abuse

Any deliberate action that is harmful to another's physical, emotional, or sexual well-being.

active awake

During this, the second of the three stages of being awake, a baby is awake but unfocussed: usually fussing or crying.

active sleep

A baby’s initial sleep state characterized by irregular breathing, eyelid fluttering, and some movement and vocalizing. It is followed by the quiet sleep state.

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

A childhood brain disorder that can carry into adulthood. Symptoms are hyperactivity, inattention, and difficulty controlling behavior.

adolescence

This developmental stage that occurs generally from age 11 to 18 is the transition from childhood to adulthood. In addition to the onset of reproductive capabilities, this period is marked by dramatic physical, cognitive, emotional, and social changes.

adolescent egocentrism

The tendency for adolescents to demonstrate self-centered thoughts, beliefs, and feelings and to think that their perspectives are more significant and valid than other points of view.

adrenal glands

Located above the kidneys, the two adrenal glands produce hormones that help regulate the immune system, metabolism, blood pressure, and other essential functions.

affordances

The relationship between an individual and an object or an environment that causes an action to occur. For example: a bell affords ringing.

age of viability

The age at which a preterm newborn can survive outside of the womb with advanced medical care. The age of viability is 22 weeks.

ageism

The theory of the implicit or explicit stereotyping, prejudice, and/or discrimination against individuals or groups on the basis of their age.

aggression

Behaviors that may be expressed verbally, mentally, and physically, and result in physical and psychological harm to the self, others, or objects in the environment.

aggressive-rejected

Disliked and not included in social interaction with peers because of confrontational, unpopular behavior.

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

A chronic condition caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that tears down the body’s ability to fight infections.

Alzheimer’s disease

A neurological disorder that destroys memory and results in the loss of intellectual function and social skills. It is the most common form of dementia.

amino acids

Protein builders that play a major role in growth, body tissue repair, breaking down food, and creating energy.

amniocentesis

An invasive prenatal test in which a needle is inserted through the mother's abdominal wall and into the amniotic sac surrounding the fetus to draw a sample of amniotic fluid for testing.

amniotic fluid

The liquid in the uterus that surrounds the baby to protect it and provide nutrients and hormones.

amniotic sac

A bag of clear fluid inside the womb in which the unborn baby floats and moves while developing and growing.

amygdala

Located deep within the brain, the amygdala is the center for emotions such as anger, fear, motivation, pleasure.

analytic thought

The ability to problem solve by breaking down facts and thoughts by strengths and weaknesses.

antioxidant

Natural or man-made substances that may prevent chemical reactions that can cause cell damage.

antipathy

A strong, deep-seated dislike of someone or something.

antisocial behavior

Conduct that lacks consideration of others, disrupts society, and may cause harm to others.

Apgar score

A test done immediately after a baby is born to determine the condition of the newborn infant.

apprentice in thinking

The idea that skills and concepts are better taught when presented within real-world situations.

Asperger syndrome

A neurological, autism spectrum disorder that may be marked by social awkwardness, limited ability to show feelings for others, and interests that may border on the obsessive.

assisted reproductive technology

A group of different fertility treatments that help couples conceive children.

attachment

The bond between infant and caregiver that is critical to the social and emotional development of a child. The nature and degree of attachment varies depending on the emotional and environmental characteristics of the child-caregiver relationship.

authoritarian parenting

A parenting style characterized by harsh punishments, strict rules, high expectations, and little explanation for the reasoning behind these rules.

autism

A complex disorder of the brain characterized by difficulties with communication, social interactions, and repetitive behaviors. Autistic children often appear to be “in their own world.”

automatization

A greater or lesser cognitive ability to perform simple, repetitive tasks so that they become automatic.

axon

Long, slender nerve fiber that extends from the neuron's cell body. Axons create the transmission lines of the nervous system as they rapidly conduct electrical impulses from one neuron cell body to the dendrites of adjacent neurons.

babbling

To speak sounds or words in an excited, confusing, or meaningless way.

baby boomers

Individuals born between the years 1946 and 1964, the period of the post-World War II, massive population growth in the United States.

behavior management

The provision of skills that teach individuals to behave in a positive, productive way, thereby maintaining order.

behaviorism

A theory of learning that believes environment, rather than internal thinking, drives human behavior and that under the right circumstances, behavior can be trained or conditioned.

bereavement

The personal process of expressing grief that is unique to each individual.

beta-amyloid

Found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease, this protein clumps and destroys the transfer of nerve impulses.

bickering

Bad-tempered arguing over minor matters.

Big Five

The theory that five basic traits describe human personality: openness, extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and neuroticism.

binocular vision

The ability to use both eyes to focus and create a single image. Most infants lack binocular vision.

biopsy

A medical test requiring the removal of tissue, fluids, or cells for examination.

birth canal

The passage starting with the uterus that a baby travels through when born vaginally.

blastocyst

A hollow ball of cells in which an embryo is created within days of conception.

body mass index (BMI)

A measurement calculated from an individual’s weight and height that is used to predict obesity.

breast cancer

A type of cancer that occurs when an infectious or malignat tumor forms in the breast tissue.

bully

A person with an aggressive personality who dominates others by regularly using cruel or intimidating behavior.

bullying

The repeated use or threat of verbal or physical abuse to impose power over someone considered weaker.

bullying

bullying aggression

Repeated aggressive behavior designed to mentally or physically hurt another person.

bullying victims

Individuals who are the recipients of relentless acts of aggressive behavior designed to hurt and intimidate them.

burnout

A psychological term to describe reduced interest in work, activities, or life due to exhaustion and reduced sense of personal accomplishment.

cancer

A disease of abnormal, out-of-control cells that grow into masses and invade other tissues, organs and glands causing serious illness when not controlled.

center day care

Paid child care at a place outside the home where qualified, licensed, trained individuals provide instruction and care for newborns through pre-kindergarten.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

A federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services, it works to prevent and control disease, injury, and disability.

centration

The preoperational tendency to focus on one aspect of an object, situation, or problem and to the exclusion of other potentially important aspects.

cerebral cortex

The folded outer layers of the brain covering the cerebrum, often referred to as the gray matter, that are critically involved in many complex functions, such as memory, attention, perceptual awareness, thought, language, and consciousness. Also known as cortex.

cesarean section (c-section)

A surgical procedure to deliver a baby that requires incisions to the mother’s abdomen and uterus.

chemotherapy

The use of medications to treat disease -- most often to destroy cancer cells or stop them from multiplying.

child abuse

Intentional neglect or physical, emotional or sexual injury to a child.

child maltreatment

The general term to describe all types of abuse to a child under the age of 18, including neglect and physical, sexual, emotional abuse.

child neglect

The failure to provide a child's necessary, age-appropriate care, including health care, nutrition, housing, education, supervision, and emotional nurturing.

chorionic villius sampling (CVS)

An invasive prenatal test in which either a needle is inserted through the mother’s abdomen or a catheter is inserted through the vagina and cervix to draw a sample of placental tissue that is tested for more than 200 chromosomal diseases.

chromosome

Cell structures made of protein and DNA that are passed to offspring, insuring that each living creature is unique.

chromosome 21

The smallest human chromosome and one of the 23 pairs of chromosomes in humans. People normally have two copies of this chromosome.

chronic stress

Long-term or repeated activation of the stress response that poses health risks.

classification

The categorizing or sorting of people or things into groups according to shared characteristics.

climacteric

A critical period in human life during which a change takes place that often refers to the end of the ability to reproduce..

