Developmental psychology. Studies changes in people from conception -> death. These changes are relatively permanent.

Nature Refers to all of the genes and hereditary factors that influence who we are – from our physical appearance to our personality characteristics. Those who take this point of view believe that all of our characteristics and behaviours are the result of evolution. The individual differences that make each person unique are influenced by the genetic traits handed down from parents i.e. developmental patterns.

Nurture Refers to all the environmental variables that impact who we are, including our early childhood experiences, how we were raised, our social relationships, and our surrounding culture. This includes family, friends, school, wealth and religion. Social learning theory - Bandura

Twin studies Identical twins have all their genes in common. They have developed from the same fertilised egg that has split. Fraternal twins have developed from two separate eggs that develop in the womb at the same time. No more genetically alike than brothers/sisters. Psychologists look at whether identical twins are more alike in characteristics such as intelligence and personality that fraternal twins. If identical twins are found to be more alike on some trait than fraternal, hereditary is considered to play an important role in the development of that characteristic. If identical twins share a characteristic, it is likely it could be due to a genetic contribution problem 1: Although most twins are raised in the same environment (household/experiences) problem two: because they look the same external people i.e. teachers/friends often treat them similar.

Adoption studies compare if children are more like their adoption parents who provide the living environment, or more like their biological parents who they inherited their genes from. I.e. child with a low IQ biological mother was placed in the home of a high IQ adopted mother. Child has above average IQ. (but not as much as a high IQ biological in a high IQ adoption parents)

Longitudinal studies Developmental experimental design that follows specific participants across an extended period of time and test them at regular intervals Pros and cons?

Cross-sectional studies “Slice” of the population at an developmental stage. Different participants of different ages at the same period of time. Pros and cons?

Extreme case studies Genie Case studies

Interaction between nature and nurture. What researchers do know is that the interaction of heredity and environment is often the most important factor of all

Genes have a stronger influence in cognitive Social/emotional, cognitive and physical development than environment Focus areas Intelligence Personality