Chapter 7.2

Question 1

language acquisition device

Answer 1

a biologically organized mental structure in the brain that facilitates the learning of language because it is innately programmed with some of the fundamental rules of grammer

Question 2

babbling

Answer 2

the production of repetitive symbols, a characteristic of the early stage of language acquisition

Question 3

grammer

Answer 3

the rules of language

Question 4

telegraphic speech

Answer 4

short, simple sentences of nouns and verbs without the use of articles, tenses, plurals, etc.

Question 5

morpheme

Answer 5

a meaningful unit of language that makes up words; some are whole words (read), others are a combination of units (“read” and “ing”)

Question 6

cognitive development

Answer 6

the global term for development of thought processes from childhood through adulthood

Question 7

stage theory

Answer 7

an explanation of development that emphasizes distinctive or rather abrupt changes

Question 8

schema

Answer 8

in Piaget’s theory, a mental structure or program that guides a person’s thoughts

Question 9

assimilation

Answer 9

a mental process that incorporates new information into existing schemas

Question 10

accommodation

Answer 10

a mental process that modifies schemas in order to include new information

Question 11

sensorimotor stage

Answer 11

in Piaget’s theory, the first stage in which the child relies heavily on innate motor responses to stimuli

Question 12

sensorimotor intelligence

Answer 12

Piaget’s term for the infants approach to the world, relying on relatively simple motor responses

Question 13

object permanence

Answer 13

the knowledge that an object exists outside of personal awareness

Question 14

goal-directed behavior

Answer 14

an ability that emerges during the sensorimotor period in which infants develop the ability to keep a single goal in mind and pursue it

Question 15

mental representation

Answer 15

the ability to form internal images of objects and events

Question 16

preoperational stage

Answer 16

in Piaget’s theory, the second stage marked by well-developed representation and the use of language

Question 17

egocentrism

Answer 17

in Piaget’s theory, stage 2, the inability to realize that there are other viewpoints besides one’s own

Question 18

animistic thinking

Answer 18

in Piaget’s theory, stage 2, believing that inanimate objects have life and mental ability

Question 19

irreversibility

Answer 19

in Piaget’s theory, stage 2, the inability to think through an operation and then reverse the steps

Question 20

centration

Answer 20

in Piaget’s theory, stage 2, the inability to take into account more than one factor at a time

Question 21

concrete operational stage

Answer 21

in Piaget’s theory, third stage, when a child understands conservation but is still incapable of abstract thought

Question 22

conservation

Answer 22

in Piaget’s theory, stage 3, the understanding that the physical properties of an object doesn’t change when the appearance changes but nothing is added or taken away

Question 23

mental operation

Answer 23

solving problems by manipulating an image in our mind

Question 24

theory of mind

Answer 24

an awareness that other people’s behavior may be influenced by belief, desires, or emotions that differ from one’s own

Question 25

wave metaphor

Answer 25

a way of conceptualizing cognitive development as occurring more gradually in waves than in abrupt changes

Question 26

scaffolding

Answer 26

a teaching strategy that emphasizes the role of others in helping provide support for a person’s learning

Question 27

temperment

Answer 27

an individual’s characteristic manner of behavior or reaction

Question 28

socialization

Answer 28

the lifelong process of shaping an individual to conform to what is desirable in a particular society

Question 29

authoritarian parent

Answer 29

a parenting style characterized by conformity and obedience with little tolerance and a penchant for punishment

Question 30

authoritative parent

Answer 30

a parenting style characterized by high expectations with consequences but high standards of warmth and respect for the child’s views

Question 31

permissive parent

Answer 31

a parenting style characterized by setting few rules and allowing children to make their own decisions/mistakes, while being caring and communicative

Question 32

uninvolved parent

Answer 32

a parenting style characterized by indifference and rejection, sometimes to the point of neglect or abuse

Question 33

autonomy

Answer 33

a sense of independence as opposed to self-doubt

Question 34

initiative

Answer 34

being proactive instead of being reactive/not measuring up to expectations

Question 35

industry

Answer 35

sense of confidence