Chapter 1-5

• Lateralization


  The process in which certain cognitive functions are located more in one hemisphere of the brain than the other
• Scaffolding


  The support provided to learners by teachers or peers in order to help them solve problems and develop their skills
• Centration


  Thinking that ignores the viewpoints of others
• Preoperational Stage


  The second stage of Piaget's theory which ranges from age 2 to 7 characterized by symbolic thinking. Mental reasoning emerges as does the use of concepts.
• Autobiographical Memory


  Memory of particular events from one's own life
• Pragmatics


  The aspect of language that relates to communicating effectively and appropriately with others
• Egocentric Thought


  Thinking that does not take into account the viewpoints of others
• Syntax


  The way in which an individual combines words and phrases to form sentences
• Symbolic Function


  The ability to use symbols, words, or an object to represent something that is not physically present
• Initiative-Versus-Guilt Stage


  The period during which children experience conflict between independence of action and the sometimes negative results of that action
• Sensorimotor Stage


  The initial, major stage of cognitive development in Piaget's theory which ranges from the first month of life to age 18 months to 2 years. It can be broken down into 6 substages, with the major milestone of the stage being the development of object permanence.
• Object Permanence


  The realization that people and objects exist even when they cannot be seen
• Grammar


  The system of rules that determine how our thoughts can be expressed
• Obesity


  Defined as a body weight more than 20% higher than the average weight for a person of a given age and height
• Psychological Maltreatment


  Abuse that occurs when parents or other caregivers harm children's behavioral, cognitive, emotional, or physical functioning
• Authoritative Parents


  Parents who are firm, setting clear and consistent limits, but try to reason with their children giving explanations for why they should behave in a particular way
• Moral Behavior


  Refers to changes in people's sense of justice and of what is right and wrong, and in their behavior related to moral issues
• Social Learning Approach


  This theory emphasizes the importance of observing and modeling the behaviors, attitudes, and emotional reactions of others
• Modeling


  A general process in which persons serve as models for others, exhibiting the behavior to be imitated by the others
• Gender Constancy


  The realization that one is permanently male or female
• Modeling


  An important aspect of social learning theory, where individuals learn by observing and imitating the behavior of others
• Gender Constancy


  The realization that one's gender remains the same regardless of external appearances or changes in behavior
• Permissive Parents


  Provide lax and inconsistent feedback and require little of their children
• Concrete Operational Stage


  The period of cognitive development between 7 and 12 years of age, characterized by the active and appropriate use of logic
• Collective Orientation


  Promotes the notion of interdependence, blending in, and being interconnected
• Cycle of Violence Hypothesis

  The theory that the abuse and neglect that children suffer predispose them as adults to abuse and neglect their own children
• Gender Identity


  The perception (sense) of oneself as male or female
• Individualistic Orientation


  Emphasizes personal identity, uniqueness of the individual, and competition
• Authoritarian Parents


  Controlling, punitive, rigid, and cold, whose word is law; they value strict, unquestioning obedience from their children and do not tolerate expressions of disagreement
• ADHD


  A learning disability marked by inattention, impulsiveness, a low tolerance for frustration, and generally a great deal of inappropriate activity
• Fluid Intelligence


  The ability to deal with new problems and situations, reflecting information processing capabilities, reasoning, and memory
• Self-Esteem


  An individual's overall and specific positive and negative self-evaluation
• Social Comparison


  The desire to evaluate one's own behavior, abilities, expertise, and opinions by comparing them to those of others who are roughly of the same age and educational level
• Zone of Proximal Development


  The level at which a child can almost, but not fully, perform a task independently, but can do so with the assistance of someone more competent
• Industry-vs-Inferiority Stage


  The period from ages 6 to 12 characterized by a focus on efforts to attain competence in meeting the challenges presented by parents, peers, school, and the other complexities of the modern world
• Memory


  The process by which information is initially encoded, stored, and retrieved
• Social Competence


  The collection of social skills that permit individuals to perform successfully in social settings
• Crystallized Intelligence


  The store of information, skills, and strategies that people have acquired through education and prior experiences, which they can apply in problem-solving situations
• Downward Social Comparison


  Comparisons made with others who are less competent or successful to raise or protect self-esteem
• Anoxia


  A restriction of oxygen to the baby, lasting a few minutes during the birth process, which can produce cognitive defects