Chapter 3 Review: Nature vs. Nurture

1.  “Nurture works on what nature endows.” Explain the significance of this quote.

2.  What’s the biological difference between fraternal and identical twins?

3.  T-F: One’s basic temperament tends to remain consistent over time.

4.  What type of study attempts to identify how specific genes influence specific behaviors?

5.  Define heritability.

  1. If two environments are exactly the same, than heritability as a source of difference is considered ______(more / less) significant.
  2. If two environments are very different, than heritability as a source of difference is considered ______(more / less) significant.

6.  Be able to explain specifically the significance of each of the following in relation to the nature / nurture debate. (Be sure to specify which specific factor applies to each.)

  1. Bouchard’s Minnesota twin study
  2. Adoption studies
  3. Rosenzweig and Krech (Rat study)
  4. Belyaev’s Fox study

7.  Explain the basic premise of evolutionary psychology.

8. Identify how each of the following environmental factors influence gender development:

a. Gender identity b. Gender role c. Gender Typing

Chapter 4: Developmental Psychology

1.  What are teratogens? Provide three examples.

2.  Identify three physical and three behavioral characteristics associated with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

3.  Identify four specific capabilities of newborns that prove human babies are born with certain instincts that perpetuate survival. (Reflexes)

4.  What did Harlowe’s monkey experiments prove concerning newborn attachment?

5.  What is imprinting? What species practice this form of attachment?

6.  According to research, why is touch considered such a critical component of new born development?

7.  How do psychologists test for the cognitive functions of babies?

8.  Contrast the general characteristics of Mary Ainsworth’s secure, insecure avoidance and insecure anxiety attachments in childhood development.

9.  Explain, from a physiological perspective, why adolescence is referred to as a period of “stress and storm.”

10.  Identify the differences between primary and secondary sex characteristics between the genders.

11.  Cite any three examples of brain maturation in the adolescent that might explain their sometimes risky, impulsive behavior. (From the National Geographic article.)

12.  Review the major characteristics of both the adolescent and adult stages.

13.  Review the 4 stages of Piaget’s Cognitive development. Match each description with one of Piaget’s cognitive stages and the principle described within that stage.

  1. Tony realizes for the first time that the bottle still exists even though he can’t see it in the refrigerator.
  2. Brenda understands that the water in the tall skinny glass contains the same amount as the short wide glass.
  3. Susan stands in front of the TV and cannot understand why her brother behind her can’t see the screen.
  4. Tina argues that the man should not be arrested for stealing vegetables from his neighbor’s garden because his children are starving.
  5. Lily associates her schema of a cat with all small furry four legged animals.
  6. The ability to add, subtract and multiply.
  7. A child being anxious if someone other than their family holds them.

14.  Give an example of a statement that each of the following types of parenting styles might say to their children.

  1. Authoritarian:
  1. Authoritative:
  1. Permissive:

15.  Explain why the correlation between authoritative parenting and social competence does not necessarily imply cause and effect.

16.  For each of the following descriptions, identify what stage of Kohlberg’s moral development applies.

  1. “I’m not stealing that candy bar, I could get in big trouble.”
  2. He should not be arrested for stealing that medicine to save his wife. The right to life is more important than a law against theft.”
  3. “I’m not egging that car. What would my parents think of me?”
  4. “I’m telling on Tommy because I want to visit the treasure box.”

17.  Summarize briefly an overview of Erikson’s psychosocial theory.

18.  Piaget, Kohlberg, Erikson

  1. According to each respective theorist above, at what stage of development would a three year old be?
  1. At what stage of development would a twelve year old be?

19.  List and briefly describe each stage of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’ 5 Stages of Grief.