early childhood terms + definitions

Q: What are the three interacting factors in Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory?

A: Behavior, environment, and cognition.

Q: What type of learning was central in Bandura’s early research?

A: Observational learning (imitation/modeling).

Q: What did the Bobo doll experiment demonstrate?

A: Children learn behaviors, including aggression, by observing adults.

Q: What does Social Role Theory say about gender differences?

A: They result from different social roles of men and women.

Q: According to Freud, what happens at ages 5–6 regarding gender?

A: Children develop attraction to the opposite-sex parent (Oedipus/Electra complexes).

Q: What does Social Cognitive Theory of gender emphasize?

A: Children learn gender through observation, imitation, and rewards/punishments

Authoritarian parenting

Restrictive, punitive; demands obedience

Authoritative parenting

Encourages independence with limits; warm and communicative

Neglectful parenting + what skills to children have from surviving neglect?

Parent is uninvolved. Children often develop high independence and strong survival skills.

Indulgent parenting

Highly involved but few rules; children struggle with self-control and peer relations

Q: What is co-parenting?

A: Parents supporting each other in raising the child.

Q: What can poor co-parenting lead to?

A: Child behavior and emotional problems.

Q: Which family types show the highest behavioral problems?

A: Single-mother families and families with a remarried parent.

Q: What are the four types of child maltreatment?

A: Physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, emotional/psychological abuse.

Q: What is the #1 cause of death in children in the U.S?

A: Firearms.

Q: What is the #2 cause of death in children in the U.S?

A: Traffic accidents.

Q: What is the #3 cause of death in children in the U.S?

A: All other diseases.

Q: What is the #4 cause of death in children in the U.S, and the most common type?

A: Cancer; most common type is leukemia.

Q: Which mental health disorders are commonly passed down genetically?

A: Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Q: What factors contribute to children being overweight?

A: Genetics, inactivity, unhealthy eating, or all combined.

Q: What are consequences of being overweight in childhood?

A: Low self-esteem, psychological issues, teasing, medical risks.

Q: According to Freud and Erikson, why is play important?

A: It helps children master anxieties and conflicts.

Q: What is sensorimotor (functional) play?

A: Exploring/manipulating objects (common around age 1).

Q: What is practice play?

A: Repetition to master new skills (common in preschool years).

Q: What is pretense/symbolic play?

A: Transforming objects into symbols (e.g., block → phone).

Q: What is social play?

A: Play involving interaction with peers; increases in preschool years.

Q: What is constructive play?

A: Combining practice + symbolic; building/creating things; common in elementary school.

Q: What are games in childhood?

A: Activities with rules, often competitive, done for fun.

Q: What does a Play Therapist do?

A: Uses play to help children (ages 3–11) process trauma and emotional distress.

Q: What does a Child Life Specialist do?

A: Helps children cope with hospitalization using play, support, and education.

Q: What are Child Life Specialist requirements?

A: BA in human behavior, 600 internship hours, certification exam.

Q: What are positive effects of TV for children?

A: Educational content, exposure to world info, models of prosocial behavior.

Q: What is prosocial behavior?

A: Being kind, selfless, helping others.

Q: What are negative effects of excessive TV?

A: Poor grades, sleep problems, behavioral issues, obesity, risky behaviors.

Q: How can parents reduce TV’s negative effects?

A: Limit to 1–2 hours, remove TVs from bedrooms, promote physical activity, encourage social activities.