Developmental Psychology Glossary

In Piaget's theory, modifying existing mental schemas to incorporate new information that does not fit current understanding.

In Piaget's theory, incorporating new information into existing mental schemas without changing the schema.

A deep emotional bond between an infant and a caregiver that provides a sense of security and influences social-emotional development.

The tendency of preoperational children to focus on only one aspect of a situation while neglecting other important features.

Differences between age groups that result from shared historical or cultural experiences rather than actual developmental change.

The understanding that certain properties of objects remain the same despite changes in their outward appearance.

A specific time window during which certain experiences must occur for normal development; absence of these experiences leads to permanent deficits.

The inability to distinguish between one's own perspective and that of another person, characteristic of preoperational thinking.

The study of how environmental factors can alter gene expression without changing the DNA sequence, influencing development across generations.

Small, precise movements involving the hands and fingers, such as grasping objects, drawing, and writing.

Large body movements involving the arms, legs, and torso, such as crawling, walking, running, and jumping.

A decrease in response to a repeated stimulus, used in infant research to study perception and cognitive processing.

A rapid, innate form of learning in certain animals during a critical period, in which attachment to a caregiver or surrogate is established.

A research design that follows the same group of participants over an extended period to observe developmental changes.

The biologically driven unfolding of development according to a genetic timetable, relatively independent of experience.

The process of forming a myelin sheath around nerve fibers, increasing the speed of neural signal transmission. Continues into early adulthood.

The understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are not visible, a key milestone of the sensorimotor stage.

The process by which unused neural connections are eliminated, strengthening frequently used pathways and increasing brain efficiency.

The period of rapid physical and hormonal changes that transforms a child's body into one capable of sexual reproduction.

A teaching method in which support is provided within the learner's ZPD and gradually removed as competence increases.

A mental framework or pattern of thought that organizes and interprets information, central to Piaget's theory.

The process of biological aging, involving gradual decline in physical and sometimes cognitive functioning.

A developmental window during which the organism is especially responsive to environmental input, though not absolutely required for development.

An individual's innate behavioral style and characteristic emotional reactivity, present from infancy and relatively stable over time.

An environmental agent that can cause abnormal prenatal development, including birth defects and developmental disorders.