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Child Psych Exam 1
Vocab for Child Psych Exam
188
Psychology
Undergraduate 3
10/13/2009

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Term
Developmental Domains
Definition
Three main areas of development; physical, cognitive,social-emotional
Term
Physical Development
Definition
Involves growth and change in a person's body and bodily functions. Study of physiological and motor development.
Term
Cognitive Development
Definition
Mental processes used to process information, grow in awareness, solve problems and gain knowledge. Study of brain functioning, perception, memory, learning, thinking and language.
Term
Social-Emotional Development
Definition
Processes related to interactions with other people. Study of relationships, emotions, personality and moral development.
Term
Maturation
Definition

A series of preprogrammed transformations in the form, structure, or function of an individual.

 

EX: physical change associated with puberty; genetically inherited instructions guide development of the nervous system. 

Term
Learning
Definition
Changes that occur as the result of observation,experience, instruction or practice
Term
Socialization
Definition
The process by which children learn social roles and become members of groups.
Term
Nature vs. Nurture Debate
Definition
Controversy over the extent to which biological/genetic and environmental factors influence development.
Term
Monozygotic (MZ) twins
Definition
Identical twins, who share the same genetic code because they developed from one fertilized egg, which divided into two separate individuals.
Term
Dizygotic (DZ) twins
Definition
Fraternal twins, who develop from two separate eggs fertilized by two separate sperm cells.
Term
Heritability
Definition
An estimate of the degree to which variation of a characteristic in a population is influenced by genetic factors.
Term
Continuous Development
Definition

View of development as smooth and gradual

 

EX: The development of vocabulary, whereby children slowly add more and more words over time.

Term
Discontinuous Development
Definition

View of development as abrupt and unstable made up of qualitative stages and changes.

 

EX: Acquisition of qualitatively new patterns of behavior-as seen in the transition from crawling to walking.

Term
Critical Periods
Definition

Periods of time during which a particular event or stimulus has to occur to have and impact on development.

 

EX: The strongest evidence for critical periods in child development come from studies of language development.

Term
Sensitive Periods
Definition

Periods of time that are optimal, but not necessary, for the development of certain behaviors or functions.

 

EX: Possible for development to occur later, though it may be more difficult or incomplete then.

Term
John Locke
Definition
Proposed that a child is like a blank slate, or tabula rosa, upon which experiences in life write their story.  Believes that the environment is the driving force in development.
Term
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Definition

Emphasized the importance of internal, or innate, forces.  He believed that from the time they are born, children posses an intrinsic character that is perfect and good.  (Children should be allowed to naturally unfold with little pressure from adults)

 

EX: Greater importance on nature rather than nurture

Term
Natural Selection
Definition
The process, in nature, whereby individuals who are best adapted to their surroundings survive and reproduce, and the adaptive characteristics of those individuals are passed on to the next generation. 
Term
Nuclear Family
Definition
Family structure in which the biological mother and father and their children live together
Term
Single-Parent Family
Definition
Family structure in which children live with only their mother of their father.
Term
Blended Family
Definition
Family structure formed when a widowed or divorced parent remarries.
Term
Stepfamily
Definition
Family structure formed when a person who has children from a former marriage remarries
Term
Extended Family
Definition
Family structure consisting of one or more parents, one or more of the parents' children, and one of more other relatives living together in one household.
Term
Race
Definition
A group whose members share a genetic heritage.
Term
Ethnicity
Definition
A group whose members share a common cultural heritage and a sense of belonging.
Term
Multiracial
Definition
A term used to describe people who are of two or more races.
Term
Transactional Perspective
Definition
The view that development occurs as the result of the interplay between the diverse qualities that individuals bring to their environments and the diverse environments that individuals experience.
Term
Theory 
Definition
A set of ideas structured to organize and explain facts.
Term
Fact
Definition
An objective, provable statement.
Term
Opinions
Definition
Thoughts and feelings about a given topic
Term
Empirically Based
Definition
Based on observation and experimentation
Term
Evolutionary Theories
Definition
Explanations of development that focus on how behaviors promote the survival of the individual and the species
Term
Attachment Theory
Definition

Explanation of development that focuses on the quality of the early emotional relationships developed between children and their caregivers.

