Human Development Flashcards
(85 cards)
What is Developmental Psychology?
The study of how behavior and mental processes change over time and the factors influencing those changes.
Nature
Genetic inherintance
Nurture
Environment and experiences
Maturation
The unfolding of genetic development in a specific sequence and timeframe.
Epigenitics
Changes in gene expression independent of DNA sequence.
Cross-sectional design
Compares groups of different ages at a single time point.
- Advantages: Quick and cost-effective.
- Disadvantages: Can’t track individual changes over time.
Longitudinal design
Studies the same group of individuals over multiple time points.
- Advantages: Track developmental changes.
- Disadvantages: Expensive and time-consuming.
Cohort-sequential design
Combines cross-sectional and longitudinal methods to examine developmental changes across multiple cohorts.
Stages of Prenatal Development
- Germinal Stage (0-2 weeks)
- Embryonic Stage (3-8 week)
- Fetal Stage (8 week - birth)
Germinal Stage (0-2 weeks)
Egg leaves the ovary, fertilized in the fallopian tube (zygote). Travels to the uterus for implantation.
Embryonic Stage (3-8 week)
Major organs develop. Vulnerable to teratogens.
Fetal Stage (8 week - birth)
Rapid growth and maturation.
Teratogens
Substances causing prenatal harm (e.g, alcohol, drugs, diseases)
Genes
Basic building blocks of our biological inheritance.
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)
Molecules in which genetic information is enclosed.
Chromosomes
Strands of DNA, 46 in total.
Genotype
Genetic makeup of an individual.
Phenotype
Observable characteristics resulting from genotype and environment.
Allele
Variation of gene.
Homozygous
Having both parents contribute the same genetic material for a particular trait.
Heterozygous
Having parents contribute two different alleles to offspring.
Dominant Traits
A trait that is expressed in a phenotype, no matter whether the genotype is homozygous or heterozygous for the trait.
Recessive Traits
A trait that is only expressed if a person carries the same two genetic alleles.
Condominance
What occurs when, in a heterozygous combination of alleles, both traits expressed in the phenotype