Child and Adolescent Psych - Psy 112-030

Created from notes taken in person at COM

Fetal origins

Malnutrition or stress during pregnancy impacts a child's development and health later in life.

Ways to reduce stress during pregnancy

Practice relaxation techniques, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and seek support. Consider therapy, avoid harmful substances, and engage in regular exercise.

APGAR score

A method for assessing the health of a newborn between 1 and 5 minutes after birth, scoring 0-2 points in five criteria, where <4 is bad, >7 is good.

A = Appearance (skin color)

P = Pulse (heart rate)

G = Grimace response (reflexes)

A = Activity (muscle tone)

R = Respiration (breathing effort)

Brazelton’s Neonatal Assessment

1. Newborns have 9 months experience when born

2. Newborns communicate through reflexes and behaviors

3. Newborns are capable of controlling their environments

Low birthweight

less than 5.5 pounds, associated with various developmental delays and health risks:
increased vulnerability to infections, respiratory issues, and long-term cognitive impairments.

Brachial plexus injuries

Injuries that occur in approximately 1 in 1000 births, often caused by excessive pulling during delivery, leading to permanent spinal and shoulder damage.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD) and Opiates

Symptoms of FASD: underdeveloped brain, lungs, small eyes and other facial differences. 

Later in life: behavioral issues due to brains function differently and have low impulse control, learning disabilities, physical ailments. High rate of FASD in prison system.

Opiate exposure can result in stillbirth, death, newborn withdrawal, foster care or adoption, development delays, facial differences. Lack of attachment with mother leads to learning and behavioral issues.

Imprinting

A form of rapid learning in early life where certain animals form attachments to the first moving object they see, as studied by Lorenz with ducks and geese.

Contact comfort

Nurturing through touch that fosters emotional development and attachment in infants.

Research of Harry and Margaret Harlow

Experiments with rhesus monkeys showed that comfort and security in maternal bonding are more important than nourishment for emotional development and attachment.

Empathy

The ability to understand and share the feelings of another person.

“I understand you’re hurt”

Object Relations Theory

Ainsworth, Bowlby

1. The bond you form with your mother is the basis for all future bonds in life. 

2. Mom should be a secure base and haven of safety

3. Mom should be sensitive and responsive

4. Long term impact of lack of attachment

5. How do love, self esteem develop?

6. Bids for attention

   
   affects relationships, self esteem, overall well being

Serve and return interactions

Responsive exchanges between a child and caregiver, where the child's action (e.g., smiling) is met with a corresponding response from the caregiver.

Cortisol levels

Hormone levels that can increase due to stress in a pregnant mother, which can affect fetal development leading to potential health issues.

Emotional anorexia

A term used to describe the emotional deprivation experienced by monkeys raised in isolation, leading to high mortality rates when reintegrated.

Enhanced bonding

The process through which increased physical and emotional closeness between caregiver and child fosters greater social connections.

Mirroring in development

The act of a caregiver verbally and nonverbally reflecting the emotions and actions of a child, facilitating emotional nurturing and attachment.

Cognitive development delays

Impairments in the ability to think, learn, and understand, potentially resulting from low birthweight or adverse prenatal conditions.

Risks for opiate-addicted babies

include low birth weight, developmental delays, and higher rates of stillbirth.

5 characteristics of Attachment

1. cry-response ratio = the balance between crying and the caregiver's response to it.

2. secure base / close bodily contact = the ability to explore the environment while knowing a caregiver is nearby.

3. safe haven = the ability to return to a caregiver for comfort and safety.

4. separation distress = the ability to seek comfort and support from caregivers during distress.

5. relationships = child cooperation w/ mom, building trust

4 types of attachment

Secure, anxious-ambivalent, anxious-avoidant, disorganized.

These styles reflect how children relate to their caregivers and can influence their emotional and social development.

stages of emotional deprivation

John Bowlby identified:

1. protest

2. despair

3. detachment

These stages describe the emotional responses of children when separated from their primary caregivers.

long term effects of lack of attachment (5)

1. emotional isolation

2. mistrust of others

3. no spiritual connections

4. try to get needs met in other ways

5. poor self esteem

6. poor emotional regulation skills

7. lack of meaning, purpose, direction in life

solutions to lack of attachment

1. connect with self

2. connect with others

3. be more open

internal working model (Bowlby)

internal representation of our thoughts, feelings, goals, & expectations, based on early attachments for navigating emotional and social world

Adverse Childhood Experiences - ACEs impact on kids

ACEs are:

1. Abuse

2. Neglect

3. Household Dysfunction

• brain development

• mental health

• physical health

• social and behavioral issues
  

long-term effects can be cumulative, >4 suicide & addiction 12 x more likely , >6 20 yrs shorter life span

sensorimotor stage of cognitive development (Piaget)

ages 0-2

sensorimotor: where infants learn about the world through their senses and actions. Key milestones include object permanence and separation anxiety.

simple reflexes - grasping, sucking, turning head

primary circular reactions - noticing own body, and repeating pleasurable actions

secondary circular reactions - noticing the effects of their actions on the environment: shaking a rattle to make a sound.

object permanence & importance

The understanding that objects and people continue to exist even when they cannot be seen.