 

EX: A child who receives sensitive and consistent caregiving comes to view himself or herself as worthy. 

Term
Neurodevelopmental Approaches
Definition

Explanations of development that focus on the relationship of brain development to behavior and thinking.

 

EX: Early in development, the brain depends on environmental input to fine tune itself so that it is maximally sensitive to its environment. (A child's experiences help determine the patterns of connections in the brain)

Term
Psychoanalytic Theories
Definition

Explanations of development that focus on the unconscious drives and forces that develop within the mind.

 

**Associate with Freud

Term
Libido
Definition
The source of action and sexual desire.
Term
Id
Definition

The part of the psyche that is primitive and instinctual. Is driven by the pleasure principle-seeks immediate gratification and avoids pain and distress.

 

EX: Grocery shopping and hungry, Id says "EAT CANDY BAR NOW"


EX: Because infants cannot feed themselves when they become hungry, immediate gratification may not be available. Infants may seek gratification by crying,sucking,and maybe even hallucinating.

Term
Ego
Definition

The part of the psyche that is the source of reason and operates within the conditions and demands of the real world. Seeks to fulfill the demands of the id in ways that are acceptable to society.

 

EX: Grocery shopping and hungry, ego says buy candy bar and then eat it

Term
Superego
Definition

The part of the psyche that represents one's conscience, moral standards, and code of social conventions.

 

EX: Grocery shopping and hungry, superego creates a sense of guilt about eating candy without paying for it and fear of being caught shoplifting.

Term
Psychosexual Development
Definition
Freud's stage theory of development, based on how the libido is transformed into different structures and modes of expression
Term
Psychosocial Crises
Definition

In Erikson's lifespan theory, the struggles that occur at the various stages of development between two conflicting personality characteristics

 

**epigenetic principle-the belief that everything that develops is controlled by a preset genetic plan

 

EX: Although all infants experience the natural conflict between trust and mistrust during the first year of life, individual circumstances affect the outcome of the crisis.

Term
Classical Conditioning
Definition

Pavlov's theory of how responses to neutral stimuli become conditioned

 

**Children learn to be fearful through classical conditioning

 

EX: conditioned stimulus (bright light) paired with an unconditioned stimulus (food). The food is unconditioned stimulus because it automatically elicits a response, the unconditioned response of salivation. The light begins as a neutral stimulus, but with repeated pairings the dog learns to associate it with the food thereby producing a conditioned response (salivating when the light goes on).

Term
Operant Conditioning
Definition

Learning based on the principle that the consequences of a behavior affect the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated.

 

EX: If an infant is praised when he or she takes a first step, the infant will be more motivated to take another step

Term
Positive Reinforcement
Definition
Presentation of stimuli that increase the likelihood that a behavior will recur.
Term
Negative Reinforcement
Definition

Removal of a negative or aversive stimulus, which increases the likelihood that a behavior will recur.

 

EX: Seat belt alarms-once the seat belt is hooked, the annoying buzzing stops, thereby increasing the chances that one will use seat belts in the future.

Term
Punishment
Definition

Application of unpleasant consequences to decrease the likelihood that a behavior will be repeated.

 

**Punishment is often effective for only a short time and may have unintended negative side effects such as increasing anxiety and timidity

Term
Extinction
Definition
Reducing unwanted behavior by withholding all positive consequences
Term
Shaping
Definition

The process of rewarding behaviors that approximate the desired behavior.

 

EX: Getting children to put their toys away can be shaped by rewarding them first when they approach the toys, then when they pick them up, and then when they attempt to put them away.

