...The Nature Versus Nurture of Cognitive Development The brain is the central control for the human body; it receives, organizes, and responds to all stimuli that are detected outside and within the body. However, what makes the human brain superior to all other organisms is its ability to carry out cognitive processes of which less complex organisms are not capable. As Myer states, “cognition refers to all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating” (176). In order for the brain to achieve the ability of cognition, its development must begin in the prenatal stage of life. The anatomy of the brain, environmental influences, and genetics are crucial factors that influence cognitive development. The brain has been classified not only as the control for physical processes but also the control center of the mind. As neuroscientists continue to make discoveries about how the brain develops and how it works, they have begun to understand the effect the brain has on cognitive development (Meadows 316). The brain is made up of neurons. These neurons are the part of the brain that is responsible for cognition. As Meadows states, “neurons are large as body cells go, with a cell body that has many filaments of tissue protruding from it, called the dendrites. One protrusion is longer that the others, and this is called the axon (328). The brain is composed of a network of neurons made of thousands of fibers that join up with each other to...
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...– found that motor skills developed in sequence of stages, the order of the stages and the age at which they develop are determined by nature and relatively unaffected by nurture (apart from extreme circumstances). Maturation: natural growth/change that unfolds in a fixed sequence relatively independent of the environment. * John B Watson – founder of the behaviours approach to psychology. Claimed the environment not nature moulds/shapes development. * Jean Piaget – suggested nature and nurture work together and influences are inseparable and interactive. * Nature/Nurture operate together to make all people similar in some respects. Eg; achieving milestones of physical development in the same order at roughly the same rate. * Nature/Nurture operate to make each person unique. Nature of inherited genes and the nurture of widely different family/cultural environments produce differences among individuals. Eg; intelligence, language skills and personality. * Hereditary creates predispositions that interact with environmental influences that produces the developmental outcomes we see in individuals. * How much they contribute varies from one characteristic to another. Heredity and environment correlate and influence each other. * Beginnings * Prenatal Development: * Zygote – a new cell, formed from a father’s sperm and a mother’s ovum, carries a genetic heritage from...
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...Running head: Sexual Maturation Adolescent Sexual Maturation Rachel Siminski PSY351 December 10, 2012 Abstract Children have a rate of sexual maturation that follows them throughout life; there are physical and mental effects. These changes in an adolescent reflect changing mental states as a result of physical changes. There are more sexual desires, feelings of increased intimacy and a different understanding of their physical body. There are many correlations between the changes of the mind and body, I will also describe theories of you they effect one another. Adolescent Sexual Maturation Adolescence is a challenging period for both children and their parents. Three stages of adolescence - early, middle, and late, are experienced by most teens, but the age at which each stage is reached varies greatly from child to child. These different rates of maturation are connected to physical development and hormone balance, neither of which the child can control. For this reason, adolescents should be treated as individuals and any guidelines should be adapted to the particular child. The biological changes we associate with adolescence actually unfold over a long period of time, beginning with the maturation of the adrenal axis during childhood and ending with the maturation of the gonadal axis in the early 20s (Steinberg, 2011). Piagets Theory and Adolescent Maturity At 15 years of age a teenager is well prepared to understand the risks. According to Jean Piaget...
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...from other children and adults. As brain functioning develops, children learn how to process simple thoughts and emotions into more complex reasoning skills. They will also become more experienced, thoughtful, and less impulsive as they mature. Children will experience multiple stages of development and growth until they finally reach adulthood. In the case of the 6 year old mentioned above, the child cannot be held responsible for the crime that was committed because the factors that determine brain development and functioning have not fully matured. Legally, no child under the age of 7 can be held accountable for their actions until all of the biosocial, cognitive, and psychosocial portions of brain and behavioral functioning have fully matured. First of all, the biosocial aspect of development in early childhood relates to brain development and thought processes. A majority of the brain is already present and operational by age 2 (Berger, 2014, p.219), however, the prefrontal cortex of the brain is considered to be the last part to mature. This region of the brain helps with planning, impulsivity, and the coordination of thought. With having an undeveloped prefrontal cortex, children can be impulsive without worrying about their endangerment or the consequences of endangering others (Berger, 2014, p.234). When the prefrontal cortex matures, it reflects how a child will then develop theories and ideas. But, during the early stages of brain development, thoughts,...
