Module 50 REVIEW

• 50-1 How do early experiences modify the brain?

• As a child’s brain develops, neural connections grow more numerous and complex. Experiences then trigger a pruning process, in which unused connections weaken and heavily used ones strengthen.
• Early childhood is an important period for shaping the brain, but thanks to plasticity, the brain modifies itself throughout our lives in response to our learning.

• 50-2 In what ways do parents and peers shape children’s development?

• Family environment and parental expectations can affect children’s motivation and future success. Personality, however, is mostly not attributable to the effects of nurture.
• As children attempt to fit in with their peers, they tend to adopt their culture—habits, accents, and slang, for example.
• By choosing their children’s neighborhoods and schools, parents exert some influence over peer group culture.

Multiple-Choice Questions

1. Peer influence would have the strongest effect on
   1. JS, who, at age 30, is deciding whether to propose to his girlfriend.
   2. Frank, who, at age 10, is deciding whether to play baseball or hockey.
   3. Arman, who, at age 18, is choosing between two highly rated colleges.
   4. Linda, who, at age 45, is deciding which church group to join.
   5. Johann, who, at age 7, is choosing a project for art class.
2. Compared with rats raised in an enriched environment, which of the following is true of rats raised in isolation?
   1. Their brain cortex is less developed.
   2. Though neurologically similar, they fear other rats.
   3. Their brains have more connections.
   4. They have a thicker brain cortex.
   5. The differences between the two groups are not statistically significant.
3. In which of the following examples would parents have the highest degree of influence?
   1. In homes where children are severely neglected or abused
   2. In determining a child’s personality
   3. When a child is trying to fit in at a new school
   4. When a young child is learning the language spoken at a new school
   5. When a young person develops schizophrenia
4. Neurologically, what is the function of pruning?
   1. Pruning creates new connections between synapses through repeated experiences.
   2. Pruning reduces the negative effects of teratogens by eliminating neural waste.
   3. Pruning increases the weight of the brain through enriching experiences.
   4. Pruning creates areas in the brain used in learning mathematics.
   5. Pruning eliminates unused neural pathways.

Practice FRQs

1. Compare and contrast the influence parents and peers have on a child’s development, giving one example for each.

Answer

2 points: Parents influence a child’s (1) quality of life, (2) achievements, and (3) exposure to peer culture via the neighborhoods and schools they choose. Page 531

2 points: Peers influence a child’s (1) tastes and styles, (2) accents and slang, and (3) substance use. Page 531

2. Provide two examples of how children are influenced by their peers.

(2 points)