Term
Vicarious Reinforcement
Definition
Learning by watching the consequences of other people's behaviors
Term
Social Learning Theory
Definition

Bandura's theory that individuals are greatly influenced by observing and imitating other people

 

**Modeling-individuals learn new behaviors

 

EX: Four processes involved in modeling the behavior of others:

-Attention

-Retention

-Motor Reproduction

-Reinforcement and Motivation

Term
Schemes
Definition
Cognitive guides, or blueprints, for processing information about the world.
Term
Assimilation
Definition
Directly processing information that fits a scheme.
Term
Accommodation
Definition

Changing a scheme to fit new information from the environment.

 

EX: The infant holding a rattle for the first time may assimilate it into an existing scheme for smooth, round objects by sucking on it.

Term
Sensorimotor Stage
Definition

Piaget's first stage of cognitive development (0 to 2 years), in which the child relates to objects and people through his or her senses and motor skills.

 

EX: Infants use sensorimotor schemes to allow them to learn about the qualities of objects-their shapes, textures, and tastes.

 

**During the first 2 years of life, object permanence occurs-understanding that objects continue to exist even when she or he cannot see them.

Term
Preoperational Stage
Definition

Piaget's second stage of cognitive development (2 to 7 years), in which children begin to think in symbols but are ego centric and perceptually bound in their thinking.

 

EX: Child will perceive that a half pint of milk poured into a tall, thin glass has more volume than the same half pint poured into a short, wide glass.

Term
Concrete Operational Stage
Definition

Piaget's third stage of cognitive development (7 to 11 years), in which children begin to use logic to solve problems.

 

EX: Child recognizes that a half pint of milk poured from a tall, thin glass into a short, wide one is still a half pint of fluid because nothing has been added or taken away.

Term
Formal Operational Stage
Definition
Piaget's fourth stage of cognitive development (begins at around the age of 11), in which individuals are capable of applying logical principles to hypothetical and abstract situations
Term
Zone of Proximal Development
Definition

Vygotsky's term for the distance between what a child can do unaided and what a child can do through interaction with skilled helpers.

 

**A person's potential for new learning is strongest.

Term
Information Processing Theory
Definition
Explanations for development that are based on the idea that people have limited capacities for learning but can flexibly apply strategies to find ways around those limitations.
Term
Sensory Register
Definition
The part of the information processing system that allows people to very briefly retain information taken in through the senses.
Term
Short-Term Memory
Definition

The part of the information processing system that holds information long enough for the person to evaluate and selectively act on the input.

 

**Capacity of short-term memory is limited, only a few bits of information can be remembered.

Term
Long-Term Memory
Definition
The part of the information processing system that has an unlimited capacity for storing information over long periods of time.
Term
Ecological Model
Definition
Bronfenbrenner's model of the different spheres of influence
Term
Rate-Limiting Component
Definition

The slowest, or last-developing part of a dynamic system.

 

EX: For many children, the last part of the "walking puzzle", the rate limiting component, is leg strength.

Term
Case Study
Definition
Method in which the researcher collects information about aspects of a person's life
Term
Clinical Interview
Definition
Method in which the researcher asks detailed questions while interacting with the participant. Goal is to identify how the individual thinks about a given topic.
Term
Survey Study
Definition

Method in which a number of people respond to a set of structured questions.

 

**Advantage: data for many people can be obtained easily

**Disadvantage: people often respond inaccurately as they try to present themselves in the most positive way

Term
Naturalistic Study
Definition

Method in which researchers observe the behavior of people in their natural environments

 

**Advantage: people tend to behave normally

**Disadvantage: difficulty of generalizing from one setting to another setting

Term
Correlational Study
Definition

Method in which researchers compare participants on two variables to determine whether the variables relate to each other.

 

EX: Are children who watch more tv more likely to be aggressive than children who watch less tv?

Term
Correlation Coefficients
Definition

Calculated measures of the relations between variables

 

**1.0 to -1.0

**A positive score represents a positive relationship between variables. Zero represents no relationship. Negative represents an inverse relationship.

Term
Experimental Study
Definition

Method in which scientists bring people into a manipulated laboratory situation and then note the effects of the manipulation

 

**Causes of behavior are easier to determine with experimental rather than with correlational methods because the scientist controls the sequence of events and any extraneous variables

Term
Random Sampling
Definition
Selecting participants for a study at random
Term
Random Assignment
Definition
Randomly assigning people to groups i a study so that the effects of uncontrolled variables will be the same for all groups.
Term
Independent Variable
Definition

Condition that is assumed to be the cause of the behavior and is manipulated by the scientist.

