Week 4- Psych 105 (Development & Language)

Teratogens

Substances that can cause birth defects or abnormalities in a developing embryo or fetus upon exposure.

Habituation Procedure

Method where infants are repeatedly presented with one stimulus and their looking time is recorded.

Cognitive Development

The process by which people learn to think, understand, and perceive the world around them.

Schemas

Knowledge structures that help the brain understand the world and how to act.

A not B error

The tendency of infants under 10 months to look in the original location (box 'A') rather than the new location (box 'B') where an object was moved.

Failure to Conserve

A cognitive error in children where they fail to recognize that an object can retain its main qualities despite a change in appearance.

Deductive Reasoning

A logical approach that progresses from general ideas to specific conclusions.

Heinz Dilemma

A moral problem illustrating Kohlberg's stages of moral development involving a man who cannot afford a treatment for his dying wife.

Language

A system of communication that follows rules (grammar) to convey meaning.

Aphasia

A language disorder affecting a person's ability to communicate, potentially following a stroke or brain injury.

Broca’s Area

Brain area involved in the expressive aspects of spoken and written language.

Wernicke Area

Brain area located in the dominant hemisphere responsible for language comprehension.

Phonetics

The study of the production and perception of speech sounds.

Phonology

The study of complex and abstract sound patterns and structures.

Syntax

The study of how the brain organizes sentences from smaller phrases and words.

Pragmatics

A subfield of linguistics focusing on how context influences the interpretation of language.

Universal Grammar

The concept that all human languages share fundamental similarities due to innate principles unique to language.

Labial Consonants

Consonants where one or both lips are the active articulators.

Sloppy Speech

Unsystematic or overly informal speech typically used in casual daily interactions.