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Developmental Psychology The study of changes in physiology,cognition, and social behavior over th

life span.

Teratogens Environmental agents that harm theembryo or fetus.

Synaptic Pruning A process whereby the synapticconnections in the brain that are

frequently used are preserved, and thothat are not are lost.

Critical Periods Biologically determined time periods fthe development of specific skills.

Sensitive Periods Biologically determined time periodswhen specific skills develop most easil

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Attachment A strong emotional connection thatpersists over time and across

circumstances.

Secure Attachment Attachment style for a majority ofinfants, who are readily comforted wh

their caregiver returns after a briefseparation.

Avoidant Attachment Attachment style in which infants ignotheir caregiver when he or she return

after a brief separation.

Anxious-Ambivalent Attachment Attachment style in which infantsbecome extremely upset when their

caregiver leaves but reject the caregivewhen he or she returns.

Disorganized Attachment Attachment style in which infants givmixed responses when their caregiveleaves and then returns from a short

absence.

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Infantile Amnesia The inability to remember events fromearly childhood.

Assimilation The process by which a new experiencis placed into an exsisting schema.

Accomodation The process by which a schema ischanged to incorporate a new

experience that does not easily fit into exsisting schema.

Sensorimotor Stage The first stage in Piagets theory ofcognitive development, during whichinfants acquire information about the

world though their senses and responreflexively.

Object Permanence The understanding that an objectcontinues to exsist even when it canno

be seen.

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Preoperational Stage The second stage in Piagets theory ofcognitive development, during whichchildren think symbolically about the

objects, but reason is based onappearance rather than logic.

Concrete Operational Stage The third stage in Piagets theory ofcognitive development, during which

children begin to think about andunderstand operations in ways that ar

reversible.

Formal Operational Stage The final stage in Piagets theory ofcognitive development; it involves the

ability to think abstractly and toformulate and test hypotheses throug

deductive logic.

Theory of Mind The term used to describe the ability texplain and predict other peoples

behavior as a result of recognizing themental state.

Preconventional Earliest level of moral development, inwhich slef-interest determines what i

moral.

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Conventional Middle stage of moral development, iwhich rules and the approval of other

determines what is moral.

Postconventional Highest stage of moral development, iwhich decisions about morality depen

on abstract principles.

Telegraphic Speech The tendency for children to speak usinrudimentary sentences that are missinwords and grammatical markings bu

follow a logical syntax.

Social Development The maturation of skills or abilities thaenable people to live in a world with

other people.

Gender Identity Personal beliefs about whether one ismale or female.

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Gender Roles The Characteristics Associated withmales and females because of cultura

influence or learning.

Gender Schemas Cognitive structures that influence hopeople perceive the behaviors of femal

and males.