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Glossary
A
abandonment.
When a person who has assumed
responsibility for the care of another deserts, or
leaves, that person. (14)
abilities.
Acquired skills. (15)
abstinence.
Choosing not to engage in sexual
activity. (9)
accredited.
Refers to child care centers that are
licensed and meet additional standards set forth by
a professional child care organization. (13)
adolescence.
Stage in life when people go through the
transforming process of changing from children to
adults. (9)
adult day care.
Centers that provide care for older
adults during mornings and afternoons, and offer
age-appropriate activities, physical activities, meals,
hobbies, and social activities. (13)
Adult Protective Services (APS).
The primary
agency that investigates claims of elder abuse and
neglect. (14)
affectionate love.
Involves romantic ways of
expressing love for each other, which are not
necessarily sexual. (10)
afterbirth stage.
The last stage of birth, after
delivery, when the placenta and umbilical cord are
expelled. (4)
ageism.
Bias against, or unfair treatment of, persons
based on their age. (12)
AIDS.
A disease (acquired immune deficiency
syndrome) caused by the human immunodeficiency
virus, which destroys the body’s immune
system. (4)
alcoholism.
Disease resulting from the addiction to
alcohol. (10)
allergy.
A reaction that develops because of the
immune system’s overreaction to a normally
harmless substance in the environment. (7)
Alzheimer’s disease.
A progressive brain disorder
that includes not only memory loss, but also
progressively severe confusion. (12)
amygdala.
Part of the brain responsible for emotional
reactions such as anger. (9)
andragogy.
Self-directed learning. (1)
anorexia nervosa.
Eating disorder that involves the
relentless pursuit of thinness through starvation. (9)
anxious attachment style.
Results when people are
often anxious, possessive, demanding, and tend to
lack trust in relationship partners. (10)
Apgar scale.
A measure used to determine the health
of a newborn. It rates a baby’s heart and respiratory
rates, muscle tone and body color, and reflex
irritability. (5)
aptitudes.
Natural talents people possess. (15)
Asperger’s syndrome.
A mild form of autism. (7)
assisted living housing.
An environment that
provides older adults with gradually expanded
oversight and help with their daily activities. (12)
associative play.
When children interact while
involved in parallel play. (7)
asthma.
Disease that causes inflammation of the
airways in the lungs. (7)
asynchrony.
Body growth that occurs at different
rates. (9)
atherosclerosis.
Clogging of the arteries with
plaque. (11)
attachment.
Emotional connection between an infant
and caregiver. (5)
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD).
A learning disability that includes
hyperactivity, difficulty staying on task, and
impulsiveness over time. (7)
au pairs.
Child care providers that are often from
a different culture and are hired to live in the
home, providing occasional child care as well as
performing light household duties. (13)