lmnodefs

macroculture -- overarching cultural structure of a society represented by the cultural aspects that all members of that
society share.

macrocytic anemia -- a failure in the oxygen transport system characterized by abnormally large immature red blood
cells.

macrosystems -- The idealogical, cultural, and institutional contexts that encompass the micro-, meso-, and
exosystems.

macula -- The area of the retina that contains the greatest concentration of cones and the fovea centralis.

macular degeneration -- an age-related condition in which the macula (tissues within the retina) break down, resulting
in distorted and blurred central vision.

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) -- a magnetic imaging technique by which computers create cross-sectional
images of specific body areas or organs; imaging procedure that uses the magnetic resonance of atoms to provide
clear images of interior parts of the body. It is particularly useful in diagnosing structural abnormalities of the brain.

mail-order brides -- agencies specializing in so-called mail-order brides publish profiles and photos of women mainly
for the benefit of American men seeking wives.

mainstream classroom -- classroom in which students with special needs attend on a part-time basis with children
without special needs.

mainstreamed -- the educational concept that a child with disabilities be placed in a normal classroom setting either for
part or all of the school day.

mainstreaming -- The government's first attempt at providing a free and appropriate education for all children in the
least restrictive environment -- passe term for "inclusion."

make-believe play -- a type of play in which children pretend, acting out everyday and imaginary activities.

malaria -- an infectious, febrile illness caused by a protozoa; transmitted by mosquitos; tends to become chronic.

male menopause -- physical changes in men related to age, similar to those that occur in women during menopause.

malnourished -- suffering from improper nutrition.

malnutrition -- prolonged inadequate or excessive intake of nutrients and/or calories required by the body.

malocclusion -- a condition in which the upper and lower teeth do not meet properly.

maltreated children -- those children under age 18 who have been physically, mentally, or sexually abused or
neglected by those adults responsible for the child's welfare.

mammoplasty -- surgical alteration of the shape of a breast.

managing stress -- Pauline Boss's alternative to the phrase coping with stress; individual family members' use of their
own resources to help their family deal with a stressor or work through a crisis.

mandala -- universal symbol combining circle and intersecting lines.

mandated testing -- testing in public schools that is required at certain grade levels; mandated assessment times are
set up by individual states in K -- 12 education.

mandated reporters -- those individuals who by law must report suspicions of child abuse to specified agencies; in
Tennessee, everyone is considered a mandated reporter of child abuse.

mandatory arrest laws -- laws that require police to arrest violent intimates when probable cause exists; such laws
currently exist in many US states and local jurisdictions.

mandatory reporting laws -- laws that require certain classes of professionals to report cases of suspected child or
adult abuse, such laws currently exist in all US states.

mandible -- lower jaw bone

mania -- 1) according to sociologist John Alan Lee's theory of the origin of love, one of six basic styles of loving:
obsessive love, which consists of strong sexual attraction and emotional intensity, extreme jealousy, and mood swings
alternating between ecstasy and despair; 2) a distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or
irritable mood. The mood disturbance is sufficiently severe to cause impairment in function.

manic-depressive -- pertaining to a psychiatric disorder consisting of distinct periods of elevated mood and
depressed mood. This is a type of psychosis and is associated with disorganization of personality and distortion of
reality.

manifest functions -- according to the structural-functional perspective, functions that are open, stated, and
conscious.

manipulative area -- a place in an early childhood setting for children to enhance their fine motor skills, develop
hand-eye coordination, and increase mental, language, and social skills through the use of play materials such as
pegboards, puzzles, and games.

manipulative materials -- materials that children can handle and work with, such as puzzles, blocks, and wooden
beads.

manipulative skills -- are defined as any gross motor skill that usually involves an object being manipulated. More
commonly, however, "manipulative" refers to fine motor skills.

manipulative tantrums -- tantrums children throw to manipulate others into giving them what they want.

manual communication -- any formal or established system of hand gestures used for communication, such as
fingerspelling or American Sign Language.

manual interpreter -- An individual who translates spoken language into sign language for the deaf.

manual prompt -- positioning the teacher's hand around the learner's and putting the learner through the motions
required to perform a particular act.

maple syrup urine disease -- an inborn error of amino acid metabolism presenting with vomiting, lethargy, and coma
in the first week of life. Urine smells like maple syrup. If untreated, leads to mental retardation or death. Caused by an
enzyme deficiency affecting branched chain amino acids. Autosomal recessive. Can be prenatally diagnosed by
amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling and enzyme analysis. Can be treated with a diet low in branched chain amino
acids. Associated conditions are acidosis and low blood sugar. Incidence 1/125,000; recurrence risk to patient's
siblings, 25%.

marasmus -- a disease usually appearing in the first year of life that is caused by a diet low in all essential nutrients.
Leads to a wasted condition of the body.

marchen -- the German word for fairy tales.