 

EX: If the independent variable is exposure to violent programming, one group of children will watch a violent program and the other will watch a nonviolent one.

Term
Experimental Group
Definition

Group that receives the independent variable

 

EX: Children who watch the violent program

Term
Control Group
Definition

Comparison group that is treated in the same way as the experimental group but does not receive the independent variable.

 

EX: Children watching the nonviolent program.

Term
Dependent Variable
Definition

The behavior thought to be affected by the independent variable.

 

EX: Aggressive behavior following the television viewing

Term
Cross-Sectional Study
Definition

Method in which individuals of different ages are tested at the same point in time and the results from each age group are compared.

 

EX: A researcher interested in developmental changes in memory capacity might test children who are 4,8,12,16 years old. Children at each age would be shown a group of objects and later asked what they remembered about the objects. By averaging the memory scores for children at each age, researchers could get an idea of how memory capacity changes.

Term
Cohort
Definition

A group of individuals who are the same age or who experience similar events at the same time.

 

EX: Suppose a comparison of computer skills among 10 year olds and 60 year olds reveals that more of the 10 year olds are highly skilled. The scientist might be tempted to conclude that as people grow older, they lose computer skills. However, these two cohorts have experienced different periods of history, which affected their exposure to computers in the first place.

Term
Longitudinal Study
Definition

Method in which the same group of individuals is tested at different points in time.

 

**Problems include a tendency for some individuals to drop out and for test scores to improve because of repeated testing. Have limited ability to identify age-related changes.

**Expensive and time consuming

Term
Cohort-Sequential-Research Design
Definition

A cross-sectional study expanded so that data are collected from the same cohorts at different points in time

 

**Children of different ages are involved and studied over time, including at least two different cohorts

**Advantage: New participants can be added at each point in time to prevent problems caused by repeated testing and attrition

Term
Physiological measures
Definition
Record responses of the body, such as heart rate, hormone production,sweating, which are used to assess arousal and anxiety.
Term
Behavioral Measures
Definition

The direct assessment of behavior through observation 

 

EX: To investigate whether children have preferences for certain toys, observers watch them play to see if they choose one type of toy over another

Term
Self-Reports
Definition
Include questionnaires in which people respond to questions about their behavior, attitudes, beliefs, values ad habits.
Term
Projective Measures
Definition
Indirectly assess individuals' psychological states. The typical strategy is to show a participant an ambiguous scene, such as a picture of a boy standing by a fireplace, looking sad. The participant is then asked to make up a story about the boy, form these stories, researchers infer the person's thinking and feelings.
Term
Human Genome Project (HGP)
Definition
The coordinated efforts of many scientists all over the world, took on the massive job of mapping the human genome.
Term
Genome
Definition
A person's complete set of DNA
Term
Chromosomes
Definition
The structure on which genes reside
Term
DNA
Definition
A double helix consisting of two backbones, like a twisted ladder, whose rungs are made up of chemical combinations; the basis of chromosomes
Term
Genes
Definition

The portion of DNA that encodes specific genetic information

 

