full set

Social Conscience

Awareness and sensitivity to the needs and issues concerning individuals, particularly in regards to their rights and well-being.

Psychological Disorder

A pattern of behavioral, cognitive, emotional, or physical symptoms associated with distress and disability affecting daily functioning.

Risk Factor

A variable that increases the likelihood of developing a negative outcome or disorder.

Protective Factor

A variable that reduces the chances of developing a disorder, fostering resilience.

Equifinality

The concept that similar outcomes can stem from different early experiences.

Multifinality

The principle that similar beginnings can lead to different outcomes.

Resilience

The ability of some children to cope effectively and achieve positive outcomes despite exposure to risk.

Internalizing Problems

Disorders that involve internal experiences such as anxiety and depression.

Externalizing Problems

Disorders characterized by outwardly directed behaviors such as aggression and delinquency.

Developmental Pathway

The sequence and timing of behaviors and their relationships over time in a child's development.

Developmental Psychopathology

An approach studying disorders of childhood emphasizing developmental processes and tasks.

Neural Plasticity

The brain's ability to change and adapt based on experiences, playing a crucial role in development.

Emotional Regulation

The ability to enhance, maintain, or inhibit emotional arousal for a specific purpose or goal.

Cognitive Distortion

Faulty thinking patterns that can contribute to emotional problems.

Environmental Influences

External factors that impact a child's development, including family, community, and cultural contexts.

Gene-Environment Interaction (G!E)

The interplay between genetic predispositions and environmental factors affecting behavior.

Attachment Theory

Bowlby's theory describing how children's emotional bonds with caregivers influence their development.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

A method focusing on observable behavior and the effects of environmental changes on that behavior.

Temperament

A child's organized style of behavior that emerges early in development, influencing their interaction with the environment.

Continuity and Discontinuity

The concepts referring to the gradual or abrupt patterns of behavior changes across development.

Informed Consent

The process of obtaining permission from participants, ensuring they are fully aware of the research and any risks involved.

Assent

An agreement from a child to participate in research, acknowledging their understanding to some degree.

Validity

The extent to which a method measures what it is intended to measure.

Reliability

The consistency of results obtained using a specific method of measurement.

Correlates

Variables that are associated at a particular point in time with no clear proof of causation.

Comorbidity

The simultaneous occurrence of two or more childhood disorders.

Qualitative Research

Research focusing on narrative accounts and the meaning of experiences from the participant's perspective.

Quantitative Research

Research focusing on numerical data and statistical analysis to understand patterns and relationships.

Epidemiological Research

The study of the incidence, prevalence, and co-occurrence of childhood disorders.

Moderating Variables

Variables that influence the direction or strength of the relationship between two other variables.

Mediating Variables

Variables that explain the process or mechanism through which one variable affects another.

Clinical Assessment

A process used to systematically gather information on a child’s emotional, behavioral, and cognitive functioning for diagnosis and treatment planning.

Developmental History

Information gathered about a child's milestones, behaviors, and family background to understand current issues.

Semistructured Interviews

Interviews that combine structured questions with the flexibility to explore areas of concern in-depth.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A treatment approach that focuses on changing negative thought patterns to improve emotional and behavioral outcomes.

Cultural Compatibility Hypothesis

The idea that treatment is more effective when it aligns with the cultural values and beliefs of the child and family.

Evidence-Based Treatments (EBTs)

Therapeutic interventions that have been scientifically tested and proven effective through research.

Multimethod Assessment Approach

Utilizing multiple methods and sources of information (e.g., interviews, checklists, observations) to assess a child's mental health.

Functional Analysis of Behavior

A method for identifying the antecedents and consequences of behaviors to understand their causes.

Comorbidity

The presence of two or more disorders in the same individual.

Prognosis

A prediction about the future course and outcome of a child's disorder based on current understanding and treatment.

Taxonomic Diagnosis

A formal assignment of a case to a specific category, such as those outlined in the DSM.

Intervention

Planned actions taken to treat or prevent disorders, focusing on enhancing the child's well-being.

Idiographic Case Formulation

An approach that focuses on the unique aspects of an individual child's situation in assessment.

Nomothetic Formulation

An approach that looks for general principles and common patterns across multiple children with similar disorders.

Cultural Syndromes

Patterns of co-occurring symptoms that are recognized within specific cultural contexts.

Behavioral Assessment

An evaluation method that focuses on directly observing a child's behaviors in natural settings.

Taxonomic Diagnosis vs. Problem Solving Analysis

Taxonomic diagnosis involves assigning a label to a disorder, whereas problem-solving analysis focuses on understanding the nature and causes of issues.

Treatment Effectiveness

The degree to which an intervention produces desired change in a child’s symptoms and functioning.

Best Practice Guidelines

Systematically developed recommendations derived from research to help clinicians provide effective treatments.

Neuropsychological Assessment

An evaluation of the relationship between brain function and behavior to inform treatment strategies.

Behavioral Treatment

An intervention strategy that aims to modify maladaptive behaviors through learning principles.

Intellectual Disability

A neuromodel developmental disorder characterized by significant limitations in mental abilities and adaptive functioning.

Adaptive Functioning

Refers to how effectively individuals cope with ordinary life demands and how capable they are of living independently.

Eugenics

The science that deals with all influences that improve the inborn qualities of a race, historically associated with harmful policies.

