Key words

Psychology

The study of mind, behaviour, and the relationship between them.

Cognitive development

The process of growth and change in intellectual capabilities that influence a person's behavior.

Egocentrism

The inability to take another’s point of view or assume the role of another person.

Object permanence

The awareness that things continue to exist even when not perceived.

Conservation

The ability to recognize that a given quantity or volume remains the same despite changes in shape or position.

Theory of mind

People's ideas about their own and others’ mental states, including feelings, perceptions, and thoughts.

Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development

A theory proposing stages through which children develop logical thinking and understanding.

Sensorimotor stage

The stage of cognitive development from birth to nearly 2 years where infants experience the world through their senses and actions.

Preoperational stage

The stage from ages 2-7, where children begin using mental representations but lack logical reasoning.

Concrete operational stage

The stage from ages 7 to 11 when children gain the ability to think logically about concrete events.

Formal operational stage

The stage from age 12 onward, characterized by abstract reasoning and formal problem-solving.

Developmental psychology

The study of the psychological changes that occur as people age.

Physical development

The changes in the body over the lifespan, including growth and neural development.

Cognitive development

Development of processes such as perception, attention, and memory across the lifespan.

Social development

The changes in how individuals interact with others throughout their lives.