Module 27 Nature, Nurture, Prenatal Development Chapter 9, Pages Essentials of Understanding Psychology- Sixth Edition PSY110 Psychology © Richard Goldman November 6, 2006

Nature verses Nurture Developmental Psychology – The study of the growth and change Nature vs. Nurture – Hereditary vs. Environment

Nature – Hereditary Influence on Development Controlled by genetic code Development and maturation is predetermined Height Weight Tone of Voice Blood Pressure Tooth Decay Athletic Ability Age of Death Intelligence Emotional Characteristics

Nurture Environment Influences Development  Parents  Siblings  Family  Friends  School  Community  Religious Training  Nutrition

Interactionist Both nature and nurture effect development to some degree Development is affected by a combination of both nature and nurture.

Nature vs. Nurture Studies Twins Different background children in same family Animal studies (breeding for traits) Cross-sectional Research:  Compare Different People at Different Ages Longitudinal Studies:  Measures change of same cohort over time  Takes a long time Sequential Research:  Combination of Cross-sectional and Longitudinal studies  Compare different age cohorts over time

Prenatal Development: From Conception to Birth Conception  Zygote = Egg + Sperm – 0-2 weeks -Germinal Period  Embryo 3-8 weeks - Embryonic Period  Fetus – 9 weeks – birth (38 weeks) Age of Viability  When fetus can survive outside the womb

Genetics Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) – Long chain of proteins  Adenine Adenine  Cytosine Cytosine  Guanine Guanine  Thymine Thymine Chromosome – Strand of DNA Gene – A section of DNA that is responsible for a unit of heredity

Human Genetics Humans have 23 pair of Chromosomes Gender  XX = Female  XY = Male  Egg contains X chromosome from mother  Sperm contains X or Y chromosome from father

Birth Defects Serious birth defects % of births PKU (Phenylketonuria) causes mental retardation if not treated Sickle-Cell Anemia – African disease may result in death Tay-Sach Disease – Jewish disease often results in death Down Syndrome – Caused by extra chromosome – More likely in women >35 years old, <18 years old, or fathered by older men

Prenatal Environmental Teratogens – environmental agents or effects that produce birth defects  Nutrition & Emotional State – Underweight babies and developmental retardation  Illness (during pregnancy or breast feeding) Rubella (German Measles) – Blind, deaf, etc. Syphilis – Retardation, Physical Deformities Diabetes - AIDS – Diseased child  Drug Use – Mental and Development Retardation Cocaine Alcohol – Retardation, Physical Deformities Nicotine