clique

A groups of friends who hang out together intensely and to the exclusion of others.

co-sleep

To sleep beside or in the same room as a child, as opposed to in a separate room.

coercive cycle

A pattern of behavior that is often found in parenting: a child repeatedly ignores a parent’s order and “wins” when the parent gives in out of frustration.

cohabitation

A living arrangement in which an unmarried, intimately involved couple live together long-term without legal or religious sanction.

cohort

A group of people with characteristic(s) or life experience(s) in common.

cohort-sequential study

A research method in which a population is studied and then a cohort or part of that group is followed for a short period of time.

collective monologues

Two or more children talking simultaneously who seem to be having a conversation, but actually are not directing the conversation to another person and so are talking to themselves.

combinatorial logic

A logical theory based on the idea that one may generate a range of combinations from a group of possibilities.

concrete operational stage

Piaget's term for the period between the ages of 7 and 11 when children begin to think logically but continue to struggle with understanding abstract or hypothetical concepts. Concrete operational thinkers can use inductive logic, which is the ability to make general assumptions based on specific experience, and reversibility.

concrete operational thinking

Piaget's term for the ability to solve problems using logic but not abstract or hypothetical concepts. Concrete operational thinkers can use inductive logic, which is the ability to make general assumptions based on specific experience, and reversibility.

conditioning

A learning process in which a behavior or response becomes associated with a particular stimulus. When the subject is learning to make this association, a reward or punishment may be used to evoke a particular reaction to a neutral stimulus. After the learning is complete, the reward or punishment is no longer required because the subject reacts to the stimulus with the learned behavior or response.

conservation

A mental operation defined by the understanding of what changes and what remains the same after a person or an object undergoes a change in appearance.

contact comfort

Pleasure that comes from close physical contact, especially as it relates to mothers and caregivers.

contractions

The periodic cramping of the muscle of the uterus that pushes the baby down the birth canal.

control condition

In scientific research and experimentation, the standard to which manipulated subjects, conditions, or states are compared.

control processes

A series of actions or steps that require strict attention in order to carry them out, as in the completion of a new or difficult task.

conventional

Conforming or the norm that’s generally accepted.

conventional moral reasoning

A stage in the development of ethical behavior during which decisions are justified by what actions will please others, especially authority figures.

corpus callosum

The wide band of nerve fibers connecting the left and right sides of the brain to transfer motor, sensory and cognitive information.

correlational approach

A research approach that assesses different variables to see if there is a predictable relationship between them.

couvade syndrome

A condition in which the pregnant woman’s partner experiences symptoms of pregnancy.

cross-sectional study

A research method in which participants share many characteristics except the one that is the focus of the research, thereby isolating that one area for data collection.

crowd

A large, unruly group.

crowning

The point in vaginal childbirth when the top of the baby’s head remains visible.

crying

Shedding tears in response to emotional upset.

culture of children

The world in which children actively engage, including friendships, imaginary play, games, and sport, while developing their identities.

decentration

A mental operation defined by the ability to pay attention to and to process different aspects of an object, situation, or problem.

deductive reasoning

A logical thinking process in which a conclusion is drawn after considering two or more statements that are assumed to be true.

deep sleep

The N3 stage of sleep during which there is no dreaming but it is hard to wake up.

dementia

A group of symptoms associated with the progressive loss of the brain and its functions. The most common form is Alzheimer’s Disease.

dendrite

Slender projections of the nerve cell body that receive electrical impulses from adjacent neurons.

deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

A molecule that contains the genetic blueprint for each cell and determines the development and functioning of life in all known living organisms and many viruses.

depth perception

The ability to see in three dimensions (3D), allowing one to perceive spatial relationships and distance.

descriptive approach

A research approach in which straightforward and accurate descriptions are provided of the characteristics of something in a study.

deviancy training

The social interactions among peers that perpetuates rule-breaking behavior and may result in another child taking on similar anti-social conduct.

disorganized attachment (type D)

Disorganized, inappropriate behavior that affects a person’s ability to function in daily life, create goals, and interact with society.

disorganized/disoriented attachment

Confused or guarded behavior found in children who are perplexed by caregivers who simultaneously and irrationally frighten them and comfort them.

Doppler device

A small, non-invasive, diagnostic instrument that uses high-frequency sound waves, which bounce off the moving blood cells, to measure blood flow and blood pressure. A Doppler device can provide information about the baby’s circulation and often provides an audible simulation of the baby’s heartbeat.

double-blind procedure

A scientific experiment in which both the subjects of the study and those administering the study are prevented from knowing critical details that might bias them and compromise the study’s results.

Down syndrome

The most common chromosomal disorder characterized by various mental and physical symptoms, such as delayed mental and physical development, decreased muscle tone, and learning problems. Individuals with Down Syndrome have 3, instead of 2, copies of chromosome 21.

drowsiness

A state of feeling unusually tired and sleepy.

dual-process model

This process occurs when the brain processes information on two levels simultaneously: a conscious and an unconscious one.

dynamic perception

Focusing on people and their ever changing appearances and histories more than objects that are static.

dyslexia

A learning disability characterized by reading difficulties, lack of fluency, and poor word recognition.

early childhood

The period of birth to age 8 characterized by rapid physical, emotional, and mental growth.

echo boomers

A term for children born between the late 1970s to 1990 to Baby Boomers who paid great attention to them.

effortful control

The ability to voluntarily inhibit a strong response in favor or a less dominant one.

egocentrism

A child’s inability to see things the way someone else does so the child assume everyone sees, hears, and feels just the way they do.

embryo

A developing human or animal -- in the phase after fertilization but before birth or hatching -- so it is still living in the womb or egg.

embryonic period

The prenatal stage of development from approximately 3 weeks to 8 weeks after conception during which the embryonic cells first resemble a human being. By the end of the embryonic period, most basic organs have developed.

emotional regulation

The process in which reactions are delayed and the communication of emotions are controlled.

empathy

The experience of understanding someone else’s feelings and desires by imagining oneself in their place.

English-language learners (ELL)

Students whose first language is not English, but are learning English and taking classes in English at the same time.

epigenetic theory

A developmental theory that believes behavior is the result of not just inherited genes, but environment too.

estradiol

A form of the hormone estrogen that is also used as a drug to treat symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness.

estrogen

Hormones produced primarily by the ovaries that are important for female sexual activity and reproduction.

experimental approach

A research approach for assessing cause and effect relationships in which subjects of study are manipulated in order to observe any corresponding changes.

experimental condition

The condition or treatment that is introduced for testing allowing experimenters to observe its effects.

expert

A person with an authoritative skill or knowledge of a certain subject.

expertise

A high degree of skill or knowledge in a particular area.

family day care

Child care that is provided in a paid caregiver's private home for a portion of the day.

family function

The pattern of how a family interacts, communicates, and functions as a unit.

family structure

The makeup of the family and relationships of the family members.

fast-mapping

The way children figure out the meaning of a word after hearing it used a few times.

fertility treatments

Medical approaches designed to help women who are unable to conceive a baby or carry a pregnancy to full term.

fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)

A variety of birth defects ranging from mental retardation to any number of physical or neurological problems that are linked to the mother's use of alcohol during pregnancy.

fetal period

The prenatal period from the 9th week after conception until birth during which the baby grows from approximately an inch to 20 inches in length and organs grow and mature in preparation for life outside the womb.

fetoscopy

An invasive prenatal procedure in which a thin, flexible device is inserted through the mother’s abdomen to view the fetus and the placenta and/or to perform surgical procedures on the fetus during pregnancy.

fetus

The developing, unborn offspring of a mammal from the ninth week after conception until birth.

fight-or-flight response

The physiological responses to stress that ready an individual to deal with threats or challenges by either preparing to “fight” or to take “flight.”

fine motor skills

Small, skillful movements usually using the hands and fingers.