Severity Levels

Classifications of intellectual disability based on adaptive functioning, including mild, moderate, severe, and profound.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

A leading known cause of intellectual disability caused by prenatal alcohol exposure, characterized by CNS dysfunction and physical abnormalities.

Cultural-Familial Group

A category of intellectual disability associated with no clear organic basis, often linked to environmental and social factors.

Fragile-X Syndrome

The most common inherited cause of intellectual disability, with symptoms including social and communication difficulties.

Down Syndrome

A genetic syndrome due to an extra chromosome 21, leading to physical and intellectual disabilities.

Developmental Course

Refers to how children with intellectual disabilities follow developmental milestones, often at a slower pace.

Neurobiological Influences

Biological factors affecting fetal and infant development that can lead to intellectual disability.

Behavioral Interventions

Techniques used to help individuals with intellectual disabilities by reinforcing positive behaviors and teaching new skills.

Self-Injurious Behavior (SIB)

A behavior exhibited by some children with intellectual disabilities where they harm themselves, requiring careful management.

Early Intervention

Programs aimed at providing support to children with disabilities at an early age to improve developmental outcomes.

Social Skills Training

A method focused on teaching important interpersonal skills to help children with intellectual disabilities interact better with peers.

IQ (Intelligence Quotient)

A measure of general intellectual functioning, with scores typically ranging from 70 and below considered indicative of intellectual disability.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

A complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by abnormalities in social communication, unusual behaviors and interests.

Core Deficits of ASD

Includes deficits in social interaction, communication skills, and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior.

Prevalence of ASD

ASD affects as many as 1 in 68 children, making it increasingly recognized as a significant developmental disorder.

Social Interaction Deficits

Children with ASD show profound difficulties in relating to others and lack social-emotional reciprocity.

Echolalia

The immediate or delayed repetition of words or phrases spoken by others, often seen in children with ASD.

Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors

Children with ASD engage in high-frequency, repetitive behaviors and show a strong need for sameness.

Childhood-Onset Schizophrenia (COS)

A rare and severe form of schizophrenia that occurs before age 18, presenting with distinct symptoms from adult schizophrenia.

Symptoms of COS

Includes psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions, as well as negative symptoms like emotional flatness.

Theory of Mind (ToM)

The ability to understand one's own and others' mental states, often impaired in children with ASD.

Early Intervention

Intensive therapy programs designed to optimize outcomes for children with ASD, particularly before age 3.

Communication Deviance

Interpersonal signs of attentional and thought disturbance often observed in families of children with schizophrenia.

Biological Markers in ASD

No single abnormality exists; rather, ASD is marked by atypical brain connectivity and structure abnormalities.

DSM-5 Criteria for ASD

Defined by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction, alongside restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior.

Cognitive Deficits in ASD

Includes deficits in processing social-emotional information, executive function impairments, and theory of mind.

Associated Conditions with ASD

Many individuals with ASD also experience associated conditions such as intellectual disability, epilepsy, and anxiety.

Stereotypical Behaviors

Refers to repetitive movements or the use of objects often seen in children with ASD.

Communication Disorder

A diagnostic term referring to deficits in language, speech, and communication including language disorder, speech sound disorder, childhood-onset fluency disorder (stuttering), and social (pragmatic) communication disorder.

Language Disorder

Characterized by difficulties in the comprehension or production of spoken or written language, resulting in reduced vocabulary, limited sentence structure, or impairments in discourse.

Childhood-Onset Fluency Disorder

Also known as stuttering, this disorder is characterized by repeated and prolonged pronunciation of certain syllables that interferes with communication.

Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder

A disorder involving persistent difficulties with the social use of verbal and nonverbal communication, including deficits in using communication for social purposes, adapting communication to the context, following rules of conversation, and understanding implied meanings.

Specific Learning Disorder (SLD)

A disorder characterized by delays in learning academic skills (reading, writing, mathematics) that are substantially below what is expected for the individual's age and intellectual capacity.

Phonological Awareness

The ability to recognize and manipulate the sounds of spoken language, which is critical for developing reading skills.

Dyslexia

A specific learning disorder primarily affecting reading; characterized by difficulties in word recognition, decoding, and spelling.

Nonverbal Learning Disability (NLD)

A disorder primarily seen in mathematics and spatial abilities, often coupled with social and emotional skill deficits, linked to right-hemisphere brain functioning.

Direct Instruction

A structured teaching approach characterized by explicit teaching of skills, often used to assist children with learning disorders.

Inclusion Movement

An educational movement advocating for the integration of children with special needs into regular classrooms to promote equal access to educational opportunities.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that impact daily functioning.

Core Characteristics

The primary symptoms of ADHD include inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Inattention

A pattern of behavior characterized by difficulty sustaining attention, failing to follow through on tasks, and being easily distracted.

Hyperactivity-Impulsivity

Excessive movement and difficulty regulating behavior, leading to actions taken without consideration of consequences.

Parent Management Training (PMT)

A treatment approach that teaches parents effective strategies for managing a child's ADHD-related behaviors.

Stimulant Medications

Drugs commonly prescribed to treat ADHD that improve symptoms by affecting neurotransmitter activity in the brain, primarily dopamine.

Executive Functions (EFs)

Higher-order cognitive processes required for self-regulation, planning, and organizing tasks.