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...factors include the inability for a child of this age to control emotional impulse; cognitively, children are unable to view the world outside of their own perspective, and psychosocial factors include emotional regulation and media influences. The Age of Criminal Responsibility Case Study Can a child commit a crime with criminal intent? It is said that a 6 year old cannot form criminal intent, because the brain has not yet completely developed. The prefrontal cortex, also known as the frontal lobe, will continue to mature over the years. This development occurs through early experience. “Brains grow rapidly before birth and throughout infancy” (Berger, 2014). By the age of 6, most of the brain is functioning and present, however the maturation of the prefrontal cortex is important. Games like “Simon Says” or the “Shape Game” can be played to observe if the prefrontal cortex is working, “but might personal experience rather than brain maturation be the reason?” (Berger, 2014) The Limbic system aids the expression and regulation of emotions which lodges three major areas of the brain; the amygdala, the hippocampus, and the hypothalamus (Berger, 2014). Negative stress in high amounts, such as abuse, can cause damage to the brain which in return affects learning. Children at the age of 6 years are not able to comprehend the difference between reality and the beliefs of the child. Piaget calls “early- childhood thinking preoperational because children do...
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...What Makes up the Basics of Personality Theory? Linda Wray Liberty University Abstract Since the 1960’s personality theories has emerged as a major field of specialization. There have been many studies completed outlined by literature on a variety of theories of personality. The importance of individual differences and distinctiveness of the individual are the most frequently studied of personality theories. Personality refers to individual differences in characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving. The study of personality focuses on two comprehensive areas: One understands individual differences in particular personality characteristics, such as sociability or irritability. The other understands how the various parts of a person come together as a whole. Some scientists think that your personality is based on genetic predispositions or nature. Other scientists think the way you act stems from life experience, the way you were taught, and the environment in which you grew up or nurture. Personality can best be described as personal qualities of an individual. There are no two people have the same personality, however, all the different personalities in the world can be characterized into four main theories. The four psychologists that thought up the four theories are Sigmund Freud, Jean Piaget, Erik Erikson, and Abraham Maslow. Each man based his theory on a different part of a person’s personality development. The study of personality traits is...
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...Infant Care Mari Cooper PSY 104 Instructor: Nichole Bennett April 28, 2014 Children zero to two years old are in the age period of infancy; whereas children eleven to fourteen years old are in the age period of early adolescence. Children grow and develop in many different ways. The three major domains of development discussed in our text are physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development. Child development is a field of study devoted to understanding human constancy and change from conception through adolescence. Developmental theorists typically focus on the progression of children in three domains: physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development. Physical development is the changes in body size, proportions, appearance, brain development, motor capacities, and physical health. Cognitive development is the development of thought processes and intellectual ability; including attention, memory, problem solving, and creativity. Psychosocial development is the emotional communication, self-understanding, ability to manage feelings, personal skills, friendship, and behavior. All the senses develop in the womb, but touch seems to be the first and most mature and vision is the least sensory to develop. Although, an infant’s head becomes proportionately smaller as they grow in height and develop in their lower body parts. Physical and motor skills develop rapidly in infancy. Infant’s growth occurs from top down and from the center of the body outward, according to cephalocaudal...
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...1. Neuroplasticity is the development and changing of the brain. 2. Zygote Period: starts upon fertilization of the ovum. Embryonic Period: 14 days-8 weeks Fetal Period: two months- birth 3. Mesoderm: contains chemical signals for different areas fo the nervous system and directs the formation Endoderm: forms everything else Ectoderm: forms nervous system, fingernails, hair, and skin. 4. ?? 5. Spina Bifida is where the spinal cord fails to close at the base. 6. Regional specificity is where the tissue loses plasticity of the blastocyst phase once the genetic and chemical signals are in place. 7. Cell division occurs in the ventricular zone. 8. Stage 1-Mitosis or Neurogenesis: Cell division begins in the ventricular zone. Stage 2-Migration: Cells move from the ventricular zone to where they belong. Stage3-Differentitation: Process that creates specific neurons and glial cells. Stage4-Synaptogenesis: Neuronal maturation occurs, axons elongate, terminals are established, dendrites are elongated, and expression of NT Stage5-Cell Death: Apoptosis occurs- active cell death. Stage6-Synaptic Rearrangement: Rearrangement of synapses after apoptosis occurs. 9. Filopedia are projections from cells. Growths cones are extensions of the axon that seek out targets. Filopedia and growth cones are used to target out cells. 10. The weight of the human brain increases after birth until it reaches adulthood. This happens because neural changes like proliferation of glial cells,...
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...that before birth one’s brain eliminates around half of its neurons (Toga & Mazziotta, 2000). This concept is called exuberance followed by regression (Beauregard et al. 2001; Ochsner et al., 2002). Initially, one’s brain will developed too many neurons and then prune those that are not used during its organized period. The brains organizational period begins before birth and continues into adulthood. During the brains organizational period, the structure of the brain is going through serious changes and has naturally higher levels of plasticity (Schwartz et al. 1996; Schwartz 1998; Musso et al., 1999; Paquette et al., 2003). The Theory of Neuroplasticity: Neuroplasticity is the mechanism that allows...