First Trimester Screen

Prenatal ultrasound and blood test that are used together to determine whether a growing baby is at risk for some genetic abnormalities such as Down Syndrome.

foreclosure

When seeking to find a sense of self, an individual makes a commitment to a personality without having explored other options.

formal operational thought

A stage of development usually starting at age 11, during which a child begins to reason using logic and abstract concepts. ,

functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

An imaging technique that measures brain activity by detecting the volume of blood flow in different areas of the brain. Researchers can use the fMRI to observe where and how the brain responds to different stimuli.

gamete

Reproductive cells. Either male or female reproductive cells.

gender differences

Differences in cultural expectations for the roles and behaviors of men and women.

gender identity

A person’s perception of himself or herself as male or female.

gene

A part of a chromosome that is passed from a parent to offspring, carrying an hereditary trait.

genetic counseling

The testing and counseling of prospective parents about their genetic potential to pass on disorders and conditions to their offspring.

genotype

The traits you inherited from the makeup of genes that were passed on to by ancestors.

germinal period

The earliest stage of prenatal development that begins with conception and lasts until implantation in the uterus at 2 weeks after fertilization.

gestation

Pregnancy, or the period of development between conception and birth.

gestational age

The period of time used to describe how far along a pregnancy is, usually based on a start date of the mother’s last period.

gestational sac

During pregnancy, the structure in the mid-section of the uterus that holds the embryo and the surrounding amniotic fluid.

gibberish babbling

Unintelligible talk that resembles the sounds a baby makes.

gonads

A testis or ovary, which are reproductive glands that produces sperm or eggs, respectively.

good death

A death in which pain is managed, the patient feels in control, is surrounded by loved ones, is able to tie up loose ends, and is able to say goodbye to those he/she loves.

goodness of fit

The degree of confidence that a survey or test can be relied upon to make accurate projections.

grammar

The rules governing language and how language is structured with words.

grammatical morphemes

The smallest unit of speech that can be attached to another word and change the meaning of the word. Add the grammatical morpheme “s” to the noun “cat” and you have changed it to the plural noun “cats.”

grandparent caregiver

A grandparent who lives with and has primary responsibility for grandchildren ages 18 and below.

grief

The highly personal mental suffering or distress caused by a loss or death.

gross motor skills

The ability to control muscles of the body to create large movements like walking, usually by the age of two.

habituation

The action of becoming used to a new place, situation, sound, or other stimulus.

helicopter parents

Overprotective mothers and fathers who are too involved in their child’s life and so discourage the child from becoming independent.

hidden curriculum

Unofficial social rules and behaviors that are well-known but not taught.

hippocampus

Located in both the left and right sides of the brain, this region of the brain stores memory and connects it to emotion.

holophrase

A single word used to express a complete thought, which marks the beginning of learning language in children. A baby may use the holophrase “Eat” to say “Feed me now!”

homogamy

The tendency to pair off with someone who is of similar background, interests, needs, and attraction.

hormonal therapy

The administration of hormones in medical treatments.

hormone

A chemical messenger that travels to other parts of the body to help insure that cells and organs do their work.

hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

The administration of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone to reduce symptoms of menopause.

hormones

Chemical messengers that travel to other parts of the body to help insure that cells and organs do their work.

hospice

A type of care provided by an institution or agency whose aim is to ease the suffering of the dying process. Hospice addresses the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the terminally ill while offering support to family and friends.

hostile aggression

Angry behavior with the intention to cause pain and injury to another person or object.

HPA (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal) axis

A complex system of feedback interactions between the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands.

human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

The disease caused by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) that leaves people vulnerable to infections and diseases.

hyper-parents

A style of parenting in which the mothers and fathers are zealously overly involved and controlling in their quest to create perfect children.

hypothalamus

The area of the brain that governs hormone production, controlling hunger, thirst, emotions and other body functions.

hypothesis

A theory or prediction that may be tested to either prove or disprove its accuracy.

hypothetical thought

The ability to consider alternatives, come up with a theory, and reason why or why not that theory may be true.

hypothetical-deductive thought

A method of scientific thought in which an intelligent guess is made, predictions are deduced, and an attempt is made to prove or disprove them.

identification

A process by which an individual unconsciously tries to be like or become like another person.

identity

In terms of an object, the concept that an object remains the same even if certain characteristics about it change. In terms of a person, the consistent collection of physical and mental characteristics that define an individual as unique.

identity achievement

The commitment to a personal identity or sense of self, after the exploration of different identities.

identity diffusion

The state at which a person, often an adolescent, has not yet begun to examine his life and values to determine a personal identity.

identity versus role confusion

The emergence of confusion over making a commitment to a sense of self and one’s place in the world.

implantation

To put something in a specific place or to cause something to become a part of a person’s thinking or feeling.

in-group

A small group of people who share an interest or identity and are not open to other people joining their group.

industry versus inferiority

The fourth of Erikson's psychosexual crises of development when children discover that hard work brings results and praise. For those children who cannot master the work, feelings of inferiority and lack of self-esteem arise.

infant

A child in the first period of childhood, before he or she can walk.

initiative versus guilt

Erikson's third psychosocial crisis. A psychological conflict of early childhood in which a child tries new things through play. If the initiated play is encouraged, the child develops confidence and independence. If it is discouraged, the child develops feelings of failure and guilt.

insecure-avoidant attachment

An attachment response by babies with caregivers who neglect the babies’ needs. The babies learn to avoid contact with the unresponsive caregivers and, on a larger scale, that they have no ability to control their world.

insecure-resistant attachment

An attachment response by babies whose caregivers show inconsistent parenting and love. The babies in return respond inconsistently and do not use their caregivers as a secure base.

insecure-resistant/ambivalent attachment (type C)

institutional review board

A committee charged with reviewing plans for biomedical and behavioral research on human beings to protect the rights of research participants.

instrumental aggression

Unprovoked, harmful behavior that is used to obtain a goal or coerce others.

intersex

A variety of conditions in which an individual is born with sexual or reproductive anatomy that is not able to be categorized as either male or female.

intrauterine insemination

One of many medical procedures for attempting to get pregnant often used by heterosexual couples struggling with infertility, same-sex couples, or any woman seeking to get pregnant by a sperm donor. In hopes of achieving natural fertilization, sperm are inserted directly into the uterus after eggs have been released from the ovaries.

intuitive thought

A brain process that taps into the subconscious so that a person believes in something without knowing why exactly.

invincibility fable

A false belief that is cultivated by adolescent egocentrism. Many adolescents believe themselves invincible and that bad things will not happen to them in the way that they do to other people.

knowledge base

An individual’s general store of knowledge and information.

lanugo

A soft, downy hair covering the arms, torso, and face that serves to keep the body warm. In infants, this prenatal hair is usually shed at the end of the baby's first week of life. This hair also appears on anorexics and those who are starving as their bodies' do not have enough body fat to keep warm.

lateralization

The use of one side of the body over another, including the location of the functions on the right and left sides of the brain.

limbic system

A system of nerves and networks in the brain that controls emotions (fear, pleasure) and drives (sex, dominance).

limbic system

living will

A written, legal document in which a person outlines the medical treatments and interventions that they do or do not want if they become too ill to explain their medical wishes.

