Psychological development
What is hereditary and environmental influence?
The interaction between genes and the environment in shaping development.
What is heredity?
Traits or characteristics passed down genetically.
What is social norm?
Behaviour that aligns with societal expectations.
What is neurodiversity?
The concept that brain differences are natural variations.
What is the hindbrain?
The lowest part of the brain responsible for basic survival functions.
What is neuroplasticity?
The brain’s ability to change and reorganise itself.
What is an acquired brain injury (ABI)?
Brain damage that occurs after birth due to injury or illness.
What is the biopsychosocial approach?
A model that considers biological, psychological, and social factors together and how they interact.
What is the environment? Give some examples.
External influences such as family, education, and culture.
What is statistical rarity?
Behaviour that occurs very rarely in the population.
Identify one condition that is often discussed within the neurodiversity framework.
Autism / ADHD / Dyslexia etc
What is the midbrain?
The brain region involved in movement and sensory processing.
What is long-term potentiation?
The strengthening of neural connections through repeated use.
What is damage to brain tissue or disrupted neural communication?
A biological effect of ABI on the brain.
What are emotional, cognitive, and social development?
The three main domains of development across the lifespan.
Describe the nature vs nurture debate.
The debate about whether behaviour is shaped more by genetics or experience.
What is a limitation of using social norms to define abnormality?
Identify an advantage of recognising neurodiversity in society.
Promotes inclusion and reduces stigma
What is the forebrain?
The largest brain region responsible for complex thinking.
What is learning, practice, or enriched environments?
One factor that enhances neuroplasticity across the lifespan.
What is a psychological or social consequence of an ABI?
memory loss, personality change, or difficulty relationships
What is a critical period?
A developmental window where specific experiences must occur for normal development.
Identify a trait strongly influenced by heredity.
Eye colour / blood type / genetic disorders etc
What is maladaptive behaviour?
Behaviour that interferes with everyday functioning.
Why can labelling individuals as 'neurotypical' sometimes be problematic?
Reinforce division and stigma, can oversimplify brain differences
What is the cerebral cortex?
The outer layer of the brain responsible for higher-order thinking.
Why do young brains generally show higher plasticity than older brains?
They are still developing and more adaptable.
What is the cause of CTE?
Repeated head trauma/concussions
What is a sensitive period?
A time when development is particularly responsive to environmental input, but not essential.
Identify a behaviour strongly influenced by environmental influences.
Language / cultural beliefs / learned behaviours etc
Why are cultural perspectives essential when diagnosing atypical behaviour?
Behaviour considered abnormal in one culture may be normal in another
What is neurotypicality?
The term describing typical brain function used as a comparison standard.
What is localisation of function?
The division of the cerebral cortex into specialised regions responsible for different functions.
What happens with brain plasticity after injury?
Other brain areas take over lost functions.
Why is CTE considered an emerging research area?
Because it develops over time and is difficult to diagnose before death