Developmental Psychology - Biological Psychology Flashcards
What do cognitive abilities develop in tandem with?
Develop in tandem with the central nervous system
What does the brain stem regulate?
Regulates bodily functions essential for survival such as breathing
Which parts of the brain take longer to develop?
Parts of the brain involved in more advanced mental functions take longer to develop
What is an example of a part of the brain that takes longer to develop?
The frontal areas of the cortex continue to develop into adolescence resulting in the development of more sophisticated thinking
How do the two main areas involved in the control of aggression develop rates differ?
The amygdala begins to develop relatively early, meaning a child is sensitive to environmental threats.
The prefrontal cortex involved in the control of impulsive behaviour doesn’t mature until adolescence
What does evolution govern at birth?
Evolution governs behaviours present at birth which enhance survival and also plays a part in the way we acquire behaviours during development
What is an example of how evolution governs behaviour?
The tendency to more readily learn to be afraid of things that were risky for our distant ancestors such as the dark or snakes
How does testosterone influence human development at every stage of a persons life?
Prenatally, embryos are exposed to different levels of testosterone with males typically being exposed to higher levels than females
This will shape brain development leading to lateralisation of functions and differences in aggressive behaviour
When does male involvement in crime usually rise?
Usually rises in the early teens to mid-teens which happens at the same times as testosterone levels rise
In Brendgen’s research with twins what was found about children’s aggression?
Children’s early aggression is mostly physical and genetically influenced
children soon learn physical aggression is socially unacceptable and move to other way of demonstrating aggression, namely social aggression