lobules

One of the small masses of tissue that makes up some organs; a section of a lobe.

local treatment

Medical treatment that addresses a specific location or a specific symptom (ie radiation therapy).

long-term memory

The continuing storage of information in the brain and the ability to remember and retrieve it over a long period of time.

longitudinal study

An observational research study in which data is collected for the same subjects repeatedly over a long period of time.

low birth weight

Gathered immediately after birth, birth weight is a predictor of newborn health and survival. Low birth rate is when that figure comes in at less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces.

lymph node

Small masses of tissue in the lymphatic system where lymph is filtered, removing fluids, bacteria, and cancer cells.

malignant

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells grow and can spread uncontrollably and potentially cause harm.

malnutrition

A health condition caused by a poor, unbalanced diet characterized by insufficient nutrition, improper caloric intake, and inadequate protein consumption. Because the body does not have enough fuel, tissues and organs may deteriorate or not function properly.

mammography

A technique using x-rays for studying the breast.

menopause

The natural end of menstruation and fertility, usually occuring in women between the ages of 45 and 55.

mental operations

According to Piaget, mental operations are the mental abilities to imagine the process and potential outcome of something happening without it actually having to happen in the physical world (i.e. doing math in one’s head). Piaget uses the nature of a child’s mental operations to define the different stages of mental development.

metabolism

The chemical processes by which a plant or animal uses food to grow, heal, and make energy.

metacognition

A person’s awareness of their ability to understand and control how they think.

metastasis

The development of cancerous cells that have spread from the original site in the body to a new ones.

middle childhood

The stage of development between ages 6 to 12, during which children go to school and do other things on their own.

midwife

A nurse with special training in prenatal and postnatal care who may offer a more holistic model of care.

moratorium

The state during which a person is engaged in exploring different identities, but has not yet committed to one.

motor cortex

The region of the brain’s cortex that is responsible for the control of voluntary movement.

motor drive

A strong instinct of self-preservation, reproduction, or aggression that motivates activity toward a particular end.

mourning

The public or outward expression of bereavement that often follows social and cultural norms.

myelination

The growth of myelin on nerve cells. The myelin coating allows nerve impulses to travel faster.

naming explosion

The burst of increased vocabulary that children typically show at around age one and a half.

nature

A general term for traits, characteristics, abilities, and inabilities that are inherited and genetically-derived as opposed to developing them from experience and/or environmental influences.

nearsighted

The inability to see objects from a distance.

necessary condition

A situation that must exist in order for an outcome to occur.

neonate

A newborn child up to the age of four weeks old.

neuron

A nerve cell that receives and communicates information throughout the body as part of the central nervous system.

neurotransmitter

A chemical messenger that transmits impulses from nerve cells to other nerve cells, organs, muscles, and tissues.

non-rapid eye movement (NREM)

A state of sleep characterized by slowed breathing and heart rate and no dreaming nor rapid eye movements.

norm

A marker of average development or achievement.

norms (as in social norms)

The customary rules of acceptable behavior.

novice

A person who is just beginning to learn a skill or activity.

nurture

A general term for any environmental factors (i.e. parents, nutrition, community) that influence an individual's development after conception.

obesity

A condition characterized by being grossly overweight with an excess of body fat.

object permanence

The fundamental understanding that objects continue to exist even if they are not visible, heard, or not able to be touched.

obstetrician

A medical doctor (MD) who specializes in pregnancy and the delivery of babies and who has access to the most comprehensive and immediate access to medicine, equipment, and surgical procedures.

occipital lobe

The visual center of the brain.

osteoporosis

A disease of the bones in which bones become weak and are more susceptible to fracture.

out-group

A group of people excluded from one’s own group, especially when they are disliked and viewed as being inferior. .

overextension

A child’s use of a word in too broad a way than the target language, as in a small child who calls any four-legged animal “Dog.”

overregularization

A part of the language-learning process in which children try to make language more regular than it is. As in saying “taked” instead of “took.”

overweight

Having more body fat than is the healthy target, resulting in weight that is greater than the amount considered desirable.

ovum

The female reproductive cell, or gamete.

palliative care

A philosophy and approach to medical care that is designed not to treat or cure an illness but to relieve suffering and improve quality of life for the terminally ill.

Parkinson’s disease

A progressive disorder of the nervous system characterized by tremor and lack of coordination.

peer facilitation

Teaching or assistance offered by an equal or peer who is trained in that particular skill or subject.

peer pressure

Social pressure from members of one’s peer group who try to talk you into behaving a certain way in order to be accepted.

peer selection

Choosing people with similar values, traits, and behaviors as friends because they require less effort and understand you.

people preference

Liking one person more than another.

percentile

One of a set of points on a scale of 100 equal groups that is arrived at by dividing the whole into parts in order of magnitude.

perception

The experience of seeing, hearing, or touching using the senses and responding to both the stimulant and the response.

perinatologist

A medical doctor (MD) who specializes in high-risk pregnancies.

permissive parenting

A child-raising style in which parents may explain rules, but they make few demands and their discipline is lax.

pervasive developmental disorder (PDD)

A group of disorders that includes Autism and are characterized by developmental delays in socialization and communication skills.

phenylketonuria (PKU)

A rare, inherited disorder that prevents the body from breaking down a specific amino acid. If left untreated, this disorder can lead to serious health problems, such as brain damage, seizures, behavioral or social problems, and progressive mental retardation.

phoneme

The smallest unit of speech as in a single letter and its meaning and sound.

phoneme discrimination

The ability to categorize minute sounds that vary only slightly. This skill is one of the building blocks of language learning.

phonemes

The smallest units of speech as in a single letter and its meaning and sound.

phonemic awareness

The ability to hear, identify, and use individual sounds in spoken words.

phonics approach

A method of teaching reading that stresses the relationship of letters and sounds over the meaning and context of the word.

phonological awareness

The understanding that sounds are structured in words and function in many different ways.

phonological processing

The ability to see or hear a word, detect the different sounds, and associate the speech sounds to letters in the written word.

physician-assisted suicide

A death in which a medical doctor participates in the intentional termination of life by helping the patient to die.

pituitary gland

As the major endocrine gland, it produces hormones that help control growth and the functions of other glands.

placenta

The vascular organ in mammals that joins the mother and fetus during pregnancy, nourishing the baby, and is pushed out of the mother after the baby’s birth.

polygenic

Related to a group genes that are responsible for hereditary variation and a distinguishing characteristic.

population

A group of people, animals, or organisms that are of a particular concern in a scientific study.

postconventional

Choosing to make moral decisions for justice and the good of humanity, over reward, punishment, or the rule of law.

postconventional moral reasoning

The ethical belief that the individual’s own perspective may be more important than society’s, requiring the individual to break the rules if it means contributing to the greater good.

preconventional

Decision-making that is focused on the self, with the goal of getting rewarded and avoiding punishment.

prefrontal cortex

The part of the brain at the front of the frontal lobe just behind the forehead. It is responsible for executive functioning, such as decision-making, reasoning, planning, impulse control, and prioritizing tasks.

premature

Occurring too soon or before it is ready. Also, born before the standard time.

premotor cortex

Part of the brain that executes limb movements and signals other parts of the body to select movements.

preoperational intelligence

Piaget's term for a stage of development between ages 2 and 6 when a child is still focused on him/herself and cannot apply logic but begins to engage in role-playing and symbolic play.

