Psychology Chapter 3: Human Development 100% Correct

Psychology Chapter 3: Human Development 100% Correct Developmental psychology The study of progressive changes in behavior and abilities from conception to death Heredity The transmission of physical and psychological characteristics from parents to offspring through genes Genetic disorders Problems caused by defects in the genes or by inherited characteristics Deoxyribonucleic acid Molecular structure that contains coded genetic information Chromosomes Threadlike colored bodies in the nucleus of each cell that are made up of DNA Genes Specific areas on a strand of DNA that carry hereditary information Dominant gene A gene whose influence will be expressed each time that gene is present Recessive gene A gene whose influence will be expressed only when it is paired with a second recessive gene of the same type Polygenic characteristics Personal traits or physical properties that are influenced by many genes working in combination Maturation The physical growth and development of the body and nervous system Environment "nurture" The sum of all external conditions that affect development, including especially the effects of learning Congenital problems Problems or defects that originate during prenatal development in the womb Teratogen Anything capable of altering fetal development in nonheritable ways that cause birth defects Readiness A condition that exists when maturation has advanced enough to allow the rapid acquisition of a particular skill Sensitive period During development, a period of increased sensitivity to environmental influences. It also is a time during which certain events must take place for normal development to occur Deprivation In development, the loss of withholding of normal stimulation, nutrition, comfort, love, and so forth: A condition of absence Enrichment In development, deliberately making an environment more stimulating, nutritional, comforting, loving and so forth Temperament The physical core of personality including emotional and perceptual sensitivity, energy levels, typical moods and so forth Developmental level An individuals current state of physical, emotional and intellectual development Social Smile A smile elicited by a social stimulus, such as seeing you parents face Affectional needs Emotional needs for love and