A Couple Comes into Your Office Seeking Advice on Whether

question 21

Essay

A couple comes into your office seeking advice on whether or not they should adopt a specific child. The biological mother of the child has schizophrenia and is thus unable to care for him. The couple would like to know the chances that the child will develop the disorder. Neither of the prospective parents has a history of mental illness. Use the results from the Finland study that is presented in your text to explain the potential risks to the couple.

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Definitions:

Innate Ability

A skill or quality that a person is born with; natural talent or capacity that is not acquired through learning.

Synaptic Pruning

The natural and necessary process of shedding excess neurons and synapses during brain development to increase the efficiency of neuronal transmissions.

Cognitive Deficit

A deficiency or impairment in cognitive functions such as memory, attention, or problem-solving abilities, often resulting from neurological conditions or developmental disorders.

Synaptic Pruning

A neurological process occurring during brain development where extra neurons and synaptic connections are eliminated to increase the efficiency of neuronal transmissions.