preoperational thought

Piaget's term for a stage of development between ages 2 and 6 when a child is still focused on him/herself and cannot apply logic but begins to engage in role-playing and symbolic play.

preterm birth

A birth occurring before 37 weeks of pregnancy.

primary caregiver

The family member, trained professional, or individual who is in charge of caring for someone who cannot care for him/herself.

primary emotions

The unthinking, instinctive emotion one first feels when responding to a situation.

primary intersubjectivity

A developmental process between 3 and 9 months of age during which children start to study and copy their parents’ way of thinking as a means of understanding the world.

private speech

A combination of language and thought when children generally between ages 2 to 7 talk out loud to themselves while working through a task or playing.

progesterone

A natural hormone that prepares the uterus for the fertilized egg and maintains pregnancy.

prosocial behavior

Voluntary actions that help others and show concern for their feelings and welfare.

protein synthesis

The process in which individual amino acids are connected to each other in a specific order so as to create a new protein.

protein-calorie malnutrition

The leading cause of death of children in developing countries, this disorder results from a diet that lacks adequate amounts of protein and energy (calories).

puberty

The period of development when a person’s body transitions into adulthood. The sexual organs mature and the body readies for the possibility of reproduction.

Quad Screen

A blood test performed during pregnancy to check hormone levels in the mother’s blood and determine whether the baby may be at risk for birth defects.

quickening

The moment during pregnancy when the mother first feels her baby move inside her womb. Generally, quickening occurs around the start of the second trimester.

quiet awake

radiation therapy

The treatment of disease (especially cancer) by exposure to high-energy radiation.

random assignment

In a research study, the relying on chance procedures, such as coin flipping, for the assignment of participants to control or experimental groups. This random approach insures that each participant has an equal opportunity of being assigned to a particular group.

random sample

A study sample that is selected using the random assignment method that insures that all members of a group or population have the same chance of being selected.

rapid eye movement (REM)

Motions of the eyeballs under closed eyes that occur during a stage of sleep.

reaction time

The amount of time between the occurrence of an event – usually a sudden one -- and how rapidly the individual assesses it and takes action.

reactive aggression

An angry, physical act committed with little thought in response to a similar hostile act inflicted by another.

reciprocity

The idea that two objects, quantities, or actions can be mutually related such that a change in one is compensated for by a corresponding or opposite change in another.

reflex

A response to a stimulus that you were born with so it is unlearned and automatic.

reflexive crying

The way babies ages 0 to 2 months communicate discomfort in their physical state.

reinforcement

Implementation of reward or punishment that is designed to increase the likelihood of behavior happening again.

relational aggression

Calculated behavior intended to control relationships in order to hurt or manipulate others.

REM sleep

A restorative stage of sleep during which there is some erratic movement of eyes and muscles and increased brain activity and dreaming.

representative sample

A small research group with characteristics that resemble those of the larger population from which it is drawn.

resilience

The ability to recover from adversity, difficulty, or challenge to return to a healthy emotional state and healthy level of functioning.

resilient

Able to quickly recover from difficulties to an original form, mindset, or state.

retina

A membrane of the eyeball responsible for receiving light, communicating images to the brain, and then forming visual images.

reversibility

A mental operation defined by the understanding that numbers or objects can be changed and then sometimes changed back to their original state by reversing the steps of the initial change process. Reversibility also works in the relationship between mental categories (i.e. My cat is a pet. My pet is a cat.)

risk factor

A condition or behavior that increases the likelihood of disease, injury, or ill health.

rite of passage

A ritual or ceremony that marks a person’s transition from one social status to another.

rooting reflex

A normal infant’s response of head-turning and sucking movements when stroked on the side of the mouth or cheek.

rough-and-tumble play

Energetic play like wrestling and chasing that is accompanied by good humor.

sample

A portion of a population or group that is selected to represent the group as a whole.

scaffold

A resource or support that is introduced to help teach and then gradually removed as the student learns to accomplish the task without that help.

scaffolding

A method of teaching when resources and supports are introduced and then gradually removed as the student learns to accomplish the task without that help.

scientific method

A standardized, investigative process for addressing scientific inquiries and gathering information using a specific series of steps aimed at minimizing human influences and biases.

screening

Testing for diseases when there are no signs or symptoms.

secondary emotions

Responses that follow and analyze, often in a negative way, an initial emotion or response.

secondary intersubjectivity

The stage between ages 9 and 14 months when a child begins to develop joint attention. The child relates to another person by watching that person and then checking to see if they are looking at the same thing.

secure attachment

A deep, emotional bond stemming from good experiences with a caregiver. Babies who have such an attachment learn to trust.

secure attachment (type B)

A level of attachment in which babies seek to be close to their caregivers and demonstrate an attachment to them.

secure base

The caregiver whom a baby trusts and, once crawling, uses as a home base from which to gain confidence to explore the environment.

selective attention

The process of paying attention to one thing, while ignoring other messages .occurring at the same time.

selective attrition

The possibility of people dropping out of psychological experiments and thereby threatening the value of the experiment.

selective optimization with compensation

The model for successful aging proposed by Paul and Margaret Baltes that explains how individuals work toward the maximization of their strengths and a minimization of their losses as they age. The model describes how those who age in a healthy and productive manner are likely (1) to select areas in which they would like to focus their resources (i.e. set goals), (2) to optimize, or focus, their available resources toward achieving their goals, and (3) to compensate for the inevitable physical and cognitive losses of aging by rerouting their resources to emphasize their strengths or adjusting their goals so that success is attainable.

self-awareness

The ability to recognize one’s feelings, behaviors, and qualities that make oneself different from others.

self-concept

The way in which one sees and understands oneself that includes one's perception of one's own appearance, personality, competence, and individuality.

self-esteem

The way in which one feels about oneself and how one values one's self. Self-esteem can be affected by one's environment and interactions with others.

self-locomotion

The relationship between a child’s ability to move by themselves and the resulting spatial exploration.

self-regulation

The ability to behave in a way that is in sync with your values and to regulate or control your emotions as needed.

senescence

The state of being old or growing old.

sensation

The detection of a stimulus – a particular feeling or effect -- on your body.

sensorimotor intelligence

The initial stage of development (0 to 2 years), during which babies discover the relationship between themselves and the external world.

sensory memory

The first stage of memory, during which incoming stimuli and information are received in an instant.

separation anxiety

A normal developmental stage when child experiences anxiety when he/she is separated from the primary caregiver.

sex

Having male/female characteristics. Gender.

sex differences

The biological differences between males and females.

sexual orientation

An individual’s sexual attraction to and sexual preference for members of the same sex, members of the opposite sex, and/or members of either sex. While some research suggests that sexual orientation endures over time, even over a lifetime, other research suggests that sexual orientation may not fit neatly into these categories and may be fluid and change over the course of a lifetime.

sickle-cell anemia

A hereditary blood disorder that affects red blood cells causing pain and infections. It is found largely in the African American population.

single-parent families

Households in which there is only one parent raising the children.

skipped generation

A household in which one or more grandparent has sole responsibility for raising grandchildren without any assistance from the parent(s).

social cognition

How members of the same species store, retrieve and process information in the brain.

social comparison

The process in which people evaluate themselves by comparing themselves to other people.

social referencing

The act of l.ooking to others for clues about how to react to unfamiliar situations, objects, or people in the environment.

sociocultural perspective

The belief that a person’s personality, attitudes, values, and abilities are dependent on their background.

socioeconomic status (SES)

A measure of class or social standing as suggested by income, education, and occupational prestige.

sonogram

An image generated from a noninvasive diagnostic imaging technique that uses the high-frequency sound waves of ultrasound. While this technique may be used for any part of the body, it is often used on a pregnant woman's abdomen and pelvic cavity to generate an image of a baby and the placenta. While the terms ultrasound and sonogram have different meanings (ultrasound refers to the medical technique and sonogram refers to the image generated from this technique), the terms are often used interchangeably.

sperm

The male reproductive cell, or gamete.

spina bifida

A congenital birth defect in which the bones of the spine do not properly form around the spinal cord during prenatal development. Depending on the severity of the spina bifida, there may be lifelong physical limitations and neurological symptoms caused by the poorly developed spinal column.

spontaneous abortion

A pregnancy that ends on its own before for the 20th week, before the fetus has reached a viable gestational age.

stage

A period of time that is part of an order of succession..

state of arousal

A state of mental and physical awareness.

static reasoning

An aspect of cognitive development in children ages 2 to 6 that thinks the world does not change or, if it does, it is sudden and complete, not gradual.

stereotype

An oversimplified assumption or generalized belief about a group of people. It can be positive or negative.

