Chap 8 - Development across life span 1 + 2

Created by

SOPHIA SONG

Cards (122)

Human development 
The scientific study of changes that occur in people as they age from conception until death
Research Designs 
Cross-Sectional Design
Longitudinal Design
Cross-Sequential Design
Cross-Sectional Design 
Distributes survey and collect data at one time, different participants of various ages are compared at one point in time to determine age-related differences
Longitudinal Design 
Follow up for a long period of time, the same participants are studied at various ages to determine age-related changes
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
Cross-Sequential Design costs a lot
Nature and Nurture 
Behavior is a mix of both innate (genetic) and environmental (experiences) factors
Behavioral genetics 
The field of study in which researchers determine how much of behavior is the result of genetic inheritance and how much is due to a person's experiences
3 Types of Family and Twin Studies
Identical twins
Fraternal twins
Siblings
Genetics 
The science of inherited traits
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) 
Special molecule that contains the genetic material of the organism
Gene 
Section of DNA having a certain pattern of chemical elements
Chromosome 
Tightly wound strand of genetic material or DNA
Humans have 46 chromosomes in each cell of the body arranged in 23 pairs
23 chromosomes come from the female egg, 23 chromosomes come from the male sperm
Of the 23 pairs, 22 determine human characteristics or autosomes
Sex chromosomes 
The two chromosomes that make up the 23rd pair, XX determine a female, XY determine a male
Dominant gene 
A gene that actively controls the expression of a trait
Recessive gene 
A gene that only influences the expression of a trait when paired with an identical gene
Polygenetic inheritance 
The process of the influence of more than one pair of genes on any one trait
Chromosome disorders involve having more or less than 23 pairs of chromosomes
Three stages of development
Fertilization
Prenatal Development
Infancy and Childhood
Fertilization 
The process of mitosis divides the zygote into a mass of cells, eventually forming the baby
Conception to birth is typically 9 months
Many factors can have positive or negative influence on developing infant during prenatal development
Zygote 
The cell formed by the union of the sperm and egg
Germinal period 
The first 2 weeks after fertilization, during which the zygote moves down to the uterus and begins to implant in the lining
Embryonic period 
The period from 2 to 8 weeks after fertilization, during which the major organs and structures of the organism develop
Fetal period 
The time from about week 8 until the birth of the baby
Embryo 
The name for the developing organism from 2 weeks to 8 weeks after fertilization
Fetus 
The name for the developing organism from eight weeks after fertilization to the birth of the baby
Critical period 
Times during which some environmental influences can have an impact, often devastating
Teratogens 
Any factor that can cause a birth defect
Common Teratogens 
Measles, Mumps, Rubella
Marijuana
Cocaine
Alcohol
Nicotine
Mercury
Vitamin A (high doses)
Caffeine
Toxoplasmosis
High Water Temperatures
Full term 
38-40 weeks
Preterm 
Babies born prior to 38 weeks
Age of viability 
The point at which it is possible for an infant to survive outside the womb, usually about 22 - 26 weeks
Adolescence 
Period of life from about age 13 to the early 20s, during which a young person is no longer physically a child but is not yet an independent, self-supporting adult
Most miscarriages and spontaneous abortions occur in the first 3 months, between 15-20 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage
Most likely cause of miscarriage is genetic defect