Marfan syndrome -- tall, thin stature, spider-like limbs, hypermobile joints, dislocation of lens, aortic aneurysm, usually
normal intelligence. Possibly caused by an abnormality in the fibrillin gene. Autosomal dominant. Prenatal diagnosis not
available. Associated complications are joint instability, thoracic deformities, loss of vision, ADHD, learning disabilities.
Incidence: 1/10,000; recurrence risk to patient's children, 50%.

marginal -- living within the majority culture but feeling alientated or outcast.

marital quality -- marriage success measured in terms of stability, happiness, and flexibility.

marital rape -- sexual assault by one's spouse.

marital success -- also called marital quality, charactieristic of marriage measured in terms of stability, happiness,
and flexibility.

marriage -- an emotional and legal commitment between two people to share emotional and physical intimacy, various
tasks, and economic resources.

marriage bureaus -- services that arrange introductions for a fee

marriage gradient -- see mating gradient

marriage maintenance affairs -- extramarital affairs that provide something missing from the marriage.

marriage sabbatical -- a personal timeout from daily routines for creative, professional, or spiritual growth, for study,
reflection, or renewal.

marriage squeeze -- a factor that influences dating: one sex has a more limited pool of eligible marriage candidates
than the other sex has.

martyr parenting style -- parenting style in which parents sacrifice everything for their children and exercise little or no
authority over them.

masculinists -- people who believe that the partriarchal system causes oppression and isolation but who are in favor
of males' trying to achieve self-realization and self-expression.

masculinity -- a gender-linked constellation of personality traits and behavioral patterns traditionally associated with
males in a society.

mastery -- competency, clear-cut understanding of a complete skill or knowledge.

mastery-oriented attributions -- attributions that credit success to high ability and failure to insufficient effort. Lead to
high self-esteem and a willingness to approach challenging tasks.

mastoiditis -- infection of the mastoid air cells that rest in the temporal bone behind the ear. This is an infrequent
complication of a chronic middle ear infection.

masturbation -- self-stimulation of the genitals; also called autoeroticism

matching -- recognizing the similarities of an attribute of objects.

matching hypothesis -- the idea that people seek romantic partners who are similar in level of physical attractiveness.

maternal deprivation -- process of being denied access to bonding with one's mother. This is a catch-phrase
summarizing Bowlby's early work on the effects of separating infants and young children from their mothers. He believed
that maternally deprived children were likely to develop asocial or antisocial tendencies, and that juvenile delinquency
was mainly a consequence of such separations. The corollary of this was his advocacy of continuous mother-child
contact for at least the first five years of life, which earned him the opprobrium of feminists. Subsequent research has
confirmed that lack of maternal care does lead o poor social adjustment and relationship difficulties, but suggests that
disruption, conflict, and poor maternal handling are more common causes of difficulties later than the loss of the mother
in itself.

maternal infections -- infections in a mother during pregnancy, sometimes having the potential to injure the unborn
child.

maternal obesity -- degree of excessive weight in a pregnant woman.

mating gradient -- the tendency of women to marry men who are better educated or more successful than they are.

matriarchal -- female-dominated, female-identified, and female-centered.

matriarchal family -- family in which the mother holds the power.

matriarchal group -- a group in which the mother or eldest female is recognized as the head of the family, kinship
group, or tribe. Descent is traced through this woman.

matrilineal -- family/kinship system whereby children trace their descent, and perhaps rights and property, through the
mother's line.

matrilineal society -- a society in which descent, or lineage, is traced through females.

matrilocal society -- a society that encourages newly married couples to live with or near the wife's kin, especially her
mother's kinship group.

maturation -- The biologically controlled process by which each child "unfolds" according to the child's individual
timetable.

maturationist -- one who believes the human development is a natural unfolding of innate abilities and nearly
independent of environmental influence.