Strange Situation

A test to explore childhood attachments that is based on the observation of children when they interact with parents and strangers.

stranger wariness

The fear strangers, a response that first appears in babies at 6 month of age.

stress

The body’s response to threatening, challenging, or adverse events that put strain on the individual’s physical and emotional capabilities.

stressor

A threatening or challenging stimulus that elicits stress.

sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

The sudden and unexplained death, usually during sleep, of babies with no known illness between the ages to 2 weeks and 6 months.

sufficient condition

A statement that must beproven true to verify another statement.

syllable babbling

The nonsensical utterances babies ages 4 to 6 months make when they repeat the same short sound or syllable over and over again.

synapse

The microscopic gap across which the axon of a neuron can transfer an electrical impulse to the dendrites of an adjacent neuron.

synchrony

A simultaneous action like responding closely to a child’s expressions with similar and coordinated gestures.

systematic thinking

A methodical way of thinking that is based on the idea that to create different outcomes in a situation, one must change the situation’s underpinnnings.

systemic treatment

Therapy that reaches and affects the entire body.

targeted therapy

A cancer regimen that uses drugs or other substances and targets the cancer cells while doing little damage to the surrounding normal cells.

tau

A protein that binds and regulates the stability of neuronal microtubules, the rods that help support nerve cells.

Tay-Sachs disease

A rare, inherited, degenerative, untreatable disorder of the nervous system most commonly found in those of Eastern European Jewish descent. In infants and children, the disease is fatal and progresses rapidly as it destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Very rarely, this disease can appear in adults and while not necessarily fatal in adults, it leads to massive degeneration of the central nervous system.

telegraphic speech

A term for speech taught to children and people recovering from brain injuries in which only the simplest, most important words are used to express an idea.

temperament

An individual's innate personality and behavioral and emotional responses.

teratogen

A drug or other factor that interferes with the formation of an embryo or fetus and subsequently causes birth defects.

testosterone

A steroid hormone produced in the male reproductive glands that is responsible for normal growth and development of the sex organs and sexual characteristics of men.

theory of mind

The understanding that others have feelings, thoughts, beliefs, desires, and intentions that are different from one’s own.

transient exuberance

Rapid brain growth during the first two years of life that is characterized by a great increase in the number of dendrites.

transition

The development or evolution from one life stage, status, or role to another.

trimester

One of the three-month-long stages of pregnancy.

Trisomy 18

A genetic condition in which a child is born with three copies of the 18th chromosome instead of two. The result is abnormalities of the brain, heart and other internal organs.

trust versus mistrust

Erikson’s first psychosocial crisis. Infants learn trust or distrust based on whether their basic needs (food, contact, comfort, nurturing) are met. These early life experiences shape the trusting or distrusting outlook that the child will carry throughout life.

tumor

An abnormal mass of solid or fluid-filled tissue that occurs when cells divide and grow too much.

ultrasound

A noninvasive diagnostic imaging technique that uses the high-frequency sound waves of ultrasound to generate an image. While this technique may be used for any part of the body, it is often used on a pregnant woman's abdomen and pelvic cavity to generate an image of a baby and the placenta. While the terms ultrasound and sonogram have different meanings (ultrasound refers to the medical technique and sonogram refers to the image generated from this technique), the terms are often used interchangeably.

umbilical cord

A long narrow tube that connects the baby in the womb to its mother.

underextension

A language development phenomenon in children at around 18 months of age in which they use a single word to identify one particular object and fail to use it to identify more of the same kind of object later.

uterus

The womb or female organ in which babies develop before birth.

variable

A quality or value that can be changed. In research, a variable is manipulated to determine if changes to one thing can result in changes to something else.

vascular dementia

The second most common form of dementia is caused by a reduction in blood supply to the brain, usually as a result of a series of minor strokes.

vernix caseosa

A whitish coating that covers the baby's skin. This "cheesy" substance, thought to protect baby's skin from long exposure to the amniotic fluid, forms in the 19th week of gestation and is shed just before birth.

victimized children

Children who are treated unjustly cruelly through sexual assault, bullying, or physical abuse.

visual cliff

An apparatus developed to determine if infants have fear of heights, and subsequently, depth perception.

vitro fertilization

The process of joining a woman’s egg and a man’s sperm in a laboratory dish.

voluntary euthanasia

The practice of ending a patient's life at the request of the patient, who is mentally competent when making the request.

whole-language approach

A method of teaching reading that does not believe words should be broken out or decoded by sound, but instead should be learned within their context and relation to each other.

withdrawn-rejected child

A child who experiences neglect and lack of popularity due to feeling timid and anxious.

withdrawn-rejected

Removed from social interaction with peers because of lacking acceptance and approval of one’s peers.

working memory

The brain system that manipulates information and simultaneously stores memory.

X chromosomes

One of two sex-determining chromosomes. Boys have one X and one Y chromosome in the 23rd pair. Girls have two matching X chromosomes.

zone of proximal development (ZPD)

Vygotsky's term for describing a phase of learning when a child is close to mastering a skill/skills but has not yet acquired the ability to perform the skill/skills without assistance.

zygote

A fertilized egg cell that is formed when the female gamete (egg or ovum) and a male gamete (sperm) combine.

kinesthetic

Learning that is reliant on movement and the sense of touch – as opposed to looking or listening.

rhythmic intelligence

A kind of intelligence found in people who learn best by sound and lecture. These individuals are skilled at singing, and appreciating, composing and playing music.

IQ

The initialism for intelligence quotient is a score that is a measure of a person’s intelligence determined by tests that consider mental age vs chronological or actual age.

IQ

linguistic intelligence

A kind of intelligence is found in people who learn best by thinking in words. These individuals are skilled at writing stories, reading, and memorizing information.

naturalistic intelligence

A kind of intelligence found in people who learn best by working in a natural environment, interacting with plants and animals and other features of the natural world.

agreeableness

One of the five personality traits, agreeableness refers to a personality that is trusting, kind, helpful, and cooperative.

extraversion

One of the five personality traits, agreeableness refers to a personality that is sociable, lively, talkative, and expressive.

neuroticism

A personality trait characterized by emotional instability, anxiety, irritability, negativity, and moodiness.

reactive

Responding to someone or something else. Usually people with reactive personality are passive and dull unless prompted.

introverted

Having a personality trait that finds being around others draining and is energized by being alone.

child temperaments

The unique personalities and attitudes children demonstrate when dealing with the world.

experiential learning

A process of developing knowledge and skills from experience outside the traditional academic setting.

scripts

Themes and programs that describe the proper behaviors and responses to habitual activities and social interactions.

