Lifespan Development - Heredity-Environment Interactions and Development

Question 1

Why is the validity of twin studies questioned?

Answer 1

The validity of twin studies assumes equal environmental conditions.

Twin studies < adoption studies < twin-adoption studies.

Question 2

Explain the three types of genotype-environment correlation.

Answer 2

• Passive: parents expose to environment
• Evocative: evokes rxn’s
• Active: niche-picking (increases with time (independence))

Reaction ranges are from broad to narrow depending on genes.

Question 3

Define epigenetics and list associated influential factors.

Answer 3

Epigenetics: phenotypical change

Influences: diet, teratogens, infections, substances, exercise, stress

Question 4

What are the five levels of ecological theory?

Answer 4

• Microsystem: immediate. Family, friends, school, community.
• Mesosystem: interactions between microsystem components
• Exosystem: indirect environmental effects (school board, law enforcement, community health services, parent’s workplace)
• Macrosystem: sociocultural system
• Chronosystem: changes in continuities over time (life transitions, life/historical events)

Question 5

What are two examples of fetal programming theory?

Answer 5

• Undernutrition -> heart disease, diabetes
• Maternal stress -> overactive HPA axis

Question 6

What are the Dx criteria for FASD?

Answer 6

• 1+ symptoms neuro-cog
• 1+ self-reg
• 2+ adaptive

Question 7

What symptoms in offspring are associated with maternal cocaine use?

Answer 7

• Spontaneous abortion, defects in heart, digestion, kidneys
• Shrill cries and hard to soothe
• Attn/mem problems, behavioural issues

Question 8

What weeks are the critical period for teratogen effects?

Answer 8

3-8

Question 9

What is the heritability rate for intelligence?

Answer 9

0.2 in infants -> 0.6 in seniors

Rate rise due to niche-picking.

Question 10

How do shared and non-shared factors fluctuate across lifespan re: intelligence?

Answer 10

• Shared environmental factors drop during teens and stabilize at a low level during mid-adulthood
• Non-shared factors consistently low