Maturation theory -- a set of ideas based on the notion that the sequence of behavior and the emergence of personal
characteristics develop more through predetermined growth processes that through learning and interaction with the
environment; the theory of growth and development proposed and supported by Dr. Arnold Gesell and associates.

mature love -- companionate love.

maxilla -- the bony region of the upper jaw.

maxillary -- pertaining to the upper jaw bone.

maxillary hypoplasia -- underdeveloped or incomplete upper jaw

mean -- the average score in a distribution.

meaningful curriculum -- chronologically age-appropriate, relevant curriculum provided for each student according to
interests, personal goals, and limitations in reaching those goals.

meaningful knowledge -- the form of knowing that is learned within the context of what is already known; that
knowledge that has meaning because it has particular significance of value to an individual.

mean length of utterances (MLU) -- the average length of a child's sentence, which usually increases with age.

measurement -- quantification of some kind.

measurement bias -- an unfairness or inaccuracy of test results that is related to cultural background, sex, or race.

measures of central tendency -- measures which are representative of a sample or population. They enable one to
be more objective when drawing conclusions or making inferences. These measures identify the center or middle of a
set of values and best characterize the distribution.

mechanistic model -- orientation based on the belief that it is useful to view human beings in terms of their reactive,
machine-like characteristics.

meconium -- the thick, sticky, greenish-black feces passed by infants during the first day or two after birth.

meconium aspiration -- potentially severe illness due to infant inhaling meconium (i.e., feces) into lung passages with
first respiratory efforts. Can cause respiration pneumonia and inadequate ventilation for the infant.

media -- any material used to create or enhance learning experiences for young children.

median -- the middlemost score in a distribution.

median income -- the income midpoint -- half of a population earns more and half earns less.

mediated learning -- Based on the teaching premise that cognitive and social processes are independent factors in all
learning.

mediation -- a process that is offered without cost to the parents for resolving disagreements for parents about school
issues.

mediators -- Teacher or other adults who facilitate learning by bridging the gap between the child and the learning
environment.

mediator (variable) -- another term for intervening variable, that is, a variable that transmits the effects of another.

Medicaid -- a government-sponsored health care program for eligible people with disabilities and others that pays for
hospital services, laboratory services, and early screening, diagnosis, treatment, and immunization for children.

medical family therapy -- a therapeutic framework that uses family systems theory and the biopsychosocial approach
in dealing with health problems in family members.

medically fragile -- a disability category that includes people who are at risk for medical emergencies and often
depend on technological support, such as a ventilator or nutritional supplements, to sustain health or even life.

medical model -- model by which human development is viewed according to two dimensions: normal and pathological.
Normal refers to the absence of biological problems; pathological refers to alterations in the organism by disease.

Medicare -- a government-sponsored national insurance program for people over 65 years of age and eligible people
with disabilities. Medicare may pay for hospital and physician-related costs.

medicine -- in Native American religions this refers to a mystic power. A medicine bundle, worn on a belt in a pouch, will
have various plant pollens and animal parts, such as a tooth or claw, that are thought to impart their sacred power or
protection to the wearer.

Medicine man -- in Native American societies a healer who is in touch with the spiritual world. A medicine man helps
individual as well as the community. Also called a Shaman.

medium; media -- art materials

medium chain triglycerides (MCT) -- fatty food source that can bypass normal uptake process and go directly to the
liver.

medulla oblongata -- located in the brain stem, it channels information between the cerebral hemispheres and the
spinal cord. It controls respiration, circulation, wakefulness, breathing, and heart rate.

megadose -- an amount of a vitamin or mineral at least ten times that of RDA.

megavitamin therapies -- see orthomolecular therapy

meiosis -- reductive cell division occurring only in eggs and sperm in which the daughter cells receive half (23) the
number of chromosomes as the parent cells. Makes only 1 viable egg but 4 viable sperms.

memory -- mental capacity to store and later recognize or recall previously experienced events.

memory strategies -- deliberate mental activities that improve the likelihood of remembering.

menarche -- the onset of the menstrual cycle.

meninges -- the three membranes covering the brain and the spinal cord.

meningitis -- infection of the meninges; inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, which can
affect vision, hearing, and intelligence.

meningocele -- Similar to myelomeningocele except that the protrusion contains only the covering of the spinal cord
and usually causes little or no neurological impairment; contains no nerves or nerve roots.

