Psyc 352 Final Definitions

Language

Sounds, words, and ways people express themselves in their culture

Phonology

The sounds of a language

Semantics

The meaning of words and sentences

Syntax

The grammatical structure of a language

Pragmatics

Socially appropriate language use

Gesture

Ways of gathering info and regulating behaviour of others

Infant-directed speech (IDS)

Caregivers change their speech patterns when addressing infants and young children

Intersubjectivity

Sharing common focus of attention by 2+ people

Joint attention

Baby and parent looking at and reacting to the same thing in the world

Theory of Mind (ToM)

The ability to attribute mental states to the self and others; to know that others can have mental states that are different from your own

Opacity of mind

Cultural norms surrounding discussing mental states; claim that one can never know what another is thinking

Life way

No privacy of mind; behaviours observed; less mental state talk; parents do not infer child’s actions

Prosocial behaviours

Voluntary acts intended to benefit others, can take variety of forms including helping, sharing, and comforting

Social norms

Rules individuals follow based on empirical expectations and normative expectations

Empirical expectations

Belief that many in the community follow the rule

Normative expectations

Belief that others expect them to conform to the rule

Parallel Play

Children play side by side and do not interact directly; early years

Social play

Interacting with others using pretend play or game play; typically simulates real world activities, challenges, or events

Rough and tumble play

Physical; simulates competition and trust

Symbolic play

Using something to stand for something else; representative

Natural pedagogy

Use of eye contact, infant’s name, contingent reactivity, pointing to draw attention to information otherwise difficult to acquire, can occur with or without demonstration

Negative feedback

Caregivers make displeasing sounds or comments when infant tries particular tasks or violates cultural norms

Positive feedback

Caregivers smile or make positive sounds or comments when infant does something

Opportunity scaffolding

Caregivers provide learning opportunity with an object without demonstration or ostensive cues

Distribution teaching

Infant on caregiver’s lap or touching caregiver’s leg and the caregiver turns the infant so they face others in the camp. Caregiver’s place infants in a position to interact and learn from others

Demonstration

Caregiver demonstrates how to do a particular task without ostensive cues and interaction; caregiver may give infant object after demonstration; may include moving the infant’s body to demonstrate

Task assignment

Caregiver gives infant task

Redirect

Infant is redirected to another location or activity by pointing or moving infant’s body because they are doing something bad/dangerous

Move body

Caregiver moves infants body to engage in particular activity can also co-occur with natural pedagogy, demonstration, or direct

Mutual joy

Shared positive emotions between an infant and caregiver with no end goal