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...Observation Number Two The purpose of this observation is to observer an adolescent of either sex between the ages of 12-18. I have chosen to observer an adolescent male age 18. This was a little difficult to do because adolescents are guarded with regards to adults, it just happened that this was made easier when the adolescent knew me from church and the choir. I will begin with Jacob who is 18. Jacob grew up with his parents in forest hills, PA, also with Aunts and uncles and his maternal and paternal grandparents still living. When you look beyond the surface of the family life of Jacob you will see a different person when Jacob is at home compared to when he is at church or school. At both of these places Jacob is allowed to be more of an adolescent then when he is at home. With certain requirements of his mother and father to help take care of his younger siblings while both parents work two job and also work later than most parents. Jacob is a Caucasian adolescent with brown hair, hazel eyes, he is very slender at 5’ 11”. Upon meeting Jacob most would assume he belongs to the stereotypical role of swimmer or diver. He is a very vibrant, enthusiastic aer about him. Jacobs mother graduate from graduate school with a masters in clinical psychology, his father also graduate from graduate school with his masters in social work. Jacobs mother is retired and receiving a retirement income. His father works at a community health company in Monroeville, pa. Both...
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...development of cretinism in offspring. Cretinism manifests as severe mental retardation, ataxia and sensory deficits, and is the most common preventable cause of brain damage (WHO). Research has shown that even mildly decreased thyroid hormone during this critical period can cause a drop in IQ (Gyamfi, 2009). Thyroid hormones have significant influence on the development of neurons. TH mediate their effects by binding to thyroid hormone receptors within the cytoplasm that translocate to the nucleus...
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...harmful effects for the individual and or others. Adolescents turn to substance abuse for various reasons. According to Feldman (2013, p.371) many use because they want that free spirit feeling that the loss of inhibitions and tension might provide, others are thrill seeking, and some use them as means to escape from daily stressors. Research states there is a link between adolescent’s substance addiction and changes in brain structure, function, and neurocognition that are characterized by this stage of development (Squeglia, L. M., Jacobus, J., & Tapert, S. F.,2009). Substance Abuse/Addiction on Brain Development From 12 to 18 years of age the use of alcohol and drugs rises tremendously. This rise in substance use correlates with the fact that in 2009 23% of adolescents met the diagnostic criteria for substance use disorder by the age of 20 (Squeglia, L. M., Jacobus, J., & Tapert, S. F.,2009). The usage of alcohol and drugs during the adolescences years could possibly lead to the brain deviating from its normal route of maturation and key processes of brain development (Squeglia, L. M., Jacobus, J., & Tapert, S. F.,2009). There was a study conducted in which adolescents with an alcohol addiction and those who did not have an addition were tested...
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...will discuss how they have an impact on the way they help in the development of children. I will explain how important child development is in regards to assisting in a child’s potential. I will show the relationship between the developmental domain and the developmental theory. I will focus on all three domains and how they influence each other. Child development is an ongoing process that goes through many complex changes. Children are in a constant state of change from the moment they are born all the way to being a young adult. They develop many characteristics and personalities such as, quantitative changes, and qualitative changes. They area key component in any childs development. There have been many scientific studies on early child development. Many theorists such as, Charles Darwin have studied and devoted a lot of time to the evolution of human development. Scientists, throughout many years have developed three separate domains. In our text, on page nine, they are listed as follows, physical development, cognitive development, and psychosocial development. Physical development is the growth of the body itself. Such as the brain, sensory capacity, and a childs motor skills. Cognitive development is the development of mental ability, learning, memory, language, thinking, moral reasoning, social and emotional growth. Psychosocial development is a pattern of changes in personality, emotions, and social relationships. Scientists categorize all of these...
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...| 1. | |Question : | |When asked to describe his life, Johnny mentioned his wife, kids, neighborly friends, and coworkers. He has described his _________________. | | | | | | | | | |Student Answer: | | | |MACROBUTTON HTMLDirect [pic] macrosystem | | ...
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...specialisation of function in specific structures of the brain? INTRODUCTION In relation to what extent cognitive development can be understood in terms of specialisation of specific structures of the brain, this assignment will observe and use developmental cognitive neuropsychology which explains and seeks to understand a functional relationship between the human brain and its function. In this assignment I will produce two contrasting theories within regards to the functional specialisation, I will accomplish this with study and analysis while debating which brain functions contest and develop by exploring specific key concepts of brain development such as contesting influences that the environment may have upon a maturing brain. Throughout this essay not only will I be discussing concepts of brain development but I will also briefly present the function of language and that it is reliant upon specific structures “Cortical” and whether a pre-specified “particular region” of the brain may have a role in supporting cognitive functions and finally in-turn by using evidence based research within relation to the pre-frontal cortex I will conclude this assignment. In order to explain specialisation of function development of the brain, I will now associate functional specialisation and structural differentiation. There are particular cognitive functions and specific cortical areas in a typical “adult” brain, yet a developing brain (Prior to maturity) demonstrates constant increasing...
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