412 Chapter 2 Flashcards
etiology
the study of the causes of disorders
developmental psychopathology perspective
- problems that arise are a result of multiple interacting factors and causes to lead to the current presentation
- must look beyond current symptoms to consider developmental pathways (disorders can morph from one to another)
- children and environments are interdependent (transactional view)
continuous development
- trajectory is smooth: gradual, incremental, quantitative (we can predict where we might be in the future)
discontinuous development
- qualitative difference in kind, abrupt changes (where you are now isn’t predictive of where you’ll be later)
organization of development
early patterns of adaptation evolve with structure over time
sensitive periods
windows of time during which environmental influences on development will be enhanced (like language in early years or the months in fetal development)
differentiation and integration
development can be cumulative, skills are based on the accumulation of abilities you already have
biological perspectives
- neurobiological: brain is the underlying cause of disorders
- the brain’s function is use-dependent (neural plasticity for nurture, also influence of nature)
- early caregiving and nutrition will affect your brain development
maturation of the brain
- basic sensory and motor skills in first 3 years of life
- perceptual and instinctive centers are affected by early childhood
- PFC and cerebellum are rewired around 5-7 years
- major restructuring due to pubertal development around 9-11 years and during adolescence
- these are all sensitive periods - interfering will result in specific difficulties
gene-environment interaction
- expression of genetic influences are malleable and responsive to social environment
behavioural genetics
- connections between genetic predispositions and observed behaviour
molecular genetics
- causal factors in genetic mutations (identifying genes linked to childhood behaviours)
passive GxE interaction
- simple association between gene and environment (kids with genes that code for reading aptitudes likely have parents that passed those genes and who created an environment that develops those abilities)
evocative GxE interaction
- you elicit reactions from your environment as a function of who you are/your genes (teachers pick up on reading abilities and enrolls in AP English)
active GxE interaction
- your genetic predispositions make you seek out certain environments (seeking challenging reading material)
when are GxE influential over a lifetime
- passive is more important earlier in life, then decreases (environments are created by other people)
- active gets more important as you age (gaining more agency over your environment)
- evocative stays the same over the course of development (you’re always eliciting reactions from your environment)
brain circuits
- neurons that are more sensitive to a particular neurotransmitter cluster together
benzodiazepine-GABA functions and psychopathology
- reduces arousal and moderates emotional reactions like anger, hostility, aggression, linked to feelings of anxiety and discomfort
- plays a role in anxiety disorders