Lecture 4 - Motor development

Motor Development

The process of acquiring motor skills and abilities throughout infancy and childhood.

Dynamic Systems Theory

A theory emphasizing the interaction between individual, environment, and experience in motor skill development.

Cephalo-Caudal Development

Developmental progress from head to tail, where control of the head comes before the lower torso.

Proximal-Distal Development

Developmental progress from central body parts to peripheral one, where control of the shoulder precedes control of the wrist.

Normative Development

Development that takes into account cultural variations and is assessed through developmental charts.

Maturational Systems

Biological systems that form the foundation of new skills through active reorganization.

Social Cognition

The processes involved in understanding and interpreting social interactions and cues.

Visual Cliff

An experimental setup used to study depth perception and fear of heights in infants.

Embodied Cognition

The theory that cognitive processes are deeply rooted in the body's interactions with the world.

Self-Locomotion

The ability of an infant to move independently, which significantly influences their cognitive and social development.