Module 27Nature, Nurture, Prenatal Development

Chapter 9, Pages 336-348Essentials 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 Cytosine Guanine 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 - 2-5 % 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