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AP Psychology
Unit 4 - Developmental Psychology
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Behavior genetics | a field in which variation among individuals is separated into genetic versus environmental components |
Behavior geneticists | study our differences and weigh the relative effects of heredity and environment |
DNA | a spiraling complex molecule containing our genes |
Genes | segment of dna containing the code for a particular protein; determines our individual biological development |
genome | Set of complete instructions for making an organism Contains all genes in that organism Makes us human The genome for drosophila makes it a common house fly |
Twin biology | Fraternal Twins: Dizygotic: develop from separate fertilized Identical: Monozygotic: develop from one fertilized egg that splits in two, two genetically identical organisms - genetically closer than brothers and sisters, share same fetal environment |
separated twins | identical twins raised separately from birth or close thereafter have found numbers of similarities |
critics of separated twins | such similarities can be found between strangers, researchers point out that differences between fraternal twins are greater than identical twins |
adoption studies | adoptees are different from adoptive parents and siblings, biologically related children turn out to be different in a family |
parenting | no effect on biologically related and unrelated children. share attitudes, values, manners, beliefs, faith, politics with parents |
temperament | person's stable emotional reactivity and intensity. Identical twins have similar temperament |
Heritability | differences among people are attributable to genes traits that are similar in parents and offspring identical twins heritability = 0 correlational term measured ratio 0-1 of genetic influence |
nature and nurture | human traits are fixed and most psychological traits are liable to change with environmental experience |
self regulating | Genes provide choices to the organism to change its form or traits when environmental variables change. Genes are pliable and self-regulating |
gene-environment interaction | influence traits which affect responses and the environment can affect gene activity stressful environment can trigger genes to manufacture neurotransmitters leading to depression |
epigenetics | - in addition to or above and beyond genetics -study of changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself -caused by diet, drugs, stress, environment -stress leaves fingerprint on brain |
molecular genetics Differences in humans | Find the way many genes that orchestrate traits like body weight, sexual orientation, extraversion Risk populations for disease like depression, schizophrenia, learning disabilities, alcohol use disorder |
Evolutionary psychology Similarities in humans | Understanding human nature Molecular and behavior genetics study we we as organisms are distinct - evolutionary psychology studies why we as humans are alike. Evolution of behavior and mind using principles of natural selection |
Natural selection | Evolutionary process through which adaptive traits are passed on to ongoing generations because they lead animals to reproduce and survive |
artificial selection | biologists were able to artificially rear and domesticate wild foxes selecting them for friendly traits |
human traits | result of pressures afforded by natural selection |
human sexuality | gender differences in sexuality Males and females behave and think similarly Differences in sexes arise with regards to reproductive behaviors |
mating preferences | In order for males to pass their genes into future they look for youthful appearance in females. Females on the other hand look for maturity, dominance, affluence, and boldness in males. |
Critiquing the evolutionary perspsective | Proposed genetic determinism and undercuts morality in establishing society Genders are unequal, gender preferences are wide, but closely equal, preferences narrow down |
evolutionary psychologists reply: | argue that we need to test behaviors that expound evolutionary principles remind us how we have adapted but doesn't dictate how we ought to be males and females are more alike than different, if we study these differences we can establish their causes |
Prenatal environnment | identical twins who share the same placenta are more alike than who don't, suggesting prenatal influences on psychological traits |
Rosenzweig and brain development | Postnatal experience affects brain development. Rosenzweig et al. showed that rats raised in enriched environments developed thicker cortices than those in impoverished environments |
experience and faculties | early experience during development in humans also showed remarkable improvements in music, languages, and the arts |
Parental influence | genetic - support is essential in nurturing children however socializing factors plays an important role |
peer influences | children attempt to fit into a group by conforming peers are influential in such areas as learning to cooperate with others, gain popularity, and develop interactions |
cultural influences | humans have the ability to evolve culture - composed of behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next |
norms | rules for accepted and expected behavior |
personal space | - men holding hands in Arabia is normal (closer personal space) but not in american culture |
variation over time | cultures change over time, rate is fast happened in countries in the west, culture rapidly changes in the past 40 years cannot be attributed to changes in the human gene pool because genes evolve very slowly |
individualism | culture that nurtures an individual's personal identity |
collectivism | cultures where group identity is favored |
culture and child rearing | individualist cultures (european) raise their children as independent individuals whereas collevtist cultures (asian) rears thier children as interdependent |
developmental similarities across groups | despire diverse cultural backgrounds, in many ways humans are more similar than different. We share the same genetic profile, ,life cycle, capacity for language, and biological needs. |
gender development |