Menkes syndrome -- small for gestational age; progressive neurological disorder; sparse, abnormal hair; profound
mental retardation; body abnormalities with tendency to fracture easily. Caused by defective uptake or transport of
copper that may be due to an abnormality of cytochrome c oxidase. X-linked recessive inheritance. Associated
complications are developmental regression, severe vision abnormalities, 12% live to 2 years of age, progressive
neurological deterioration, severe mental retardation. Incidence: 3/100,000; recurrence risk for patient's siblings, 50% of
males.

menopause -- the cessation of ovulation, menstruation, and fertility in women as a result of aging.

menses -- the menstrual flow in which the endometrial tissue of the uterus is discharged.

menstrual regulation -- a procedure in which the contents of the uterus are sucked out before the woman's menstrual
period is due; as such, the woman never knows if she was pregnant. Also called endometrial aspiration, preemptive
abortion, and menstrual extraction.

menstruation -- the discharge from the uterus through the vagina of blood and the unfertilized ova; occurs about every
28 days in nonpregnant woman between puberty and menopause.

mental age -- a concept used in psychological assessment that arrives at the general mental ability of a child or youth
by matching the tasks the child is able to perform to a scale of typical performance of children of various ages.

mental disorders -- psychiatric illnesses or diseases manifested by breakdowns in the adaptational process and
expressed primarily as abnormalities of thought, feeling, and behavior, producing either distress or impairment of
function.

mental representation -- internal depictions of information that the mind can manipulate.

mental retardation (MR) -- Disability characterized by significantly below average intellectual functioning and deficits
in adaptive functioning that occur during the developmental period (that is, prior to age 18) that has an adverse effect
on education; substantial limitations in functioning, characterized by significantly subaverage intellectual functioning
concurrent with related limitations in two or more adaptive skills. Mental retardation manifests itself prior to age 18.

mental rotation -- the ability to imagine how objects would appear if their positions were rotated.

mental strategies -- in information processing, procedures that operate on and transform information.

mentor -- qualified individual who works with students in areas of interest or ability, guiding the students' development
and achievement.

merit pay -- a system for teachers that gives pay bonuses for excellent teaching.

me-self -- a sense of self as an object of knowledge and evaluation. Consists of all qualities that make the self unique,
including physical characteristics, possessions, attitudes, beliefs, and personality traits.

mesosystems -- The relationships between the various environments of the microsystems.

meta-analysis -- a comprehensive statistical procedure, whereby research studies are evaluated in an effort to
ascertain global statistical patterns, which yield "effect size," reported as standard deviations.

metabolic disorders -- The inability to correctly utilize nutrients; disabilities caused by this inability.

metabolic syndrome -- a combination of obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.

metabolism -- all chemical changes that occur from the time nutrients are absorbed until they are built into body tissue
or excreted.

metabolize -- The chemical process within living cells by which energy is manufactured so that body systems can carry
out their functions.

metachromatic leukodystrophy -- progressive neurological disorder, profound mental retardation, loss of reflexes,
rapidly fatal. Caused by deficiency of the enzyme arylsulfatase. Usually autosomal recessive inheritance. Can be
diagnosed prenatally with amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling and enzyme analysis. Associated complications are
progressive loss of motor function, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, mental retardation. Incidence: 1/40,000;
recurrence risk to patient's siblings, 25%.

metacognition -- thinking about thought; awareness of mental activities.

metacommunication -- communicating about communicating.

metalinguistic awareness -- the ability to think about language as a system.

