Development
Nature
Provides suceptability to certain things and push toward things
Nuture
learning
Behavioral genetics
How humans are genetically driven to engage in certain behaviors
Evolutionary Psychologists
Seeing similarities across cultures (fear of spiders, heights, etc.)
Continuity development
- develop slowly
Stage development
develop in fits or levels
Cross-Sectional Research Design
Different participants of various ages are compared at one point in time to determine age-related DIFFERENCES
Group 1: 20 year olds
Group 2: 40 year olds
Group 3: 60 year olds
Research done in 2014
Longitudinal Research Design
The same participants are studied at various ages to determine age-related CHANGES
Study 1: 20 year olds
Study 2: Same people at 40 yrs
Study 3: Same people at 60 yrs
Cross-Sequential Design
Different participants of various ages are compared at several points in time, to determine both age-related DIFFERENCES and age-related CHANGES
Study 1:
G1: 20 year olds
G2: 40 year olds
Study 2:
G1: now 25 year olds
G2: now 24 year olds
Chromosome
- coiled chain of DNA
Gene
*AT GC
Polygenic inheritance
gene complexes
Identical Twins (Monozygotic)
- genetically identical
Concordance rate
When one twin has it, what is the likelyhood that the other twin has it too?
ex: Concordance rate for bipolar disorder as high as 80-90% =, tells you influence of genes is profound
Fraternal Twins (Dizygotic)
- 2 separate eggs
Adoption studies
Environmental Influences are important
Prenatal: human twins sometimes share the same placenta and are more alike
Germinal period (zygotic) *Prenatal
First 2 weeks, dividing
Embryonic period
*Prenatal
- Critical period: baby most at risk, maximally sensitive to environmental influence
Teratogens
Alter formations of major systems by hazards such as:
Fetal period
*Prenatal
Newborn reflexes
-Grasping, startle, stepping, rooting, sucking
Visual system: least developed system
Infant Brain vs. Body
Motor Stages: