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