Just Right

Complete and perfect.

“just right” phenomenon

Compulsive behavior in which children, usually ages 2-6, insist on particular items, rituals, and routines, but cannot clearly articulate why.

“just right” phenomenon

Compulsive behavior in which children, usually ages 2-6, insist on particular items, rituals, and routines, but cannot clearly articulate why.

inhibitory control

Controlling one’s emotional reactions. Governed in part by the orbito-frontal area of the prefrontal cortex (PFC)

inhibitory control

The ability to consciously control one’s thoughts and behaviors.

prefrontal cortex (PFC)

Located behind the forehead, this part of the brain governs abstract thinking and analysis, social control, and the process of absorbing information and deciding on action.

moral development

The emergence, change, and understanding of a person’s principles of how people should interact with others in a just society.

self-regulate

This core strength is the ability to control one’s behavior and emotions so that they remain consistent with one’s deepest values.

Erik Erikson

Known as the father of psychosocial behavior, Erikson (1902-1994) developed important theories regarding the stages of development, particularly with regard to personality. Among his many original ideas was the “identity crisis.”

Erik Erikson

executive functions

The broad term for the control and management mental processes including memory, reasoning, problem solving, and planning.

infantile amnesia

The inability to remember the feelings and experiences of early childhood.

preoperational stage

A stage of development between ages 2 and 6 when a child is still focused on him/herself, cannot apply logic, but begins to engage in roleplaying and symbolic play. (A broom becomes a horse.)

Piaget’s preoperational stage

The psychologist Piaget's theory that during this stage of development between ages 2 and 6 when a child is still focused on him/herself, cannot apply logic, but begins to engage in roleplaying and symbolic play. (A broom becomes a horse.)

fine (motor skills????) this is adupe

Small, skillful movements usually using the hands and fingers.

gross motor skills

The ability to control muscles of the body to create large movements like walking, usually by the age of two

inhibitory control

The executive function process of ignoring or suppressing responses to unimportant stimuli that attempt to interfere with the completion of a task.

prefrontal cortex (PFC)

Located behind the forehead, this part of the brain governs abstract thinking and analysis, social control, and the process of absorbing information and deciding on action.

mylination

learned helplessness

A condition that occurs when people or animals feel they have no control over a bad situation, they feel hopeless and retreat to a state of inaction.

Pre-Operational stage of development

A child, from ages 2 to 7 years, learns about stable concept, mental reasoning, functionality, and symbolism. More specifically, around age 4, when learning about the world the child may use intuitive thought to understand basics in the world and to learn about cause and effect relationships

magical thinking

The nonscientific and irrational belief that an outcome is reliant on actions or events that are completely unrelated to the outcome.

Austim Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

A complex disorder of the brain characterized by difficulties with communication, social interactions, and repetitive behaviors. Autistic children often appear to be “in their own world.”

Jean Piaget

The psychologist and philosopher Piaget (1896-1980) is best known for his theories of intellectual development including the stages that children go through in developing intelligence and thought processes.

Jean Piaget

autonomy

The idea of freely deciding one’s actions oneself.

authoritative

Self-confident, sometimes strict, with a commanding knowledge of a subject.

authoritative parenting

A parenting style characterized by harsh punishments, strict rules, high expectations, and little explanation for the reasoning behind these rules

fast-map

When children only need to hear words once in order to learn them.

Lev Vygotsky

The work of pioneering psychologist Vygotsky (1896-1934) is the foundation of much of developmental and child psychology and stresses the idea that child development is the result of interactions with social environment, especially with caregivers. Ideally, these caregivers guide children’s learning - or scaffold -by presenting challenges, adding important information, assisting without taking over, and motivating the child.

Vygotsky

intrinsic rewards

Motivation from within the person because it is self-fulfilling and personally rewarding.

extrinsic rewards

Motivation driven by from some exterior force like punishment or required duty.

initiative versus shame and guilt

A theory of Erikson's that during the third stage of development, children begin to assess and take action of things independently, but they also discover feelings of guilt when made to feel bad about those actions.

child-centered program

An educational approach in which the children are encouraged to actively participate in structure and direction of their learning.

child-centered programs

Educational curriculums in which the children are encouraged to collaborate and actively participate in the structure and direction of their learning.

child-centered programs

teacher-directed programs

Educational curriculums in which the teachers determine the structure and direction of the learning and lead the students in an orderly, non-collaborative way.

interventions programs

Services designed to support children in order to reduce the effects of a developmental delay, a disability, or a disadvantage.

interventions programs

self-regulating behavior

The ability to behave in a way that is in sync with your values and to regulate or control your emotions as needed.

goal-directed behavior

Deliberate behavior driven by a purpose.

delayed gratification

The ability to resist temptation by waiting and forgoing a small reward now, for a larger reward in the future.

initiatives

Proposals or actions that begin a plan or task.

preoperational period

A stage of development between ages 2 and 6 when a child is still focused on him/herself, cannot apply logic, but begins to engage in roleplaying and symbolic play.

class inclusion

The understanding that some smaller groups are a part of a larger group or class. Dogs are animals, so animals, as a class or larger group, includes dogs.

Imaginary companions

Made up or pretend friends of children.

Play

A range of recreational activities that give pleasure and enjoyment and teach social skills.

social play

Play that engages others and so builds connections with another child or group of children.

sociodramatic play

The type of play in which a child uses fantasy or make-believe to encourage their own creativity and play acting. Also called pretend play.

sociodramatic play

Pretend play

The type of play in which a child uses fantasy or make-believe to encourage their own creativity and play acting. Also called pretend play

Pretend play

divergent thinking

A thought process encouraging open-ended, creative discussion to develop an array of solutions.

impulse control

The inability to resist an urge to do something harmful to oneself or others.

social rules

Social behavior and ettiquette that is expected when interacting with others.

causation

Events that happen at the same time or in the same space can be interpreted as being causally related instead of simple coincidence.

sensitive period

Those times when particular areas of the brain are most receptive to important connections and experiences and so see great developmental growth.

sensitive period

false belief

A misconception that is not based on reality. .

gender schema

The idea that sexual gender differences vary from culture to culture and that children learn what it means to be male or female where they live and, subsequently, adjust their behavior to fit those norms.

theory-theory

The idea that children will construct theories to explain the world around them.

theory-theory

The idea that children will construct theories to explain the world around them.

low in extraversion

Having a quiet nature that prefers less social acitivity.

high in neuroticsm

Having a tendency for experiencing negative emotional feelings including anger, envy, guilt, anxiety, and depression.

Injury control

A collaborative, scientific approach to the study of the causes of injuries and to the development of responses, including inventions, to prevent future injuries.

primary prevention

Medical treatment , like an immunization, that is aimed at protecting healthy people from developing a disease or ill health.

sense of self

The perception one has of oneself.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

A behavioral disorder characterized by persistent and developmentally inappropriate inattention, impulsivity, and/or hyperactivity

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

type II diabetes

Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes, a lifelong disease in which there is a high level of glucose or sugar in the blood.

Systematic desensitization

A therapeutic treatment that helps people overcome fears and anxiety: by assuming a relaxed, positive state when exposed to the fear-inducing situation, the fear will go away.

modeling

The social learning theory that a person learns how to respond by watching how others handle a situation.

handedness

The preference for using one hand over another.

frontal cortex

This part of the brain is located behind the prefrontal cortex in the frontal lobe and is associated with impulse control and aggressiveness

frontal cortex

Frontal lobe

.

