24 Questions
What is the interplay between genetic factors and environmental influences referred to as?
Gene-Environment Interplay
What is the term for changes in gene expression influenced by environmental factors?
Epigenetic processes
What is the term for the diversity of differences observed in areas such as temperament, intelligence, and resilience?
Individual Differences
What is the gradual approach to child development likened to?
A rainbow
What is the discontinuity approach to child development likened to?
A staircase
What is the term for the innate or biologically based predispositions that influence development?
Genetic predispositions
What is the term for the cultural influences that shape development?
Cultural influences
What is the term for the process of development that involves both continuity and discontinuity?
Life-Span Human Development
What is the primary focus of evolutionary developmental psychology?
The interaction between genes and the environment in a child's development
What is meant by 'survival of the fittest' in the context of evolution?
The ability of an individual to fit into their geographical context
What is the primary driver of evolutionary change, according to Darwin?
Environmental pressures and natural selection
What is the outcome of natural selection on a population over time?
The increased frequency of advantageous characteristics
What is the role of variation in the process of evolutionary change?
It provides the raw material for natural selection to act upon
What is the relationship between genetic factors and environmental influences in development?
They interact and influence one another
What is an example of an adaptation that has evolved in response to environmental pressures?
The growth of longer necks in giraffes
What are the three conditions necessary for evolutionary change to occur, according to Darwin?
Variation, competition, and environmental pressure
What is the result of natural selection on a successful random variation in a giraffe's genes?
The variation is passed on to the next generation.
What is the primary focus of those who emphasise the influence of nature?
Biological maturation and innate predispositions.
What is the age range at which humans typically achieve sexual maturity?
Between 10 and 14 years old.
What is the process by which experience brings about relatively permanent changes in thoughts, feelings, and behaviour?
Learning.
What is the role of genetic inheritance in evolution?
It allows for the selection of successful variations.
What is the main difference between those who emphasise nature and those who emphasise nurture?
Their focus on biological maturation versus learning.
What is the result of maturational changes in the brain?
Increased memory and problem-solving skills.
What is included in the concept of environmental influence?
All external physical and social conditions, stimuli, and events.
Study Notes
Nature vs. Nurture
- Interaction between nature (genes) and nurture (environment) influences human development
- Gene-environment interplay: genetic factors and environmental influences interact dynamically
- Epigenetics: environmental factors influence gene expression, leading to lasting effects on development
- Individual differences: unique interplay between nature and nurture contributes to diversity in temperament, intelligence, and resilience
Continuity and Discontinuity in Child Development
- Continuity: gradual and smooth development over time, like a rainbow
- Discontinuity: abrupt changes from one stage to the next, like a staircase
- Both perspectives are observed in child development, with some features being more continuous (e.g., temperament) and others being more discontinuous
Evolutionary Developmental Psychology
- Studies the interaction between genes and environment in a child's development
- Based on Darwin's theory of evolution through natural selection
- Evolution refers to gradual changes in an organism's physical structure over generations
- "Survival of the fittest" refers to an individual's fit to their environment, not physical fitness
Evolutionary Change
- Three conditions must hold for evolutionary change to occur:
- Variation: random variation in the population affords an advantage
- Competition: the variation enables successful competition for resources
- Inheritance: the successful variation is passed on to the next generation through genes
Nature (Heredity)
- Emphasizes the influence of heredity, universal maturational processes guided by genes
- Innate or inborn, product of maturation, and biological influences on everyday hormones and neurotransmitters
- Examples: unfolding of human development in the womb, walking and talking at around 1 year, sexual maturity, and graying in 40s and 50s
Nurture (Environment)
- Emphasizes changes in response to the environment
- External physical and social conditions, stimuli, and events that affect development
- Examples: crowded living quarters, polluted air, social interactions, and cultural context
- Learning is the process through which experience brings about relatively permanent changes in thoughts, feelings, and behavior
Understand the concept of nature and nurture in human development, including the interplay between genetic and environmental factors. Learn about the role of heredity, maturation, and learning in shaping human behavior and development.
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