• Helps child develop emotional security

  • Helps avoid separation anxiety/abandonment

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in relationships, identified by John Gottman

negative communication patterns that can predict relationship breakdown:

• criticism

• contempt

• defensiveness

• stonewalling

John Gottman parenting styles

Parenting styles to help children develop emotionally

1. Dismissing

   • disengage

   • ignore child’s feelings

   • wants neg emo to go away quickly

2. Disapproving

   • judge & criticize neg emo

   • focus on conformity & good bhvr

   • neg emo make people weak

3. Laissez-Faire (Lazy)

   • accept all emo

   • little guidance

   • no limits

4. Emotional Coach

   • Aware of Child's Emo

   • Emo as an Opportunity for Connection and Teaching

   • Listen w/Empathy; Validate Feelings

   • Help Label Their Emotions

   • Set Limits & Explore how to Solve Problem

Stages of Moral Development - Kohlberg

kid’s understanding of right and wrong grows with the them

punishment
- obedience, avoiding punishment
pleasure-seeking
- right is what helps me. “what’s in it for me?”
good boy/girl
- want to be seen as nice, please parents/family
authority
- everyone should follow laws/rules, like red lights

Explain dimensions of child-rearing.

power assertion
- control, yell, hit, bully, “because I said so”

withdrawal of love
- leaves or threatens to leave, passive aggressive, “silent treatment”

induction
- teaches empathy, “explainer”

Parenting Styles in Moral Development - Baurind

balance rules and love

amount of involvement and explaining

AUPA

• Authoritarian:
  Rules with no explanation.
  "my way or the highway"
  - low independence, low self esteem, passive, rigid

• Uninvolved: checked out, very few rules.
  "hands-off"
  - many addicted, low social skills, withdrawn

• Permissive: want to be liked, too easygoing.
  "friend"
  - spoilt, immature, self-centered, poor self control

• Authoritative: clear rules and expectations, explains reasons, open to discussion
  "best of both worlds”
  - self control, self reliant, flexible

Explain Pre-operational stage (Piaget)

ages 2-7

symbolic thought
- language has meaning
- imaginary play, gives dolls life
egocentrism
- unable to take another perspective
conservation begins

Explain Concrete Operational Stage (Piaget)

ages 7-11

basic skills acquired

logical thought: see relationships in mass, time, space, etc

conservation: change in appearance does not always affect weight, volume, etc

Explain Formal Operations Stage (Piaget)

ages 12+

can use abstract thought to form general principles, hypotheticals

Explain Vygotsky’s Work (4 points)

PLAY-LANGUAGE-SPEECH-CONTEXT

• Play helps emotional regulation

• Language is key to development

• Outer speech becomes inner speech

• Development tied to social context

Explain ZPD and scaffolding

mastered tasks = learner can do without help
ZPD = learner can do with help
beyond reach = cannot do

scaffold = concept, object, or support from adult or skilled peer to help child progress to mastery and establish new level of independence

Explain Fixed vs Growth Mindset

fixed = believe abilities are innate and unchangeable

growth = believe abilities can be developed and improved over time

How to increase Emotional Regulation (3 bullets)

1. name it - tame it. understand emotions

2. work on impulse control: diet, exercise, sleep

3. many feelings communicate a need. What is the need?

Peer Pressure (4 Types)

DINP
Direct
- hands a drink
- makes a sexual advance

Indirect
- go along with the crowd

Negative
- asking someone to go against family values/morals

Positive
- group influences someone in a positive way “let’s not drink during the season”

Explain ADHD and Treatment

symptoms for 6 months, in 2 settings

Inattention
- fail to pay attention
- don’t finish things
- lose things often
- avoid difficult tasks

Hyperactivity
- fidget often
- leave seat, on the go
- talk a lot

Impulsivity
- blurt
- can’t wait turn
- interrupt

MYDEBT: meditation, yoga, diet, exercise, build social skills, therapy, then meds

How might social media impact development? Gaming?

depression, anxiety, body dysmorphia, ADHD symptoms

Gaming Disorder

like other types of addiction:

• lack of control

• compulsion to game, despite negative consequences

• deny how much they play

• use it to escape

Conduct Disorder and Treatment

BAD-AIR:
Bully (fight, rape, etc)
Aggression
Destruction of property
Arson
In Legal system
Rule or law breaking

TEPET:
token economy, parent education, therapy