Chapter 2

Question 1

Neurons

Answer 1

Nerve cells that transmit information with electrochemical signals

Question 2

Axons

Answer 2

Branchlike ends of neurons that send electrochemical signals between cells

Question 3

Dendrites

Answer 3

Branchlike ends of neurons that receive and conduct the electrochemical signals between the cells

Question 4

Synapse

Answer 4

A small gap between neurons

Question 5

Myelin

Answer 5

Sheaths of insulation around axons that facilitates communication between neurons

Question 6

Artificial Intelligence

Answer 6

Human intelligence simulated by machines; a specific field of computer science

Question 7

Creeping

Answer 7

Movement whereby the infant’s abdomen touches the floor and the weight of the head and shoulders rests on the elbows

Question 8

Crawling

Answer 8

Movement on hands and knees; the trunk does not touch the ground

Question 9

Failure to Thrive (FTT)

Answer 9

Medical term for infants whose weight gain and physical growth fall far below average during the first years of life

Question 10

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Answer 10

Unexpected death of an apparently healthy infant, usually between 2 and 4 months of age

Question 11

REM (Rapid Eye Movement) Sleep

Answer 11

A period of deep sleep marked by eye movements; when vivid dreams occur

Question 12

Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS)

Answer 12

Problem common with premature babies; caused by lack of a substance that keeps air sacs in the lungs open

Question 13

Perception

Answer 13

The process of obtaining and interpreting information from stimuli

Question 14

Habituation

Answer 14

A decrease in an infant’s attention

Question 15

Egocentrism

Answer 15

Piaget’s term for the child’s focus on self in early phases of cognitive development

Question 16

Sensorimotor Period

Answer 16

The first 2 years of life

Question 17

Circular Reactions

Answer 17

Piaget’s term for infants’ motor activity that is repeated in developing stages

Question 18

Primary Circular Reactions

Answer 18

Infants’ actions that are focused on their own bodies and reflexes

Question 19

Secondary Circular Reactions

Answer 19

Piaget’s term for infants’ activities that are directed toward objects and events outside themselves

Question 20

Coordination of Secondary Schemes

Answer 20

Piaget’s term for when infants continue secondary schemes to obtain a goal

Question 21

Tertiary Circular Reaction

Answer 21

Piaget’s term for repetition with variation; the infant is exploring the world’s possibilities

Question 22

Internalization of Schemes

Answer 22

Children’s use of symbols to think about real events without actually experiencing them

Question 23

Object Permanence

Answer 23

Refers to children gradually realizing that there are permanent objects around them, even when these objects are out of sight

Question 24

Fast Mapping

Answer 24

Children’s use of surrounding context to understand words’ meaning

Question 25

Preintellectual Speech

Answer 25

Vygotsky's category for cooing, crying, babbling, and bodily movements that develop into more sophisticated forms of speech

Question 26

Naive Psychology

Answer 26

Vygotsky's stage in which children explore objects and label objects as they acquire the grammar of their speech

Question 27

Egocentric Speech

Answer 27

The form of speech in which children carry on lively conversations with themmselves or others

Question 28

Inner Speech

Answer 28

Internal speech that often accompanies physical movements, guiding behavior

Question 29

Cooing

Answer 29

Early language sounds that resemble vowels

Question 30

Babbling

Answer 30

Infants' production of sounds approximating speech between 5 and 7 months

Question 31

Phonology

Answer 31

Sounds of a language

Question 32

Semantics

Answer 32

Meaning of words and sentences

Question 33

Syntax

Answer 33

The way in which words are put together to construct sentences

Question 34

Pragmatics

Answer 34

Ability to communicate with others

Question 35

Word Spurt

Answer 35

Rapid increase of vocabulary from 18 months to 3 years

Question 36

Holophrases

Answer 36

One word that can communicate many meanings and ideas

Question 37

Telegraphic Speech

Answer 37

Initial multiple-word utterances, usually two or three words

Question 38

Reciprocal Interactions

Answer 38

Interactions that shape relationships with others

Question 39

Attachment

Answer 39

Behavior intended to keep a child (or adult) in close proximity to a significant other

Question 40

Ethology

Answer 40

Scientific field that stresses behavior is strongly influenced by biology and is linked to evolution

Question 41

Strange Situation

Answer 41

Measure designed to assess the quality of attachment

Question 42

Temperament

Answer 42

Individual differences; unique and stable styles of behaving

Question 43

Goodness of Fit

Answer 43

Concept coined by Chess and Thomas (1977) that describes the match between a child's temperament and his/her environment

Question 44

New York Longitudinal Study

Answer 44

Long-term study by Chess and Thomas of the personality characteristics of children

Question 45

Sensitive Responsiveness

Answer 45

The ability to recognize the meaning of a child's behavior

Question 46

Infantile Amnesia

Answer 46

The inability to remember events from early in life