Developmental Psych

A method used in infant testing where infants are repeatedly exposed to the same stimulus until they show boredom, indicating preference for new stimuli.

Habituation

A-not-B error

The tendency of infants to search for an object in its original location (A) despite having seen it moved to a new location (B), typically overcome by 12 months of age.

Centration

The focus on one aspect of a situation while ignoring others, which leads children to fail conservation tasks.

Piaget’s theory criticism: Underestimation

One criticism is that Piaget underestimated children's cognitive abilities, as some younger children can pass tasks when designs are modified.

Delayed gratification

The ability to resist an immediate reward for a larger reward later, as demonstrated in the marshmallow task.

Object permanence

The understanding that objects continue to exist even when not visible.

Schema

Organized units of knowledge used to understand situations.

Accommodation

The process of adjusting existing theories to incorporate new information.

Conservation

Understanding that altering the appearance of an object does not change its quantity.

Theory of mind

The ability to understand that others have thoughts and feelings different from one's own, typically assessed using the Sally-Anne task.