Developmental Psychology

Prenatal Development

The process of growth and development that occurs during pregnancy, including germinal, embryonic, and fetal stages.

Innate Abilities

Natural reflexes and skills that newborns are born with to aid their survival, such as finding nourishment and avoiding harm.

Teratogens

Toxic substances that can cause serious harm to the embryo or fetus during prenatal development.

Synaptic Pruning

The process in which unused neural connections are eliminated, allowing more efficient brain function as a child matures.

Secure Attachment

A strong emotional bond between a child and caregiver characterized by trust, comfort, and a willingness to explore the environment.

Anxious-Ambivalent Attachment

An attachment style where a child becomes upset when a caregiver leaves and is difficult to soothe upon return.

Authoritarian Parenting Style

A parenting approach demanding strict obedience, often utilizing punishment without room for discussion.

Language Acquisition Device

A theoretical innate mechanism in the brain that enables humans to acquire language.

Critical Periods

Specific windows of time during development when certain skills or abilities must be learned for optimal growth.

Motor Development Milestones

Key stages in physical growth, such as rolling over, sitting up, and walking that indicate a child's physical development.