**Very little of the human genome is made up of genes

Term
Mitosis
Definition
A type of cell division that gives rise to two daughter cells, each with identical chromosomes and genotypes; involves one duplication of chromosomes and one cell division
Term
Gametes
Definition
The sex cells (ova and sperm)
Term
Meiosis
Definition
The process of cell replication undergone by ova and sperm; involves one duplication and one division of chromosomes, resulting in cells with a full set of genetic material, which undergo another division so that the final four cells each contain half the complement of chromosomes
Term
Karyotype
Definition
A photograph of chromosomes, used by geneticists to align each chromosome with the other member of its pair
Term
Autosomes
Definition
The first 22 pairs of chromosomes, which account for most of the body's cells
Term
Sex Chromosomes
Definition
The 23rd pair of chromosomes, which accounts for a person's sex
Term
Genotype
Definition
A person's genetic code
Term
Phenotype
Definition
The outward expression of the genotype
Term
Alleles
Definition
Different forms of each gene
Term
Homozygous
Definition
Describing inheritance of a trait to which both parents contributed identical copies of the gene
Term
Heterozygous
Definition
Describing inheritance of a trait to which each parent has contributed a different copy of the gene
Term
Dominant Gene
Definition
A gene whose code is expressed when only one copy of the gene is present
Term
Recessive Gene
Definition
A gene whose code is not expressed in the presence of a dominant gene
Term
Carriers
Definition
People who are heterozygous for a recessive disorder.
Term
Balanced Polymorphism
Definition
A kind of genetic diversity in which the genes that cause diseases provide certain genetic advantages as well as disadvantages.
Term
Fragile X Syndrome
Definition
A condition passed on by sex-linked transmission and characterized by protruding ears, prominent jaw, unusual speech, poor eye contact, and mild to moderate retardation
Term
Genetic Imprinting
Definition
Situation in which gene expression depends on the origins of the genes
Term
Polygenic Transmission
Definition

Combined effect of multiple genes

 

EX: Height, skin color, nose shape, and eye color are influenced by multiple genes.

Term
Regulator Genes
Definition

Genes that control the expression of other genes.

 

**Play an important role in genetic expression

Term
Range of Reaction
Definition
The range of possibilities of phenotypic variation displayed in response to different environments
Term
Canalized
Definition
Genetically limited phenotypic variation.
Term
Passive G-E Correlation
Definition

Situation in which parents provide a rearing environment that matches the child's own genotype

 

EX: Parents that enjoy reading are likely to provide their child with a rearing environment that encourages reading.

Term
Evocative G-E Correlation
Definition

Situation in which the child's genotype draws responses from others

 

EX: A child who actively engages with other people by smiling, laughing, looking at them, and being pleasant is more likely to be responded to and treated positively by teachers and others.

Term
Active G-E Correlation
Definition

Situation in which the child seeks out environments compatible with his or her genotype.

 

EX: Children who are relatively inactive may seek out others who are quiet and studious, while avoiding sports. This behavior is called niche building because it involves selecting for oneself the aspects of the environment that are most comfortable and then learning from exposure to those environments.

Term
Gene-Environment Interactions
Definition
Genetic sensitivity to particular environmental factors
Term
Down Syndrome
Definition
About 90% of children with down syndrome have 47 chromosomes rather than the normal 46, with and extra number 21 chromosome. The most common cause of down syndrome is a failure of sex cell division during the formation of ova. 
Term
Turner's Syndrome
Definition
Girls born with this are missing either the second X chromosome or part of the second X chromosome, usually as a result of cell division abnormalities in the father's sperm
Term
Trisomy-X Syndrome
Definition
The chromosome disorder 47,XXX affects girls who are born with an extra X chromosome; it occurs in approximately 1 out of every 1,000 female births.
Term
Klinefelter's Syndrome
Definition
Boys born with an extra X chromosome have Klinefelter's. This is probably the most common chromosomal variation found in humans.
Term
XXY Syndrome
Definition
Boys born with this are characterized by one or more extra Y chromosomes, appear normal. The more Y chromosomes a boy has, the lower his intelligence is likely to be.
Term
Ultrasound
Definition
A procedure used to identify some developmental problems, in which video images of the fetus and the fetus' internal organs are produced from the echoes of sound waves.
Term
Chronic Villus Sampling (CVS)
Definition
A procedure used to assess genetic material in fetal cells, in which cells are removed from the projections on the chorionic membrane
Term
Alpha Fetoproteins (AFP)
Definition
If the mother has a high level of AFP the fetus may have a neural tube defect (such as spina bifida) which can then be confirmed through ultrasound. If the mother's AFP is low, the fetus may have a chromosomal abnormality (such as Down's syndrome), which must be confirmed through genetic testing.
Term
Amniocentisis
Definition
A procedure used to determine whether genetic defects are present, in which amniotic fluid is collected and fetal cells are genetically tested.
Term
Ovum
Definition
a human egg
Term
Follicular Phase
Definition
The lining of the uterus grows back and thickens, influenced by estrogen. This phase continues until ovulation
Term
Luteal Phase
Definition
Lasting from ovulation until the beginning of the new menstruation. During this phase, different hormones are secreted that prepare the uterus for the arrival of a fertilized ovum.
Term
Spermatogenisis
Definition

The process by which sperm develop.

