Glossary Of Terms

Accommodation adjusting schemes to fit new information and

experiences.

the process of modifying cognitive structure so that new

information can fit into them easily.

active genotype-environment

adoption study

assimilation incorporating of new information

the process by which new cognitive elements are fitted more

easily.

Attachment when babies develop a close bond with their

caregivers.

Apgar scale-

aphasia A loss of language ability caused by brain

damage

anger cry a cry that involves excess force air through the vocal
chords

amnion the clear fluid that is encased in an envelope or bag to

support or protect the baby

biological processes

bonding

basic cry a rhythmic pattern that usually consist of a cry

followed by a briefer silence then a short cry with a high
pitch

Brocas Area an area in left frontal that involves speech

cross-sectional approach - a research strategy in which
individuals of different ages are compared at one time.

case study an in depth look at a single individual.

an intensive observation of a particular group of individuals.

Chromosomes threadlike structures that come in 23 pairs, one

member of each pair coming from each parent.

thin strands of dna that contains genes.

Cognitive processes

cephalocaudal development the sequence in which the

earliest growth always occur at the top.

Continuity

Correlational research to describe the strength of the relationship

between two or more events or characteristics.

DNA A complex molecule that contains genetic information.

the physical basis for the transmission of genetic information

Descriptive research- has the purpose of observing and

recording behavior.

Difficult Child a child who engages in regular routine and who is

slow to accept knew experiences.

Discontinuity issue

Dishabituation recovery of a habituated response after a

change in simulation

Development

a series of changes that occurs over the course of a person span.

Down syndrome- a chromosomally transmitted form of mental
retardation, caused by the presence of an extra copy of
chromosome 21.

Easy Child a child who is a positive mood

Evocative genotype-environment correlations

Epigenetic view- shows that development is the result of a

bidirectionalinterchang between heridatry and environment.

equilibration

Ethological theory (Bowlby)- stress that behavior is strongly

influenced by biology, is tied to evolution and characterized by
critical or sensitive period.

Ecological theory (Bronfenbrenner) holds that development

reflects the influences of several systems.

Eclectic approach an orientation that does not follow anyone

theoretical approach, but rather selects from each theory case
study- An in depth look in a single individual.

Eriksons theory erikson proposed that individuals go

through distinct ,universalthe process of developing or being developed.

Fine motor skills involves more finely tune movement such as

grasping a toy

Freuds theory
fetal period lasting about seven months, the prenatal period between two months after

conception and birth in typical pregnancies.

Genes hereditary information composed of DNA that direct call

to reproduce themselves and manufacture proteins.

Genotype a persons genitive heritage, the actual genetic

materials.
Germinal period the inner layer of the cell that develops in the
germinal period.these cell later develops into the embryo.

Grasping Reflex This occurs when an infants palm is touched,

it grasp tightly.

Goodness Of Fit -

Gross Motor Skills Involve using large muscles activities such

as walking and running.

Hypothesis

habituation decrease responsiveness to a stimulus after

repeating presentation of the stimulus

Information processing theory from its mother.

Insecure Avoidant Babies are babies that show insecurity by

avoiding the care giver

Intermodal Perceptions the ability to relate and integrate

inpromotion for two sensory such as vision and hearing.

kagaroo care holding a preterm infant so that skin to skin

contactis applied.

Language a form of communication whether spoken, written, or

signed

lateralization

low birth when an infants is weight below the average weight.

Mitosis -

Meiosis a specialized form of cell division that occurs to form

eggs and sperm.
Moro Reflex when an infant hears a sudden loud noise, most
likely through head back fling out arms and legs and then quickly
closes them.

Morphology the units of meaning involved in a word formation.

Nature-nurture issue

neurons- the nerve that process all the information in the cell
Organogenesis organ formation takes place during the first two months of

prenatal development

object permanence

piagets theory- states that children actively construct their

understanding of the world and go through four stages of
cognitive development.

Passive genotype-environment correlations

Perception- the interpretation of what is sensed.

Phenotype the obsreval characteristics that can be seen in an

individual e.g colour of skin

proximodistal the sequence in which the growth starts at the

center of the body and moves towards

Phenylketonuria - a genetic disorder that in which the

individual cannot properly metabolize an amino acid

Phonology the sound system of language how the sound are

used and combined

Pragmatics the appropriate use of language in different context

Psychoanalytic theory describe development as

primarily unconscious and heavily colored by emotions.
Preterm when an infants is born three weeks before the
pregnancy reach full term.

Postpartum

Reciprocal -

Rooting reflex occurs when an infant cheek is stroke or inside

of the mouth is touched turns head, open mouth, begins sucking.

securely attached babies are babies that cling closer to the

caregiver to feel secure to explore the environment

Separation Protest when a infant constantly cry when the

caregiver leave

Semantics the meaning of words and sentences.

Sensation occurs when a information interacts with sensory

receptors

Stability change issue

Social cognitive theory

Sickle-cell anemia

slow to warm up child a child with a low activity level is

somewhat negative and display a low intestity mood

SIDS sudden infant death syndrome( a condition that occurs

when an infant stops breathing during the night without any
cause.

Shared environment experiences sibling common to

environmental experience

Socioemotional process

Stranger Anxiety an infant fear and weariness of strangers.

Sucking reflex this occurs when an infant automatically suck
an object touching its mouth.

Syntax involved the way words are combined to form

acceptable phrase and sentences.

Twin study a study in which the behavioral similarity of

identical twins is compared with the behavioral similarity
of fraternal twins

Teratogen - any agent that causes a birth defect. the field

of study that investigates the causes of birth defects is

called teratology.

trophoblast the outer layer of the cells that develops in

the germinal period. these cell provide nutrition and support for the embryo.

Telegraphic speech - is the use of short and precise words

without grammatical markers

Theory

Vygotskys theory

Wernickies Area this is an area wher.e the left brain

hemisphere is involves in language comprehension

Zygote a single cell formed through fertilization.