Psychology 1000 Chapter Notes - Chapter 12: Limbic System, Y Chromosome, Visual Acuity

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 1000
• Professor: Derek Quinlan

Document Summary

Developmental psychology studies the process of aging. Questions about the influence of nature and nurture, the existence of critical and sensitive periods, continuity versus discontinuity, and stability versus change have played a major role in guiding much developmental research. Cross-sectional designs compare people of different age groups at a single point in time. A longitudinal design repeatedly tests the same age group, as it grows older. A sequential design tests several groups at one point in time and then again when they are older. Prenatal development involves the zygote, embryonic, and fetal stages. The 23rd chromosome in a mother"s egg cell always is an x chromosome. If the 23rd chromosome in the father"s sperm cell is an x, the child will be genetically female (xx); if a y, the child will be born genetically male (xy). Maternal malnutrition, stress, illness, drug use, and environmental toxins can cause abnormal prenatal development. Behavioural responses and learning begin during the fetal stage.