Methode Clinique -- a kind of information-gathering technique, first used extensively by Jean Piaget, that involves
observing children and asking questions as the situation unfolds. The purpose of this technique is to elicit information
about how children are thinking as they behave naturally.

methylmalonic acidemia -- see methylmalonic aciduria

methylmalonic aciduria -- inborn error of organic acid metabolism leading to an abnormal accumulation of
methylmalonic acid. If untreated, results in repeated episodes of vomiting, lethargy, and coma associated with acidosis.
Caused by deficiency of enzyme methymalomyl CoA mutase, or defect in cobalamin metabolism. Autosomal recessive.
Can be diagnosed prenatally with amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling and enzyme analysis. Treatment: protein
restricted special diet. Some patients have an enzyme defect which responds to vitamin B12. In these families, prenatal
treatment of mother also has been useful. Prompt treatment of infections is important. Associated complications are
neutropenia, osteoporosis, infections, feeding abnormalities, mental retardation, feeding problems. Incidence: Unknown,
over 100 known cases; recurrence risk to patient's siblings, 25%.

microbes -- germs that are so small that they can only be seen through a microscope.

microcephaly -- a condition characterized by an abnormally small skull with resulting brain damage and mental
retardation; head circumference more than 2 standard deviations below the average size.

micrognathia -- underdevelopment of the mandible, or lower jawbone.

microculture -- subculture within a larger society that demonstrates some cultural characteristics that differ from the
larger society.

microcytic anemia -- a failure in the oxygen transport system characterized by abnormally small red blood cells.

microgenesis -- the development of competence at a single task or activity by a child or adult.

microgenetic design -- a research design in which researchers present children with a novel task and follow their
mastery over a series of closely spaced sessions.

micrognathia -- underdevelopment of the mandible or lower jaw.

microgram -- a metric unit of measurement; one-millionth of a gram.

microorganisms -- an animal or plant of microscopic size, especially a bacterium.

microphthalmia -- an abnormally small eyeball.

micropremature infant -- an infant born at less than 600 grams (1 pound 5 ounces) or less than 25 weeks gestation.

microswitch -- a switch, usually used to control a computer, environmental control system, or power wheelchair, that
has been adapted so that less pressure than normal is required to activate it.

microsystems -- As proposed by Bronfenbrenner, the immediate environments in which a person develops such as a
youngster's home and neighborhood.

microtia -- no ears

mid-brain -- refers to the geological area behind the frontal lobes, above the brain stem and below the parietal lobes.
Structures within it include the thalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala.

middle age -- generally speaking, the years between the ages of 35 and 65; from the standpoint of the family
development conceptual framework, the middle years of the family life cycle are the launching period for young-adult
children and the period before the parents' retirement.

middle childhood stage -- time from about age 6 years to 10 years.

middle ear -- a small membrane-lined cavity, separated from the outer ear by the eardrum, that transmits sound waves
from the eardrum to the partition between the middle ear and the inner ear through a chain of tiny bones.

midline position -- in the middle or center of the body.

midlife crisis -- a period of questioning one's worth, values, and contributions in life, usually beginning in a person's
40s or early 50s.

midrange families -- families who are extreme on one dimension of the Couple and Family Map but balanced on the
other dimension. There are eight mid-range family types. For example, a family might be structurally enmeshed: extreme
on cohesion (enmeshed) but balanced on flexibility (structured).

midwife -- a nonphysician who attends and facilitates a birth.

milestones -- significant developmental events (e.g., first word).

milieu strategies -- strategies to facilitate language skills (especially social interaction context) that take advantage of
the natural environment (people, materials, activities) to support learning. Milieu strategies include a variety of specific
procedures (i.e., time delay, mand-model, incidental teaching).

milieu (incidental) teaching -- A strategy in which adults arrange the environment with interesting materials to
encourage a child's language development.

milligram -- one-thousandth of a gram.

milliliter -- one thousandth of a liter; equal to about 15 drops.

Mills vs. Board of Education (1972) -- federal court case based on a class-action lawsuit establishing that all children
with disabilities in Washington, D.C., are entitled to public education.

mindfulness -- term coined by Ellen J. Langer; state of mind characterized by three features: creation of new
categories; openness to new information; and awareness of more than one perspective.

minding -- a multidimensional concept that describes the need to give ongoing attention to oneself, one's relational
partner, and the relationship itself.

mindlessness -- term coined by Ellen J. Langer; state of mind characterized by three features: entrapment in old
categories; automatic behavior; and acting from a single perspective.

minerals -- inorganic chemical elements that are required in the diet to support growth and repair tissue and to
regulate body functions.

minilaparotomy -- type of laparotomy that leaves a smaller scar.

minimal brain dysfunction -- a once popular term used to describe the learning disability of children with no actual
evidence of brain damage.

minimal distance principle (MDP) -- the assumption that the noun most closely preceding the verb is the subject of
the sentence.

mini pill -- hormonal form of birth control for females that contains only one hormone, progestin.

minority group -- a social group that differs from the rest of the population in some ways and that often experiences
discrimination and prejudices.

