DP6 - Normality and Neurotypicality Flashcards
Normality and Neurotypicality
The concepts of normality and neurotypicality, including consideration of emotions, behaviours and cognitions that may be viewed as adaptive or maladaptive for an individual.
Normality
Relates to the capacity to cope with ordinary demands of life or to think and act in an effective way to achieve goals and meet needs. What the majority of people do or typical behavior.
Neurotypical
A specific term for normality that describes individuals who think, behave and feel in ways that are typical for most people.
Neurotypical brain development
Refers to the expected development of brain structures and neurological connections over time.
Neurodivergent
Refers to individuals who think, behave or feel differently to most other people.
Neurodivergent individuals
-Include people with specific neurodevelopmental diagnoses such as autism, adhd, dyslexia and torrettes syndrome.
-There is emerging evidence that people with neurodevelopmental diagnoses have differences in brain development, including in the brain’s internal structures and neurological connections.
-‘Neurodivergent’ and ‘neurotypical’ are descriptive terms, not formal diagnoses.
Emotional competence
-Emotional competence is the term used in psychology to refer to an individual’s capability in identifying, labelling and managing their emotions as well as understanding the emotional states of others.
-Good emotional competence reflects typical or normal emotional expression and understanding.
-Our emotional competence develops from early childhood, when attachment to a significant carer who provides an external reference for understanding how we feel and teaches us how to regulate emotions
Emotional regulation
-Emotions are maladaptive when they persist beyond when they are needed in particular context.
-Teaching individuals to regulate their emotions can help achieve emotional competence.
