Theories and Child Life Lecture Notes

Comprehensive practice questions covering developmental theories, attachment, temperament, socio-ecological models, and coping strategies relevant to child life practice.

According to Erik Erikson, what is 'ego identity'?

The conscious sense of self that we develop through social interaction which becomes a central focus during the identity versus role confusion stage.

What is the virtue and developmental goal of the 'Trust vs Mistrust' stage ($0-18$ months)?

Virtue: Hope; Goal: Developing a secure attachment to caregivers and trusting the environment to meet basic needs.

What are the primary stressors for an infant ($0-18$ months) in the hospital?

Separation anxiety (#1 stressor), sensory overload/deprivation, disruption of attachment, and procedure-related trauma.

In the 'Autonomy vs Shame & Doubt' stage ($18$ months - $3$ years), what is the age-specific virtue?

Will

What 'loss' is a major stressor for toddlers ($18$ months - $3$ years) in a healthcare setting?

Loss of control due to forced immobilization, physical restrictions (IV lines), and loss of choice.

What is 'Magical Thinking' in the context of the 'Initiative vs Guilt' stage ($3-5$ years)?

The belief that an illness is a punishment for being 'bad' or having a 'bad thought' (e.g., 'I was mean to my sister, so now I am sick').

What is the virtue associated with the 'Industry vs Inferiority' stage ($6-11$ years)?

Confidence / Competence

What are key hospital stressors for school-age children ($6-11$ years)?

Loss of competence/mastery, enforced dependency, separation from peers, and fear of failure or being labeled the 'sick kid'.

What is the virtue and primary question of the 'Identity vs Role Confusion' stage ($12-18$ years)?

Virtue: Fidelity; Question: Who am I and where am I going?

What significant threat do adolescents ($12-18$ years) face regarding their body image in the hospital?

Threats from scars, weight changes, hair loss, or visible medical devices, leading them to worry how others see them.

What is Jean Piaget's 'Sensorimotor' stage characterized by?

Knowing the world through movements and sensations (sucking, grasping, listening), learning object permanence, and realizing their actions cause things to happen.

At what age range does Piaget's 'Pre-Operational' stage occur and what is a key trait?

$2-7$ years; characterized by symbolic thinking, egocentrism, and concrete language use.

What logic milestone is reached during Piaget's 'Concrete Operational' stage ($7-11$ years)?

Inductive logic, which is reasoning from specific information to a general principle.

What characterizes Piaget’s 'Formal Operational' stage ($12$ years and up)?

Abstract thinking, reasoning about hypothetical problems, moral/philosophical issues, and the use of deductive logic.

In Attachment Theory, how does a 'Secure' child behave when a parent returns?

The child is genuinely happy and easily calmed by the parent's return.

What is the behavior of an 'Avoidant' child according to Attachment Theory?

The child doesn't seem to care when the parent leaves and ignores them upon return, masking internal distress (heart rate spikes).

What is the adult result of an 'Anxious (Ambivalent)' attachment style?

They may worry that partners don't love them back or they may feel 'needy'.

How is 'Disorganized' attachment behavior described?

Erratic, frozen, or frightened behavior; usually occurring when the caregiver is a source of fear rather than safety.

What is the first of Mildred Parten's 6 Stages of Play?

Unoccupied play: Scattered exploration that builds the foundation for other stages.

What is 'Parallel Play'?

When children play next to each other using the same materials but do not interact or overlap in their play.

What marks the shift in 'Associative Play'?

The child becomes more interested in the other players than the activity or object itself.

What is Vygotsky's 'Zone of Proximal Development' (ZPD)?

The gap between what a child can do alone and what they can do with guidance; the 'Sweet Spot' where actual learning happens.

Define 'Scaffolding' in Vygotsky’s theory.

Temporary support provided by a 'More Knowledgeable Other' (MKO) that is slowly removed as the child becomes more skilled.

What are the 'Big Three' categories of temperament identified by Chess and Thomas?

1. Easy/Flexible; 2. Difficult/Active/Feisty; 3. Slow-to-Warm/Cautious.

What is 'Goodness of Fit' in Temperament Theory?

The harmony between a person's natural temperament and their environment.

Who argued that the burden of 'fitting' is on the adult because they have the fully developed brain?

McLeod and McClowry

In Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model, what is the 'Microsystem'?

The most immediate environment where the child has direct contact, such as family, teachers, and peers.

What does the 'Chronosystem' represent in Bronfenbrenner's model?

Environmental changes over the life course, including major life transitions and historical events.

What was the core takeaway of Albert Bandura's Bobo Doll Experiment?

Behavior is learned from the environment through the process of observational learning.

What are the Four Meditational Processes in Social Learning Theory?

1. Attention; 2. Retention; 3. Reproduction; 4. Motivation.

What is 'Self-Efficacy'?

A person's belief in their own ability to succeed in a specific situation.

What question does 'Primary Appraisal' answer in Stress & Coping Theory?

'Am I in trouble?' (Evaluating the significance of an event as irrelevant, benign-positive, or stressful).

What is 'Problem-Focused Coping'?

Attempting to change the situation itself to reduce stress (e.g., asking for numbing spray).

In Family Systems Theory, what is 'Homeostasis'?

The state of balance families seek to maintain, even if that 'normal' is unhealthy.

What is 'Triangulation' according to Murray Bowen?

When two people with tension pull in a third person (often the child) to relieve the pressure.

Define 'Enmeshed Boundaries' in a family.

A state where the family is too connected and members 'catch' each other's emotions instantly (e.g., child cries, mom sobs).

What is Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's 'Flow Theory'?

The theory of 'Optimal Experience' or being 'in the zone,' occurring when there is a perfect match between challenge level and skill level.

What happens in Flow Theory when the task is too hard for the child's skill capacity?

The child feels anxiety.