Mirena -- see intrauterine system

mirror writing -- writing backwards from right to left, making letters that look like ordinary writing seen in a mirror.

misarticulation -- improper pronunciation of words and word sounds.

misbehavior -- improper behavior or conduct.

miscarriage -- the termination of a pregnancy from natural causes before the fetus is viable outside the mother (during
the first or second trimester of pregnancy); also called spontaneous abortion.

miscegenation -- marriage or cohabitation between a white person and a person of another race.

miseducation -- David Elkind's term describing the end result of contemporary parents rushing their children into
formal education too early.

missionary position -- a coital position in which partners lie face to face, with the male above the female.

mitosis -- cell division in which two daughter cells of identical chromosomal composition to the parent cell are formed;
each contains 46 chromosomes.

mitral valve -- valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle; permits the left ventricle to contract and pump blood
out of the aorta without regurgitation of blood back into the left atrium.

mixed age groups -- also known as heterogeneous, multi-age, vertical, ungraded, nongraded, and family grouping;
groups of children not separated by chronological age.

mixed cerebral palsy -- type of cerebral palsy that includes characteristics of spastic, athetoid, and ataxic cerebral
palsy.

mixed hearing loss -- a hearing loss resulting from an abnormal sense organ (inner ear) and a damaged auditory
nerve.

mixed message -- a message in which there is a discrepancy between the verbal and nonverbal components. The
receiver hears one thing but simultaneously feels something else.

mixed methods research -- this is a type of study in which family researchers use both qualitative and quantitative
research techniques, thus benefitting fromt he strengths of both approaches to research.

MLU -- see mean length of utterances.

mobiles -- An art form made up of balanced lengths of wire or string to which bits of various materials are attached so
that air current move them about when they are hung up.

mobility -- The ability to move safely and efficiently from one point to another; the process of using one's senses to
determine their position in relation to other objects in the environment.

modalities of knowledge acquisition -- these are divided into four basic groups: visual, auditory, tactile, and
kinesthetic.

mode -- the most common score in a distribution.

modeling -- An instructional technique by which one person demonstrates how to do a task or solve a problem;
(three-dimensional) manipulating and shaping flexible materials.

modeling behavior -- a characteristic of dramatic play in which children imitate what they have observed.

model program -- a program that implements and evaluates new procedures or techniques to serve as a basis for the
development of other programs.

mode of representation -- in Bruner's theory, one of three ways in which knowledge can be represented.

moderator (variable) -- a variable that influences (moderates) the relation between 2 other variables and thus
produces an interaction effect.

modern family -- see nuclear family.

modification -- a change in assessment procedures that DOES alter what the assessment measures and the
comparability of results.

modifier genes -- genes that can enhance or dilute the effects of other genes.

moksha -- in Hinduism a state of perfection in which the soul resides after liberation from the cycle of rebirths. The
more familiar term is the Buddhist Nirvana.

molding -- the pressing together, or even overlapping of the bones of the baby's skull, to accommodate passage of the
baby through the birth canal.

monogamy -- a relationship in which a man or woman has only one mate.

monologue -- when children speak out loud to themselves.

mononucleosis -- a viral illness whose symptoms include fever, malaise, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, and an
enlarged spleen.

monoplegia -- type of paralysis that only involves one limb.

monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) -- a fatty acid that has only one bond in its structure, and that is not fully
saturated with hydrogen.

monotropy -- an ethological term introduced by Bowlby to denote the exclusive attachment of a child to its principal
care-giver, usually the mother. He was impressed by Lorenz's studies of geese and their young which suggested that
the goslings became imprinted onto a moving object at a sensitive period in the first day or two of life. Bowlby thought
that a similar process occurred in humans. In fact, imprinting seems not to be a feature of primate development, where
attachments develop gradually and over a wide range from the early months to adolescence. Also, attachment in
humans is not so much monotropic as hierarchical, with a list of preferred care-givers, with parents at the top, but
closely followed by grandparents, siblings, aunts, and so on.