Emotional regulation

The way one understands emotions and how to control them and build positive emotional experiences.

Diana Baumrind

Born in 1927, Baumrind is a clinical and developmental psychologist known categorizing parenting styles into four different, basic types.

parenting style

The way parents choose to raise their children, especially the values they hold and the emotional climate they provide.

Authoritarian

Characteristically offering harsh punishments, strict rules, and high expectations.

Neglectful parenting

A parenting style characterized by showing little love and affection and being uninvolved in the child’s life beyond providing the most basic food and shelter.

positive reinforcement

The practice of rewarding good behavior and ignoring bad, in order to increase good behavior.

positive reinforcement

mentoring

A partnership in which one person empowers and motivates another by supportively sharing knowledge and expertise.

whole object assumption

A principle of word learning in which a child assumes a word refers to the whole object and not the parts or features of the object.

externalizing behaviors

Harmful, behavioral responses that involve blaming and lashing out at others as opposed to assuming blame for oneself.

externalizing behaviors

Piaget

symbolic thought

The use of abstract concepts like words, symbols, gestures, and images to represent reality.

securely attached

Feeling a deep emotional bond stemming from good experiences with a caregiver. Babies who have such an attachment learn to trust.

holophrases

A single words like "Stop!" that expresses a complex idea.

Montessori schools

A school that follows the philosophies of Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952) who believed that children should be allowed to learn on their own without grades and with a minimum of guidance from teachers.

Montessori schools

Teacher-directed programs

An educational approach in which the coursework and the classroom programming is initiated and lead primarily by the teacher.

Teacher-directed programs

Head Start

A federally-funded U.S. pre-school program for children ages 3-5 that engages the whole family in the child’s learning while providing educational, nutritional, and medical services.

Head Start

internalizing behaviors

Problematic, negative behaviors that are directed towards oneself. Examples include over or under-eating, cutting, and substance abuse.

internalizing behaviors

internalizing

Directing emotions towards inwards.

externalizing behaviors

Problematic,aggressive tendencies of lashing out and causing harm to others.

externalizing behaviors

secondary prevention

The early detection and treatment of disease that may have infected a person but not yet shown obvious symptoms.

egocentric

Self-centered and thinking without regard for the feelings of others.

egocentric

asthma

A chronic, lung disease that may affect individuals of all ages and is characterized by difficult breathing due to the inflammation and narrowing of the airways.

asthma

immunization

The treatment by which a person or animal is protected against a disease.

self-efficacy

The belief in one’s ability to organize, take action and succeed, especially with regard to setting and tackling goals.

bipolar disorder

A mental disorder in which a person has radical mood changes ranging from deep depression to extreme happiness and hyper-activity.

Child culture

The interaction between a child and the place and culture where he/she lives. ??

Bilingual

Able to speak and understand two languages with the ease of a native speaker.

Bilingual schooling

The teaching of school work in K-12 schools in two languages.

bully-victim

Someone who was the target of bullying, abusive and humiliating behavior by peers and then responds by bullying others.

learning disability

A neurological condition that creates difficulties in one’s ability to store, process and produce information at the expected level of one’s peers.

learning disability

individualized education plan

A written plan developed by school staff with input from parents that specifies the goals and the delivery of special education supports and services for a student with a disability.

individualized education plan

multiple intelligences

The theory that intelligence is not a single entity, but instead a range of abilities and talents that have been narrowed down to eight different types of intelligences or perspectives and talents that one may possess. These intelligences include linguistic, musical (singing), spatial, bodily-kinesthetic (movement), interpersonal (social understanding), intrapersonal (self-understanding), and naturalistic (working with plants and animals).

operant conditioning

Behavior that occurs when one learns there is a reward or punishment attached to it.

obese

Being grossly overweight with an excess of body fat.

acceleration

The completing of an education program at a faster rate or a younger age than one’s peers.

colostrum

The first secretion of the mammary glands after giving birth. High in antibodies, it is secreted for approximately two days before the breast milk comes in.

colostrum

prolactin

The main hormone involved in the stimulation and flow of milk from the breast after childbirth.

prolactin

oxytocin

A hormone released by the brain with levels that increase during sexual interaction, childbirth and breastfeeding.

oxytocin

Kanga Roo Care

A child-care technique in which a baby is stripped to its diapers and held “skin-to-skin” against the parent’s chest and covered with a blanket. This method is favored for premature, low-birth weight infants because it’s been shown to stabilize their temperatures, increase weight, and improve breathing.

Kanga Roo Care

temper tantrum

An emotional outburst usually associated with children. Characteristic disruptive behavior includes crying, defiance, and anger.

Primary Circular Reactions

A stage of development between ages 1 and 4 months when an infant makes a pleasurable discovery such as thumb sucking and realizes he/she has the power to repeat it.

ossification

The process in which soft tissue hardens to bone.

ossification

a process where much of a newborn baby's cartilageskeleton gradually turns to bone

Secondary circular reactions

A stage of development between ages 4 and 8 months when a baby discovers the ability to interact with the people and objects in its world and realizes he/she has the power to repeat that interaction. Picking up a toy and sucking on it is an example.

sensorimotor development

A theory of psychologist Jean Piaget, this first stage of cognitive development occurs between birth and age 2 when the baby discovers there is a relationship between themselves and their environment.

intentionality

The relationship between the content of a thought or substance of an object and one’s interpretation of its more abstract, personal meaning. One has a vision of Santa Claus even though one knows it’s not real.

Experience-expectant

Brain functions develop through experiences common to all infants, such as vision, hearing, touch, language, and motor development.

Experience-dependent

Brain functions are unique to the individual infant and depend on the environmental exposure and resources available to a that particular individual.

postpartum depression

A mood disorder that affects some mothers after child birth and can last up to a year.

postpartum depression

auditory cortex

The part of the brain that controls hearing.

auditory cortex

cochlea

Essential to the development of hearing, this organ in the inner ear picks up sound vibrations and translates them into nerve impulses to be sent to the brain.

pruning

The natural loss of neurons or connections in the brain that are either unnecessary or unused.

pruning

exuberant synaptogenesis

The process of creating a large number of synapses in early development

exuberant synaptogenesis

The process of creating a large number of synapses in early development

plasticity

The ability of the brain to adapt and respond to demands of one’s surroundings.

neural pruning

The natural process of eliminating neural connections in the brain that are not used or unnecessary, while strengthening those that are more useful or necessary.

mirror neurons

A type of brain cell that activates when one moves and also when one sees someone else performing the same action.

VLBW

An initialism for Very Low Birth Weight, used in reference to infants weighing less than 3 pounds at birth..

ELBW

An initialism for Extremely Low Birth Weight, which is defined as a baby born prematurely and weighing about 14 to 35 ounces at birth.

small for gestational age (SFGA)

An assignation for developing babies in the womb or an infant that is smaller in size than normal, usually falling below the 10th percentile for the gestational age.

ICN

An initialism for the International Council of Nurses, the oldest international health organization.

montgomery glands

Small secreting glands surrounding the nipple that lubricate the breast during breastfeeding.

fontanels

Commonly called soft spots, these are the tender areas on an infant’s head where the brain is not fully formed.

Basic Brain structures

The three main parts of the brain: the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain.

Visual cortex

The part of the brain that receives and process visual information. It is in the visual cortex of the brain that one sees the images before one’s eyes.