600 Glossary
Glossary
A
abilities. Skills that are learned and
developed. (22)
abstinence. Refraining from sexual
intercourse. (17)
accreditation. A credential ensuring the
program meets the highest standards as
set by a specifi c professional group. (20)
acne. A skin disorder involving infl ammation
of skin glands that is characterized by
blackheads and pimples. (17)
active listening. Hearing the total
message, verbal and nonverbal, and
making responses to promote mutual
understanding. (5)
adolescence. A time of change in which
people move from the dependency
of childhood to the independence of
adulthood. (17)
adoption. The legal process of transferring a
child’s parental relationship from his or
her birthparents to adoptive parents. (2)
adoptive families. Adoptive parents and one
or more adopted children. (2)
afterbirth stage. Third and fi nal stage of
labor. (11)
aggression. An action that results in physical
or emotional injury to a person or animal
or damage to property. (5)
AIDS (acquired immunodefi ciency
syndrome). Disease that breaks down a
person’s immune system. (8)
alternatives. Available options from which a
person can choose. (3)
amniocentesis. Prenatal test, usually given
between weeks 14 and 16, in which a
sample of amniotic fl uid is drawn and
tested for congenital disorders. (9)
amniotic fl uid. Fluid that surrounds the baby
in the uterus. (8)
anabolic steroids. Synthetic hormone drugs
that mimic the action of the natural male
sex hormone, testosterone. (17)
anemia. Condition in which there are not
enough healthy red blood cells to carry
adequate oxygen to the body’s tissues. (9)
Apgar test. A test that is used at birth (and
then again fi ve minutes later) to evaluate
a baby’s overall physical condition. (11)
apprenticeships. Specialized job training
programs in a craft, trade, or any career
offered in the high school. (22)
aptitudes. Natural talents. (22)
artifi cial insemination. Procedure to
promote conception in which a doctor
places sperm-containing semen directly
in the upper part of a woman’s vagina or
uterus. (7)
associative play. A stage of play in which
preschoolers associate with other
children, but do not form group goals for
play. (15)
attachment. The lasting emotional
relationship that begins in infancy and
ties the child to his or her parents and
later to other important people. (4)
attention defi cit disorder (ADD). A disorder
that includes symptoms of distraction
and inattention that are more frequent
and severe than those of others at a
similar developmental level. (21)
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