unit 1 Flashcards
(96 cards)
heredity (nature)
the genetic makeup of an individual has greater influence on human development and behavior
natural selection
process by which individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully
“survival of the fittest”
family studies
provides a way for professionals to further examine the relationship between genetics and mental disorders
environmental factors (nurture)
external conditions and influences have greater influence on human development and behavior
eugenics
proposed measuring human traits and using the results to encourage or discourage people from reproducing
wanted to “improve the gene pool”
adoption studies
compare adopted persons behavior to both their biological and adoptive parents behavior
evolutionary perspective
considers how the human race has managed to survive for this long and how it becomes better as time goes on
twin studies
measure the influence of genetic factors on human behavior by comparing identical and fraternal twins
central nervous system
brain and spinal cord
processes info received from all parts of the body
(ex: talking)
somatic nervous system
processes incoming sensory info and controls our voluntary movements
(ex: pulling hand away from a hot pan)
peripheral nervous system
part of nervous system that lies outside your brain and spinal cord
sends info from body to brain and carries out various commands from the brain
ex: gut’s digestion of food
sympathetic nervous system
prepares the body for action and mobilizes energy resources
ex: sweating and raised blood pressure
autonomic nervous system
acts unconsciously and regulates bodily functions
ex: heart rate
parasympathetic nervous system
helps control body’s response during times of rest to conserve energy
ex: tears
neuron
sensory neurons
all-or-nothing principle
resting potential
multiple sclerosis
excitatory neurotransmitter
serotonin
GABA
acetylcholine
glial cells
