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How does environment before birth contribute to individual difference in learning?

      

How does environment before birth contribute to individual difference in learning?

  

Answers


Ruth
The first environment the human organism encounters is the uterus or the womb. This
environment has the potentiality of promoting the child’s development as per the genetic
plan or changing the course of development completely. In this environment the genetic
blue print is given chance to begin unfolding through the process of growth, maturation
and development of all the characteristics programmed by the genes. These
characteristics are physical, physiological mental and psychological, If the uterus is baby
“friendly” or compliant it produces nutrition, warmth and security which allow the
genetic potentials to unfold as per plan. So the child is given the chance to develop a
healthy body and mental capacity. Those children meant to be: highly gifted, average or
low intellectually realize their natural gifts. On the other hand the uterus may have
adverse effects on the developing child if the expectant mother is exposed to the
following teratogens:
• Undernourishment and malnourishment
• Certain diseases during the first three months of pregnancy (e.g. Rubella and
Sexually Transmitted Diseases)
• Ingestion of psychoactive drugs or is dependent on them (e.g. alcohol, nicotine
and heroine),
• Certain medication (e.g. antibiotics, Anti-convulsants and anti-malarial drugs),
• High doses of x-radiation, prolonged stress or the Rhesus factor. These conditions change the course of development in extreme cases causing either the death of the unborn baby or stillbirth. If the baby survives the adversity that these conditions cause he may be physically or mentally defective or both. This means that a baby who would otherwise have been born with a healthy and well functioning body is born with physical and psychological defects. A baby who would have been born with normal intelligence is born with mental deficits due to the brain damage these conditions may cause.
So the womb as the first environment the human baby encounters is very critical. It sets the foundations to intellectual development. All other environmental effects come later and they may come when damage has already occurred.
NatalieR answered the question on February 10, 2022 at 13:05


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