Psych Chapter 3 Vocab

Developmental Psychology

the study of changes that occur as an individual matures

Grasping Reflex

an infant’s clinging response to a touch on the palm of his or her hand

Rooting Reflex

an infant’s response in turning toward the source of touching that occurs anywhere around his or her neck

Telegraphic Speech

the kind of verbal utterances in which words are left out, but the meaning is usually clear

Schema

a conceptual framework a person uses to make sense of the world

Assimilation

the process of fitting objects and experiences into one’s schemas

Accomodation

the adjustment of one’s schemas to include newly observed events and experiences

Representational Thought

the intellectual ability of a child to picture something in his or her mind

Conservation

the principle that a given quantity does not change when its appearance is changed

Egocentric

a young child’s inability to understand another person’s perspective

Imprinting

inherited tendency of some newborn animals to follow the first moving object they see

Socialization

the process of learning the rules of behavior of the culture within which an individual is born and will live

Identification

the process by which a child adopts the values and principles of the same-sex parent

Sublimation

the process of redirecting sexual impulses into learning tasks

Role Taking

children’s play that involves assuming adult roles, thus enabling the child to experience different points of view