U1 -Learning aim b

• Nature Debate


  the influence of genetic inheritance and other biological factors
• Nurture Debate


  the influence of external factors after conception such as social and environmental factors
• Stress-Diathesis Model


  explains how both nature and nurture play a part in the development of psychological disorders.

  It explains how stress caused by life events (nurture) can interact with an individuals genetic vulnerability (nature) to impact on their mental well being.
• Bandura's Social Learning Theory (nurture)


  Based on an understanding that the environment influences development and that children learn through imitation and role modelling
• Gesell's Maturation Theory


  helps to explain how biological maturation (the process of maturing) is related to overall development. He believed that development is genetically determined from birth - a biological process. He also said children follow the same sequence in their development and that the pace may vary depending on PI development.
• characteristics and differences not observed at birth but emerge later in life, are referred as

  maturation
• Positives of Gesell's theory


  he remains influential in our understanding of child development. he determined typical norms of development that are still used today. He also used advanced methodology in observations of behaviour of large numbers of children
• Negatives of Gesell's theory

  he did not consider the influence of individual or cultural differences in children. he believed that the 'norms' of development he described were desirable.
• Bandura's four principles of social learning

  1. ATTENTION

  2. RETENTION

  3. REPRODUCTION

  4. MOTIVATION
• ATTENTION


  learning takes place when a child focuses their attention on a person who 'models' the behaviour. Children are likely to model behaviour of someone they admire.
• RETENTION


  what the child has observed is retained in their memory to be used when an opportunity occurs
• REPRODUCTION


  what has been learned is reproduced, or imitated.
• MOTIVATION


  children feel motivated because they anticipate intrinsic or extrinsic rewards (vicarious enforcement). Children will be motivated to repeat or stop the behaviour depending on reinforcement.
• Positive Reinforcement


  the behaviour is repeated because of personal satisfaction (intrinsic reinforcement) or rewards (extrinsic reinforcement)
• Negative Reinforcement


  the behaviour is not repeated to avoid an adverse experiences such as lack of satisfaction or being told off.
• vicarious reinforcement


  children may be motivated because they see that the person or 'model' they observe is getting satisfaction or positive feedback. Children may resist imitating the action because the model receives negative feedback from the action.
• Bobo doll experiment


  children were shown adults being aggressive or non-aggressive towards the Bobo doll. The aggressive adults where either rewarded, reprimanded or had no consequences for their behaviour. The experiment was designed by Bandura to show that:

  children would copy the aggressive behaviour of another person

  the outcome for the adult impacted on the likelihood of children copying the behaviour
• Results of the Bobo doll experiment

  children learned aggressive behaviour through observation

  children were more likely to imitate an adult who was rewarded for aggressive behaviour than one who was reprimanded
• Diathesis


  a predisposition or vulnerability to mental disorder through abnormality of the brain or neuro-transmitters
• genetic predisposition


  inherited genes that determine physical growth, development, health and appearance
• Dominant genes


  only needs to be passed on by one parent for the child to develop the condition for example, brittle bone disease and Huntington's disease
• Brittle Bone Disease


  causes bones to break easily as their bones develop without the right amount or type of protein called collagen.
• Huntington's disease


  an inherited genetic disorder that causes progressive damage to certain nerve cells in the brain. It causes involuntary movement, cognitive (judgement) and psychiatric disorders
• Recessive genes


  must be passed on from both parents for the child to develop the condition, for example cystic fibrosis.
• Genetic factors


  can affect physical growth, development, health and appearance - this can impact someones self-concept, life expectancy and likelihood to health conditions.
• Cystic Fibrosis


  results in a defective protein being produced that causes a build-up of thick, sticky mucous that can damage the lungs. Those with the condition can suffer from respiratory and chest infections.
• Phenylketonuria (PKU)


  is a rare incurable condition which prevents a child breaking down an amino acid found in many foods such as milk and eggs. It causes intellectual disability and development delay.
• Duchenne Muscular dystrophy


  causes muscle weakness and wasting resulting in difficulty with motor skills and walking.
• conditions caused by an abnormality in an individual's chromosomes

  down's syndrome

  klinefelter syndrome

  colour blindness
• Down's Syndrome


  individuals have an extra copy of chromosome 21. This causes characteristics facial features, growth delay and intellectual disability.
• Klinefelter syndrome


  boys who have an extra X chromosome, causing problems during, or a delay in, puberty.

  Some signs include a baby slow in reaching milestones, poor muscle power, delayed communication and a passive personality.
• Colour blindness


  caused by mutations in the X chromosome, so is more common in males. It makes its difficult to distinguish between colours.
• Susceptibility (to disease)


  an increased likelihood of acquiring a disease because of an individuals genetic make-up. It can lead to diseases like cancer, diabetes and high blood cholesterol.
• Cancer


  A cell disease that results them becoming abnormal and dividing to make even more abnormal cells. Over 40% of cancers can be prevented by making different lifestyle choices. Some people are more at risk because they have inherited a gene faults that increase their risk.
• Diabetes


  a increasingly common chronic condition affecting millions of people in the UK. There is a strong predisposition to developing Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. The genetic risk of developing Type 1 diabetes is higher if either, or both, parents have diabetes.
• High Blood Cholesterol


  Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is carried around the body by proteins. Too much can cause a build-up in the artery walls. High Cholesterol levels can be due to running in the family which is caused by a gene alteration inherited from a parent. There is a 50% chance a child will have the condition if it runs in the family.
• Biological Factors that Affect Development

  The mothers lifestyle during pregnancy can affect the health and development of the unborn child.
• Foetal Alcohol Syndrome


  the syndrome is caused by exposure to alcohol during pregnancy. Children with this condition have developmental and physical defects which have life-long effects. They tend to be smaller and to have smaller head circumference. They may also have heart defects, learning difficulties and neurological problems. Most parents are vaccinated for rubella to prevent the risks.
• Maternal Infections during pregnancy

  if a pregnant woman is exposed to or acquires infections such as rubella), the fetus may adversely be affected. It can be passed to the baby in the womb and may cause: health problems, congenital defects, still birth and miscarriage.
• Lifestyle/diet during pregnancy


  Recent research shows that if a pregnant or breast-feeding woman has a diet high in fat and sugar it can result in an increased risk of high blood cholesterol and later heart disease for that child. Malnutrition or lack of healthy foods during pregnancy can also result in a lifetime of poor health for the child.