Developmental Psychology Vocabulary

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Grasping Reflex

Back

An involuntary bending of the fingers in response to tactile or proprioceptive stimulation on the palm, facilitating grasp.

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Rooting Reflex

Back

A reflex seen in newborn babies, who automatically turn their face toward the stimulus and make sucking motions with the mouth when the cheek or lip is touched.

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Maturation

Back

Biological growth processes that enables orderly changes in behavior, relatively uninfluenced by experience.

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Telegraphic Speech

Back

Early speech stage in which a child speaks like a telegram using mostly nouns and verbs.

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Schema

Back

A cognitive framework or concept that helps organize and interpret information.

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Assimilation

Back

The process of taking in and fully understanding information or ideas.

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Accommodation

Back

The process of altering one's existing schemas, or ideas, as a result of new information or new experiences.

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Object Permanence

Back

The understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be observed.

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Representational Thought

Back

The ability to picture something in your mind.

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Conservation

Back

The understanding that certain properties of objects remain thes