| A | B |
|---|
| Acculturation | Changes in culture resulting from cultures coming into contact with each other. |
| Adoption studies | In genetic research, the comparison of adopted children with their biological and their adoptive families to determine hereditary and environmental influences on characteristics |
| Association analysis | a particular form of a gene that is related to a trait in the population |
| Authoritative parenting | A style of parenting where parents assume control; set rules; and expect their children to abide by the rules; follow through with consequences; and are simultaneously warm, accepting, and considerate of the needs of their children. |
| Autonomic nervous system | A part of the nervous system that regulates functions usually considered involuntary, such as the operation of smooth muscles and glands. The system controls physiological changes associated with emotion |
| Behavior genetics | Seeks to establish the extent of genetic influence on attributes, discovery the genes involved, and understand the paths from genes to characteristics. |
| Brain plasticity | Flexibility of the brain to recover if it damaged. This idea is controversial because a young, immature nervous system may be able to restore itself or successfully transfer functions to undamaged brain areas. However, damage to an immature brain may set up a cascade of interferences with future brain development, and deficits may become apparent over time. |
| Cell body, dendrites, axons | The three parts of a neuron that function together to obtain and send messages |
| Central nervous system | The brain and spinal cord |
| Child abuse | A lay term that is more correctly called child maltreatment and includes one of four types of abuse: physical, sexual, neglectful, and emotional. |
| Child maltreatment | Inappropriate treatment that can be physical, sexual, emotional or neglectful (this one the most common form). It’s consequences are serious and can vary based on the form of abuse, the age of onset and duration of the abuse, the number of perpetrators, the use of violence or threats, the number of supportive adults, and the predisposition of the child. When severe it can lead to changes in brain development and function. |
| Chromosomes | A threadlike structure in the cell nucleus that contains the genetic code. Human cells possess 23 pairs of chromosomes, except for the ovum and sperm, which possess 23 single chromosomes |
| Classical conditioning | A form of learning, also referred to as Pavlovian conditioning. An individual comes to respond to a stimulus (conditioned stimulus or CS) that did not previously elicit a response. It occurs when a CS is paired with another stimulus (the unconditioned stimulus, or UCS) that does elicit the desired response (unconditioned response, or UCR). When this response is elicited by the conditioned stimulus alone, it is called a conditioned response (CR). |
| Cognitive-behavioral perspective | Incorporates cognition, behavior, emotion and social factors. Behaviors are learned. Cognition influences attention to the environment and perception of events. |
| Dizygotic (DZ) twins | Otherwise known as fraternal twins. Twins resulting from two independent unions of ova and sperm that occur at approximately the same time. These twins are genetically no more alike than are non-twin siblings. |
| DNA | The chemical carrier of the genetic code, found in the chromosomes and composed of sugar, phosphates, and nucleotides. The nucleotides carry the hereditary information |
| Dominant genes, recessive genes: | When a dominant gene is transmitted by just one parent, the trait is usually displayed. In recessive transmission, the trait is only displayed if the gene is passed to the child by both parents. |
| Endocrine system | A collection of glands intricately involved in bodily functions throughthe release of hormones. |
| Family genetic studies | Evaluate the likelihood of family members displaying the same or similar attributes as an index case. The aggregation, or clustering of problems in families is assessed with regard to the degree of genetic relatedness. |
| Fetal Alchohol Syndrome (FAS) | A preventable problem that is the result of the mother drinking alcohol while she is pregnant. It is characterized by minor facial abnormalities, retarded growth, poor motor skills, possible organ damage/dysfunction, mental retardation and or learning problems, and hyperactivity. |
| Forebrain | Made up of two hemispheres that are connected by the corpus callosum. The hemispheres are divided into four lobes. The part of the brain is responsible for sensory processing, motor control and higher mental functions. |
| Gene-environment correlation | Correlation indicating the presence of genetic differences in exposure to environments. That is, genetic influences play a role in determining the experiences a person has. That is, genetic influences play a role in determining the experiences a person has. For example, a child who is genetically predisposed to be shy may be treated in certain ways by others or may elect to avoid highly social activities. |
| Gene-environment interaction | Differential sensitivity to experience due to differences in genotype. For example, children with recessive genes for PKU (phenyklketonuria) develop intellectual disabilities when they ingest certain kinds of foods. |
| Genes | The units of the chromosome that carry the genetic code |
| Genotype | The complement of genes that a person carries; the genetic endowment. |
| Heritability | The degree to which genetic influences account for variations in an attribute among individuals in a population. |
| Hindbrain | The portion of the brain that controls sleeping, breathing, heart rate and movement. |
| Index case or proband | The identification of a single person with a disorder who can be used to determine whether a known pattern of single-gene inheritance runs in the family. |
| Linkage analysis | Finding the exact gene or specific area of a chromosome that leads to a problem |
| Marital discord | The ongoing conflict in the relationship between two parents. High levels can be problematic. |
| Mibrain | The portion of the brain that connects the hindbrain to higher brain regions and controls arousal states. |
| Monozygotiz (MZ) twins | Also known as identical twins. Twins resulting from one union of an ovum and a sperm. The single zygote divides early into two, with the new zygotes having identical genes (and thus being of the same sex). |
| Neurons | Specialized cells that transmit impulses within the nervous system and to and from other body parts. |
| Neurotransmitter | A chemical that carries the nerve impulse from one neuron, across the synaptic space, to another neuron. Neurotransmitters can be either excitatory or inhibitory. Examples of neurotransmitters are serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. |
| Nonshared environmental influences | The portion of environmental influences on an attribute that is experienced by one family member, but not other members. |
| Observational learning | Learning that occurs through viewing the behavior of others. Modeled behavior can be presented in live or symbolic form. |
| Operant (instrumental) learning | Learning in which responses are acquired, maintained, or eliminated as the result of consequences (e.g. reinforcement, punishment) and other learning processes |
| Parenting styles | can be influential to child development and are best understood in regard to levels of acceptance and control. The four types are: authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, and neglectful. Authoritative is believed to be the best because of the balance between acceptance and control. |
| Peer relationships | Impact sociability, intimacy, empathy, morality, cooperation, negotiation of conflict, sexuality and gender roles. Friendship can be protective or damaging—depending on the friend. |
| Peripheral nervous system | sends messages from the CNS to the other areas of the body. It has two systems, one that controls organs, muscles and allows for sensing and voluntary movement (somatic) and the other that regulates arousal and emotions (autonomic). |
| Phenotype | Observable attributes of an individual that result from the individual’s genetic endowment, developmental processes, and the transactions of these |
| Quantitative trait loci (QTI) | Genes that are inherited in the usual patterns with each having a relatively small influence but which combine to create a larger effect on complex human characteristics such as intelligence, and in psychological disorders. These are cases where one gene may not be sufficient or necessary for a disorder. |
| Shared environmental influences | The portion of environmental influences on an attribute that is experienced by two or more family members |
| Socioeconomic status (SES) | Social class. Indices of SES include income, amount of education, and occupational level. |
| Somatic nervous system | A part of the PNS. The SNS controls organs, muscles and allows for sensing and voluntary movement. |
| Synapse | The small gap between the cells across which communication between cells occurs. |
| Teratogen | Conditions or agents that are potentially harmful to the prenatal organism |
| Twin studies | In genetic research, the comparison of monzygotic twin pairs with dizygotic twin pairs to determine whether the former are more like each other than the latter. A type of research investigation frequently employed to examine the effects of hereditary and environmental variables. |
