Child Psychology Terms

adjective feeling or expressing distress or irritation

• The fretful mother paced back and forth in the waiting room, anxious for news about her son's surgery.
• She's been acting so fretful lately, I think she's worried about her upcoming exams.
• Why are you so fretful about the party? Just relax and enjoy yourself.
• The storm clouds gathered in the sky, casting a fretful shadow over the town.

verb past tense of the verb 'frighten', which means to make someone afraid or anxious

adjective feeling fear or anxiety

• The frightened child clung to her mother during the thunderstorm.
• I was so frightened when I heard a noise in the middle of the night.
• She was totally spooked and frightened by the horror movie.
• The thought of public speaking always leaves me feeling frightened.

noun a person who is not guilty of a crime or offense

adjective not guilty of a crime or offense

• The jury found the suspect innocent of all charges.
• She's innocent, I swear!
• He's as innocent as a newborn baby.
• His eyes held an innocent curiosity as he explored the world around him.

noun an extreme or irrational fear of puppets

• Pupaphobia is a recognized psychological disorder characterized by an irrational fear of puppets.
• I can't watch that puppet show because I have pupaphobia.
• My friend thinks puppets are creepy, she must have pupaphobia.
• His pupaphobia towards authority figures stems from a traumatic childhood experience.