incubator and in absence of attachment figure started to follow Lorenz himself around
Imprinting
Process of learning characteristics of moving object and starting to follow it around
Animal born with instinct for a pattern of behaviour but not aware of specific releaser
Such ethological research led to the idea of a critical period
This idea was highly influential in the theory of attachment in human development
Bowlby
Argued that need for attachment was itself an innate primary drive-to enable infant to maintain proximity to caregiver.
Children biologically predisposed to develop attachments to caregivers as means of increasing the chances of their own survival
Caregiver as: secure base and safe haven
Attachment theory
0-2 months- pre-attachment little differentiation between unfamiliar people
2-7 months recognise caregivers; don’t show attachment behaviours on separation
7 months+; see clear cut attachments
around 2 years: goal corrected partnership- increased independence; recognise separation sometimes necessary
internal working models
mental representation of: self , attachment figures, relationships in general
based on early perception of the extent to which caregiver can be depended on
Guides relationships throughout life
Harlow
Early primate studies
Infant monkeys reared in total isolation displayed a number of maladaptive behaviours: social malajustment, Terrified of other monkeys, couching, rocking, biting themselves, hyper aggression
These effects were largely reversible if infant isolated for first 3 month
If isolated for 6-12 months, effects irreversible
Harlow part 2
Separated infant monkeys from their mothers raised with two surrogate mothers
one made of wire the other made with cloth
When stressed infants tended to cling to soft mother, Challenges idea that attachment is driven by feeding
