Chapter 2- Theories and Causes Flashcards
Children’s problems must be considered in relation to ___
multiple levels of influence - individual, family, community, and culture
what are 6 causes of a child’s behavior
Biological influences
Emotional influences
Behavioral and cognitive influences
Family
cultural
ethnic
Defining child abnormality involves- 2
The context of children’s ongoing adaptation and development
Sorting out the causes of identified problems
abnormal behavior studies require an understanding of ____
development and individual events that can impact a child’s life
what is a theory
language of science that allows us to assemble and communicate existing knowledge effectively
allows us to make educated guesses and predictions about behavior
what is etiology
the study of the causes of childhood disorders
etiology considers how ___, ___ and ___ processes interact to produce outcomes over time
biological, psychological, and environmental
what is the Developmental Psychopathology Perspective and what does it emphasize
approach to describing and studying disorders of childhood, adolescence, and beyond in a manner that emphasizes the importance of developmental processes and tasks
Abnormal development is ___
multiply determined- must look beyond current symptoms
what is the transactional view
Children and environments are interdependent, have a dynamic interaction
abnormal behavior involves ____ and ___
continuities and discontinuities
what is Continuity
developmental changes are gradual and quantitative; predictive of future behavior patterns (expressed as amounts that can be measured numerically, such as weight and height changes)
what is Discontinuity
developmental changes are abrupt and qualitative; not predictive of future behavior patterns (expressed as qualities that cannot be measured numerically, such as changes in mood or expression)
what is a Developmental Cascade
the process by which a child’s previous interactions and experiences may spread across other systems and alter his or her course of development, somewhat like a chain reaction
what is adaptational failure
unsuccessful progress in developmental milestones
Children with psychological disorders differ from ____
their peers in some aspect of normal development
___ and ___ are fundamental aspects of biological and behavioral systems
change and reorganization
Early patterns of adaptation evolve with ____
structure over time
Ex. infant eye contact and speech sounds to speech and language
what are sensitive periods
times during which environmental influences on development are enhanced
what are infants highly sensitive to
emotional cues and proximity to their caregivers, which assists them in developing secure attachments
what are toddlers highly sensitive to
basic sounds of language, which helps them distinguish sounds and combine them to form words
what is that neurological perspective
The brain is seen as the underlying cause of psychological disorders
The fetal brain develops from all-purpose cells into a complex organ
what is neural plasticity
the brain’s anatomical differentiation is use-dependent
nature and nurture both contribute
what plays a critical role in brain development
examples
Experience
prenatal environment; childhood illness and diet; and early caregiving, including maltreatment, inadequate stimulation, and attachment
when do the areas governing basic sensory and motor skills mature
during the first 3 years of life
___ and ___ centers are strongly affected by early childhood experiences
Perceptual and instinctive
what parts of the brain are rewired around 5-7 years old
Prefrontal cortex and cerebellum
Major restructuring occurs from ages 9 to 11 due to _____ and again in adolescence
pubertal development
Problems occurring at a younger age are associated with
more severe organic disorders and complications
____ are important in reducing the risk of complications and lifelong disabilities
safeguards
examples of safeguards- 3
proper prenatal care, proper nutrition, and avoidance of tobacco or alcohol during pregnancy
Genetic influences may be expressed ___ or ___
early in development or show up years later
what does behavioral genetics investigate
connections between genetic predisposition and observed behavior
what are molecular genetics used for
to identify specific genes for childhood disorders
what is the long term goal for molecular genetics
to determine how genetic mutations alter how genes function
most forms of abnormal behavior are
polygenic
the brain stem handles most of the
autonomic functions necessary to stay alive
what does the hind brain do
provides regulation of autonomic activities
what makes up the hindbrain?
medulla, pons, and cerebellum
what does the midbrain coordinate
movement with sensory input; contains reticular activating system
what does the forebrain contain
thalamus and hypothalamus
what does the forebrain regulate
behavior and emotion, endocrine system
what does the limbic system regulate
emotional experiences and expressions; plays a significant role in learning and impulse control
Regulates basic drives of sex, aggression, hunger, and thirst
what does the limbic system regulate
emotional experiences and expressions; plays a significant role in learning and impulse control
Regulates basic drives of sex, aggression, hunger, and thirst
what does the basal ganglia regulate, organize and filter
information related to cognition, emotions, mood and motor function
what is the basal ganglia associated with
ADHD, motor behaviors (e.g., tics and tremors)
OCD
what is the largest part of the forebrain
cerebral cortex
what does the cerebral cortex do
Allows us to plan, reason, and create
what is the endocrine system link to
anxiety and mood disorders
what type of drugs are used in treatments
Psychoactive
what plays a role in establishing an infants ability to adapt to new surroundings
emotions
Emotions and affective expression are -3
core elements of human psychological experience
central feature of infant activity and regulation
important for internal monitoring and guidance
what is emotion reactivity
individual differences in the threshold and intensity of emotional experience
what does emotion regulation involve
enhancing, maintaining, or inhibiting emotional arousal
what is temperament and what does it shape
an organized style of behavior that appears early in development
Shapes an individual’s approach to his or her environment and vice versa
what are the 3 primary dimensions
Positive affect and approach (easy child)
Fearful or inhibited (slow-to warm-up child)
Negative affect or irritability (difficult child)
Early infant temperament may be linked to
psychopathology or risk conditions
what is self-regulation
balance between emotional reactivity and self-control
what is ABA
Applied Behavior Analysis
what does ABA explain
behavior as a function of its antecedents and consequences
what are the 4 primary operant learning principles
Positive and negative reinforcement
extinction
punishment
what is classical conditioning
Involves paired associations between previously neutral stimulus and unconditioned stimuli
____ relates to how children think about themselves and others
social cognition
what ate the social and environmental contexts
Proximal (close by) events
distal (further removed) events
what are shared environments
environmental factors that produce similarities in developmental outcomes among siblings in the same family
what are non-shared environments
environmental factors that produce behavioral differences among siblings in the same family
what is Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model
The child’s environment is a series of nested and interconnected structures with the child at the center
what is attachment
process of establishing and maintaining an emotional bond with parents or other significant individuals
when does the attachment process begin
between 6-12 months of age
Provides infants with a secure, consistent base
what are the 4 patterns of attachment
Secure
Insecure – anxious-avoidant
Insecure – anxious-resistant
Disorganized, disoriented (not an organized strategy)
____ attachments are implicated in a number of childhood disorders
insecure
How the family deals with typical and atypical stress is
crucial to a child’s adjustment and adaptation
The outcome of stressful events depends on
The nature and severity of stress
the level of family functioning prior to the stress
the family’s coping skills and resources