 

**requires about 72 days to produce a mature sperm cell

Term
Spermatozoa
Definition
Mature spermatids that are fully functional and capable of fertilizing a human ovum.
Term
Intrauterine Insemination
Definition
Sperm are provided by a partner or donor, and near the time when the woman is ovulating, a doctor uses a syringe to deposit the sperm into the woman's uterus.
Term
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
Definition

Obtain an ovum directly from the woman's ovary, fertilize it with sperm in a culture dish, and then transfer the zygote(s) to the woman's uterus.

 

**Most common form of assisted reproduction and is necessary when the women's fallopian tubes are damaged

Term
Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT)
Definition

Sperm and ovum are deposited into the woman's fallopian tube, the the fertilization occurs as it would normally. 

 

**Rate of success for this is higher than it is for IVF

Term
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
Definition
When poor-quality sperm are the problem for conception, a tiny injection of sperm into the egg is done microscopically by the physician, using a very fine pipette. 
Term
Embryo Transfer
Definition

If both partners are infertile, embryo transfer may be a suitable option.

 

**This procedure is rare and its success rate is low

Term
Surrogate Mother
Definition
A surrogate mother is artificially inseminated with sperm from the man, carries the fertilized egg through pregnancy and birth then gives up the child.
Term
Germinal Stage
Definition

The first stage of prenatal development, which begins at conception and lasts until the fertilized egg implants itself in the uterine wall

 

**Cell division and differentiation are the main qualities of this stage

Term
Embryonic Stage 
Definition

The second stage of prenatal development, which begins at implantation and lasts until about eight weeks.

 

**Major organs and body parts develop almost daily

**Most critical time in prenatal development

Term
Fetal Stage
Definition

The third and final stage of prenatal development, which begins at about eight weeks and lasts until birth.

 

