U1 AO1 Psychological Development

Psychological development is the process of growth and change in humans cognitive, emotional, and social capabilities and functioning over the life span.

Nature refers to hereditary factors on psychological development.

• Hereditary refers to the inborn, inherited genetic factors passed from biological parents to children that partly determine individual characteristics; this is the nature component within the nature versus nurture debate.  
• E.g. eye colour, skin colour  ​

• Nurture refers to the environmental factors that influence psychological development. 
• E.g. education, food, emotional support

In adoption studies children from families who have one adopted child and one biological child are compared.

Studies that use identical and fraternal twins to investigate the influence of hereditary factors vs the environment on psychological development