Ab Child Psych

Abnormal behavior

Not just atypical but developmentally inappropriate; involves considering variables like culture, gender, and situation.

Behavioral indicators of disorder

Signs that may indicate a disorder, including developmental delay, regression, high or low frequency/intensity of behavior, and qualitative differences.

Cultural norms of abnormality

Societal views that change over time and vary across different cultures regarding what is considered abnormal behavior.

Prevalence of mental disorders

Research shows significant variation in reported prevalence of mental disorders among youth; estimates range widely due to methodology differences.

Impact of developmental level

Mental disorders may have a particular age of onset and sometimes develop insidiously over time.

Gender differences in disorders

Boys are generally at higher risk for many disorders, with important differences in timing and expression of problems between genders.

Psychopathology historical influences

Factors such as demonology, somatogenesis, and the evolving perspective on mental illness historically influenced views of childhood disorders.

Sigmund Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory

Theory suggesting that psychological events and childhood experiences shape mental disorders, emphasizing the structures of the mind (id, ego, superego).

Behaviorism

Theory stating that behavior is learned through interactions with the environment, focusing on principles of conditioning.

Social learning theory

Bandura’s theory that emphasizes the importance of observational learning and the application of learning principles in therapy.

Mental Hygiene Movement

Initiated by Clifford Beers, aimed at improving the treatment of individuals with mental illness and focusing on children with educational issues.

Current practice with youth

Requires an interdisciplinary approach, including advocacy for youth rights and the importance of involving parents in treatment.

Therapeutic alliance

A collaborative relationship built between the therapist and client, essential for effective treatment, especially with youth.

Informed consent

A process of understanding and protecting the basic rights of youth in therapeutic settings.

Multidisciplinary approach

Involvement of various professionals including psychology, psychiatry, social work, and special education in addressing youth issues.

Developmental Psychopathology

The study of the origins and developmental course of disordered behavior within developmental psychology.

Perspective

A view, approach, or cognitive set that guides research and evaluation in psychological practices.

Transactional Model

A model where development occurs via transactions between the individual and their environment.

Causal Factors

Elements that contribute to the occurrence of a disorder, can be direct or indirect.

Homotypic continuity

The presence of stable symptoms that remain the same across development.

Temperament

A characteristic pattern of emotional and behavioral responses, originally outlined by Chess & Thomas.

Resilience

A positive outcome in the face of adversity, supported by protective factors such as problem-solving skills or strong relationships.

Attachment

An emotional bond that ensures infant survival, identified by Bowlby, and can vary in security and style.

Emotion Regulation

The ability to manage and respond to emotional experiences effectively, crucial for adaptive development.

Risk Factors

Variables that increase the likelihood of developing a disorder, including hereditary influences, environmental stressors, and social conditions.

Goodness-of-fit

The compatibility between a child’s temperament and the characteristics of their environment, particularly parental response.

Cognitive Processing

The mechanisms through which individuals take in and interpret social situations, influencing behavior and emotional response.

Mediating Factors

Factors that explain the relationship between independent and dependent variables in the context of development.

Moderating Factors

Factors that influence the strength or direction of the relationship between variables.

Systems Approach

An understanding of development through interactions among various systems over time.

Brain Development

The process that begins shortly after conception, involving biological programming and environmental experiences that influence a child's outcomes.

Pruning

The process where unused neurons and synaptic connections are eliminated as the brain becomes more specialized.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

A part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Part of the nervous system that sends messages between the central nervous system and other areas; includes somatic and autonomic systems.

Somatic Nervous System

The subsystem of the PNS that senses involuntary movement.

Autonomic Nervous System

The subsystem of the PNS that regulates arousal and emotion.

Sympathetic Nervous System

The branch of the autonomic nervous system that increases arousal.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

The branch of the autonomic nervous system that decreases arousal.

Endocrine System

A collection of glands that release hormones, influencing various bodily functions.

Hindbrain

The part of the brain consisting of structures like the pons, medulla, and cerebellum.

Cerebral Hemispheres

The two halves of the forebrain involved in activities like sensory processing, motor control, and high-level functions.

Thalamus

A suborbital structure involved in processing and relaying information.

Hypothalamus

A structure that regulates basic urges such as hunger, thirst, and sexual activity.

Limbic System

A multi-structured system involved in memory and emotion, including the hippocampus and amygdala.

Neurons

The basic working units of the nervous system that communicate information through electrical impulses.

Synapse

The small gap between neurons where communication occurs through neurotransmitters.

Genetic Risk

The predisposition to certain psychological problems based on genetic factors.

Prenatal Risks

Factors like maternal stress or exposure to teratogens that affect a child before birth.

Postnatal Influences

Factors impacting development after birth, such as malnutrition or traumatic brain injuries.

Plasticity

The ability of the young immature nervous system to adapt and recover from damage.

Transcription and Translation

Processes involved in gene expression, where information from DNA is converted into messenger RNA and then into proteins.

Epigenetics

Changes in gene expression that are environmentally mediated, affecting how genes function without altering the genetic code.

Cognitive Distortions

Inaccurate thought patterns that lead to negative self-evaluation and maladaptive behaviors.

Observational Learning

Learning that occurs by watching the behaviors and consequences experienced by others.

Classical Conditioning

A learning process where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus, resulting in a learned response.

Operant Conditioning

A learning process emphasizing how consequences of behavior could strengthen or weaken the likelihood of that behavior occurring again.

Maladaptive Cognitions

Cognitive patterns that lead to behaviors that are ineffective or detrimental.

Family Dynamics

The interactions and relationships among family members that influence a child's development.

Parenting Styles

Patterns of behavior that parents use in raising their children, including authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and neglectful styles.

Socioeconomic Status (SES)

An individual's or family's social and economic position, which significantly impacts access to resources and outcomes.

Neighborhood Effects

The influence of the local environment, including access to resources and exposure to stressors, on child development.

Cultural Context

The societal norms and values that influence behavior and development, including the impact of minority status.

Resilience Factors

Elements that help individuals cope with adversity and foster positive outcomes despite challenges.

Hypothesis Testing

The process of making a conjecture or educated guess about the outcome of a study that can be tested through research.

Random Selection

A method of selecting participants for a study that ensures every individual has an equal chance of being chosen.

Selection Bias

A distortion of statistical analysis results due to the method of collecting samples.

Direct Observation

A research method where the researcher observes behavior directly in a natural setting.

Operational Definition

A clear, specific description of how a variable will be measured or defined in a study.

Reliability

The degree to which an assessment tool produces stable and consistent results.

Validity

The extent to which a test measures what it claims to measure.

Case Studies

In-depth descriptions of individuals or groups, often used in nonexperimental research.

Correlation Coefficient (Pearson r)

A statistical measure that describes the strength and direction of a relationship between two variables.

Independent Variable

The variable that is manipulated or controlled in an experiment to test its effects on the dependent variable.

Dependent Variable

The outcome factor that is measured in an experiment, expected to change due to manipulation of the independent variable.

External Validity

The extent to which the results of a study can be generalized to, or have relevance for, settings, people, times, and measures other than the ones used in the study.

Cross-sectional Research

A research design that involves observing different subjects at one point in time.

Qualitative Research

Research that collects non-numerical data, focusing on understanding concepts, thoughts, or experiences.

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

Committees that review research proposals to ensure ethical standards are met, particularly regarding the treatment of participants.

Nonmaleficence

The ethical principle of doing no harm to participants in a study.

Beneficence

The ethical principle of maximizing benefits to participants while minimizing any potential harm.