**Elaboration of the existing organs and structures occurs and the brain develops rapidly

Term
Zygote
Definition
The fertilized ovum. Takes two or three days to reach the uterus.
Term
Ectopic Pregnancy
Definition
A pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus. The main cause is damaged fallopian tubes.
Term
Amnion
Definition
A membrane that grows over the embryo and becomes filled with amniotic fluid, which protects the embryo.
Term
Chorion
Definition
A membrane that grows to surround the embryo after about one month of development and helps form the placenta.
Term
Placenta
Definition
The structure through which nutrients and waste products are exchanged between the mother and the developing embryo.
Term
Umbilical Cord
Definition
The lifeline of the embryo, consisting of two arteries and one vein.
Term
Ectoderm
Definition
Cell formation of skin and nervous system
Term
Mesoderm
Definition
Cell formation of muscles, bones and circulatory system.
Term
Endoderm
Definition
Cell formation of the digestive system and lungs
Term
Neural Tube
Definition
Eventually becomes the central nervous system
Term
Cephalocaudal Development
Definition
The principle that growth occurs from the head downward
Term
Proximodistal Development
Definition
The principle that body parts closer to the central axis of the body develop first, while those farther away from the center of the body develop later.
Term
Quickening
Definition
Fetal movements during pregnancy
Term
Age Viability
Definition
The point at which postnatal survival is likely
Term
Placental Barrier
Definition
A line of protection for the unborn child, created by blood vessel walls that separate the maternal and fetal circulatory systems
Term
Teratogens
Definition
Agents that cross into the placental barrier and cause or increase the incidence of physical malformations and behavioral and cognitive deficits.
Term
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
Definition
A constellation of problems, including physical deformities and intellectual deficits, that may occur if a mother drinks heavily during pregnancy
Term
Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE)
Definition
The effects, including mildly retarded physical development and learning disabilities, that may occur if a mother drinks moderately during pregnancy.
Term
Parity
Definition
The number and spacing of children a woman bears
Term
Lightening 
Definition
Sensation that occurs when the fetus drops into the pelvic cavity, decreasing pressure on the mother's diaphragm
Term
Braxton-Hicks Contractions
Definition
Mild, irregular contractions of the uterus experienced throughout pregnancy, especially during the last month or two
Term
False Labor
Definition
Moderately intense, rhythmic contractions late in pregnancy
Term
Epidural Block
Definition
A common method for controlling the pain of labor, in which a local anesthetic is delivered to block pain in the region from the waist to the feet.
Term
Crowning
Definition
The appearance of the top of the baby's head during birth
Term
Molding
Definition
The pressing together, or even overlapping of the bones of the baby's skull, to accommodate passage through the birth canal
Term
Episiotomy
Definition
A small incision made in the skin below the vagina to prevent tearing of the vaginal tissues as the baby emerges
Term
Cesarean Section
Definition
Procedure by which the fetus is delivered through an incision in the mother's abdomen
Term
Breech Presentation
Definition
Fetal position in which the buttocks or feet lead the way
Term
Transverse Presentation
Definition
Fetal position in which the shoulders and arms lead the way
Term
Postpartum Depression
Definition
Intense feelings of sadness, anxiety, or despair experienced by a mother after the birth of a child
Term
Neonate
Definition
An infant who is in the first one to two months of life
Term
Vernix Caseosa
Definition
A white, waxy covering that provides the newborn child with protection from bacteria
Term
Apgar Scale
Definition
A method of diagnosing potential problems in newborns, in which five vital signs are examined: respiration, reflex responsiveness, muscle tone, color, and heart rate.
Term
Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale
Definition
A measure commonly used to assess a newborn's responses to the environment
Term
Preterm or Premature
Definition
Term describing infants born prior to 37 weeks' gestation
Term
Low birthweight
Definition
Term describing infants born after 37 weeks' gestation but weighing less than 5 1/2 pounds
Term
State of Arousal
Definition
Degree to which an infant is alert, attentive, or awake
Term
Neurons
Definition
The nerve cells that make up the communication system of the brain
Term
Dendrites
Definition
Parts of a neuron that are located on the cell body and receive messages from other neurons
Term
Axon
Definition
Long part of a neuron that is located at the cell base and sends messages to other neurons
Term
Synapses
Definition
Small gaps, or spaces, between the cells through which information is transmitted from one neuron to the next
Term
Synaptogenesis
Definition
The creation of new neural connections, or synapses
Term
Myelination
Definition
The process in which a neuron is sheathed in a smooth layer of fatty proteins (myelin)
Term
Visual Cliff Apparatus
Definition
A two level "cliff" with a checkerboard pattern, covered with Plexiglass, used to create an illusion of depth
Term
Reflexes
Definition

Simple, coordinated, unlearned responses

 

EX: Rooting reflex is seen when you rub your finger against a newborn's cheek: the baby turns toward the stimulation in search of a nipple to suck

 

EX: Sucking reflex is seen whenever something touches an infant's lips: the baby tries to suck on it. 

EX: Moro reflex is a startle reaction to loud noises in which infants fling their arms out and then draw them in, arch their backs, and extend their legs

 

EX: Palmar grasping reflex is elicited by touching the inside of the baby's hand, which causes the fingers to curl around the object 

Term
Cruise
Definition
In infant development, to move around while holding on to things for support
Term
Prereaching
Definition
A child's effort to reach the arms toward an object without being able to contact it
Term
Pincer Grasp
Definition
Using the forefinger and the thumb in opposition to pick up small objects
Term
Colostrum
Definition
A pre-milk substance containing antibodies from the mother that protect the baby from infections
Term
Failure to Thrive (FTT)
Definition
A term used to describe infants and children who do not grow at the expected rates
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