Exam 13: Origins, Modification, and Stability of Intellectual Differences

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Sameroff and his colleagues (1993) conducted a longitudinal study to examine the cumulative effects of multiple risk factors on child development. They found that when children are exposed to multiple risk factors, such as poverty, parental mental illness, and family conflict, the negative impact on their development is compounded over time.

One example of this cumulative effect is seen in the area of academic achievement. Children who experience poverty may also have parents who are struggling with mental illness, which can lead to inconsistent parenting and a lack of support for their education. Additionally, family conflict can create a stressful home environment that further hinders a child's ability to focus on their studies. Over time, these multiple risk factors can lead to lower academic achievement and a higher likelihood of dropping out of school.

Another example is in the area of social and emotional development. Children who are exposed to multiple risk factors may struggle to form secure attachments with their caregivers, leading to difficulties in forming healthy relationships with others. This can then lead to behavioral problems and emotional regulation issues, which can persist into adulthood.

Sameroff and his colleagues found that the cumulative effects of multiple risk factors can have a lasting impact on a child's development, affecting their academic, social, and emotional well-being. This highlights the importance of addressing not just individual risk factors, but also the interactions between them in order to support children's healthy development.

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Sameroff's transaction model is a theoretical framework that emphasizes the dynamic and reciprocal interactions between a child's biological constitution and their environment in shaping their development. According to this model, a child's genetic makeup and biological characteristics have an organizing effect on their development, influencing how they respond to and interact with their environment.

One key aspect of Sameroff's transaction model is the concept of gene-environment interactions. This refers to the ways in which a child's genetic predispositions can influence their experiences and interactions with their environment, and how these experiences in turn can shape the expression of their genetic traits. For example, a child with a genetic predisposition for shyness may be more likely to seek out quiet, solitary activities, which in turn may limit their opportunities for social interaction and contribute to the development of social anxiety.

Another important aspect of the transaction model is the idea of cumulative risk and protective factors. This concept suggests that a child's biological constitution can interact with various environmental factors, both positive and negative, to either increase or decrease their risk for developmental challenges. For example, a child with a genetic predisposition for impulsivity may be more vulnerable to the negative effects of a chaotic or unpredictable home environment, but may also benefit more from the presence of a stable and nurturing caregiver.

Overall, Sameroff's transaction model highlights the complex and dynamic interplay between a child's biological constitution and their environment in shaping their development. It emphasizes the need to consider both genetic and environmental factors in understanding and supporting children's development, and underscores the importance of early intervention and support in promoting positive outcomes for children at risk.

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Early biological risk makes infants especially susceptible to the effects of poor parenting. Unfortunately, their biological impairments contribute to their problems by causing their often highly stressed parents to be less responsive to them. This in turn results in their slower intellectual development, which may further promote less intellectual stimulation from their parents. The result in a transaction that is less than conducive to good intellectual functioning.