monozygotic twins (identical twins) -- twins who share the same genetic code because they both developed from
only one fertilized egg, which divided into two separate individuals.

mood disorders -- prolonged or severe depression or mania (elation) or swings between these extremes.

moral domain -- issues that concern universal principles reflecting concepts of harm, welfare, and fairness.

morality -- characteristic of making choices based on a set of standards set by a social group.

moral realism -- the belief that morality is based on conforming to established rules set by powerful adults

moratorium -- identity status of those adolescents who are actively exploring identity issues but have not yet made any
firm commitment.

morbidity -- medical complication of an illness, procedure, or operation.

morning-after-pill (Preven, Plan B) -- combined estrogen-progesterone oral emergency contraceptives (hormone
pills).

morning sickness -- nausea experienced by many women during the first trimester of pregnancy, often but not
exclusively in the morning.

moro reflex -- primitive reflex present in the newborn in which the infant throws the arms out in an 'embrace' attitude

morphemes -- smallest unit of language

morphogenic system -- a system that is open to growth and change; also called an open system.

morphological development -- evolution of word structure and word parts.

morphological inflections -- bound morphemes or small word units that change the meaning of words (e.g., 's, -ed,
pre-, etc.)

morphology -- the meaning units in words.

morphostatic system -- a system that has the capacity to maintain the status quo, thus avoiding a change; also called
closed system.

mortality -- the death rate; the ratio of total number of deaths to the total number in the population.

morula -- the group of cells formed by the first divisions of a fertilized egg.

mosaicism -- the presence of two genetically distinct types of cells in one individual -- for example, a child with Down
syndrome who has some cells containing 46 chromosomes and some cells containing 47 chromosomes.

motherese (fatherese) -- unique infant-directed speech patterns that adults use with babies; also called child
directed speech.

motif -- in literature, a simple story element out of which an entire narrative may be woven, such as a princess being
abducted by a dragon or sorcerer. In folklore, a motif is a recurrent story element such as an incident, character, or
theme. Folkloric motifs recur in diverse stories from many different cultures (e.g., identifying the true hero or heroine by
a specific sign or test such as Cinderella's slipper test).

motif index -- developed by the American folklorist Stith Thompson, this multivolume index leads readers to stories in
collections where specific motifs can be found.

motor delays -- areas of disabilities that involve skeletal and muscle movement.

motor development -- The development of the ability to move freely, including coordination, balance, and small motor
motions.

motor planning difficulties -- lack of ability to plan and carry out movements, frequently resulting in awkward or
uncoordinated movements.

mottling -- marked with spots of dense white or brown coloring.

movement and music area -- An activity area in which there is room for dancing, running, climbing, jumping, skipping .
. . and singing, listening to music, or making music.

movement education -- a success-oriented, child-centered form of physical education emphasizing fundamental
movements and the discovery of their variations, which can later be used in games, sports, dance, gymnastics, and life
itself.

movement therapy -- exercise therapy under the direct care of a physical therapist.

Mowat sensor -- a handheld travel aid, approximately the size of a flashlight, used by people who are blind. It serves
as an alternate to a cane for finding obstacles in the person's pathway.

mucopolysaccharidoses -- product of metabolism that may accumulate in cells and cause a progressive neurological
disorder. One example is Hurler disease.

mucosal -- pertaining to the mucus membrane lining organs, such as the mouth, stomach, and vagina.

multicultural education -- education that promotes learning about multiple cultures and their values.

multicultural factors in transition -- concerns that must be addressed in transition planning when the family making
the transition is from a culture other than the dominant one in the agency.

multicultural relationships -- relationships in which people from different cultural/ethnic backgrounds are romantically
involved.

multidimensional -- The relationship among the many factors that comprise a learning sequence.

multidisciplinary -- A team approach in which the professionals provide isolated assessment and intervention services
that are often fragmented and confusing to families.

multidisciplinary assessment -- type of assessment in which specialists from several disciplines assess and evaluate
a child independently and submit separate reports.

multidisciplinary team -- a team in which professionals act as consultants but do not provide hands-on treatment.

multifactored evaluation (MFE) -- an assessment of a student's abilities that combines several sources of data.

multilevel instruction -- differing levels of instruction that provide students with many different ways to access and
learn content within the general education curriculum.

multimedia artwork -- an art form and contemporary art movement which emphasizes the integration of all art forms.

Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD (MTA) -- large-scale, federally funded research project that
explored the effectiveness of various interventions for children with ADHD.

multiorgasmic -- being able to have multiple orgasms within a single period of sexual arousal.

multiparous women -- women who have previously given birth (and who are pregnant for a 2nd or more time).

multiple carboxylase deficiency -- inborn error of metabolism (organic acidemia) presenting in the newborn period;
results in severe illness due to the inability to couple the vitamin biotin to certain enzymes that need it; fatal if untreated,
but response to biotin supplementation is usually excellent.

multiple disabilities -- having more than one disabling condition.

multiple intelligences -- individual ways of processing information; the theory that people have intelligence across
several domains, including linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal,
intrapersonal, and naturalist. This theory was developed by Howard Gardner.

multiple sclerosis -- a disease that includes patches of hardened tissue in the brain or spinal cord, associated with
partial or complete paralysis and jerking muscle tremors.

multiple system levels -- general systems theory holds that systems are embedded within one's other systems, layer
upon layer

multiply disabled -- An IDEA term for having more than one disabling condition; a category in IDEA.

multiracial -- a term used to describe people who are of two or more races.

multiracial relationship -- relationships in which people from different racial backgrounds are romantically involved.

Munchausen by proxy -- a constellation of behaviors whereby an adult uses her child as the vehicle for fabricated
illness.

mural -- a story-telling picture or panel intended for a large wall space.

muscle tone -- either a tense or relaxed state that affects the ability to flex or extend a muscle smoothly.

muscular dystrophy -- a group of inherited, chronic disorders that are characterized by gradual wasting and
weakening of the voluntary skeletal muscles.

musculoskeletal disorders -- physical disabilities that are the result of problems related to the skeleton or muscles.

musical/rhythmic learner -- in Gardner's theory, this learner is oriented toward music, rhythmic sounds, and
environmental sounds. Often called the "music lover."

music center -- a place for listening to records, tapes, singing, creating dance, and playing musical instruments (in an
early childhood setting).

music therapist -- Individual trained in an approved music therapy program who uses music to enhance development.

mutation -- a change in a gene that occurs by chance, serendipitously, if you will.

mutual dependency -- the sharing of pleasures, ideas, jokes, and sexual desires

mutual exclusivity bias -- in the early phase of vocabulary growth, children's assumption that words refer to entirely
separate (nonoverlapping) categories.

mutual gaze -- The steady looking at one another's face that goes on between healthy newborns and their parent or
primary caregiver.

mutual goal -- shared goal that is the basis for collaboration; should clearly be stated to achieve collaboration.

mutual masturbation -- a sexual technique in which partners sexually stimulate each other to orgasm without having
intercourse.

mutual oral-genital stimulation -- simultaneous oral-genital stimulation while partners are facing each other while
lying in opposite directions. The arrangement is known as the "69 position."

myelin -- tissue that covers the nerves to enhance conductivity of nerve impulses

myelination -- the forming of the myelin sheath, the material in the membrane of certain cells in the brain; the
development of the myelination of the brain seems to parallel Piagetian stages of cognitive development.

myelomeningocele -- Type of spina bifida that occurs when the spinal cord and its covering protrude from the opening
in the spine.

myeloschisis -- a developmental defect characterized by a cleft spinal cord that results from failure of the neural plate
to fuse and form a complete neural tube.

myelosuppression -- the inhibition of the process of production of blood cells and platelets in the bone marrow

myoclonic seizure -- brief, shock-like muscle contractions.

myopathies -- diseases of muscle, usually degenerative.

myopia -- nearsightedness; inability to see distant objects clearly; a refractive problem wherein the eyeball is
excessively long, focusing light in front of the retina.

myosin -- protein necessary for muscle contraction.

myringotomy -- the surgical incision of the eardrum. It is usually accompanied by the placement of pressure equalizing
tubes to drain fluid from the middle ear.

myth -- a sacred story told as part of a world view or religious belief system and used to make concrete abstract
concepts about cosmic and societal origins.

mythology -- a complex network of myths that, taken together, constitute the stories that explain the belief system of a
people.

myxedema -- thickening and coarsening of the skin caused by hypothyroidism.