Cognitive Behavioural Developmental Systems Perspective

A developmental systems perspective marries what concepts? (3)

1. Cognitive behavioural factors

2. Systems factors

3. Developmental factors

What are premises in developmental psychopathology, according to Cicchetti, Rutter, Sroufe?

Study the origins and course of individual patterns of adjustment and maladjustment— i.e., what differentiates individuals progressing to X from those who progress to Y?

What are developmental pathways the result of? These can be what two things?

• Dynamic interactions among biological, psychological, and environmental systems over time

• Some are continuous (gradual, cumulative), some are discontinuous (sudden or stage-like emergence)

According to a developmental psychopathology perspective, what is psychopathology? (2)

Adaptational failure w respect to developmental tasks and w/in domains (affective, cognitive, behavioural)

Causal chains escalate over time

In order to understand developmental psychopathology, we must understand what?

Can’t understand abnormal without an understanding of what is normal

Separational anxiety in 1 yrs old vs 9 yrs old

Abnormality corresponds to developmentally contextual demands

Name 1 key task for each age period - infancy to preschool, middle school, & adolescence

Infancy to preschool

• Secure relationship w caregiver

• Language

• Differentiation of self from environment

• Self control and compliance

Middle childhood

• School adjustment and academic achievement

• Peer relationships

• Rule-governed behaviour

Adolescence

• Transition to secondary school, academic achievement

• Extracurricular activities

• Close friendships within and across gender

• Cohesive sense of self identity

WHat are key notions in the pathways to adjustment or maladjustment? (4)

Developmental pathways

Risk factors (child, family, community)

Protective factors (child, family, community)

Resilience

What is resilience?

Pathways to competent adaptation despite exposure to adversity or prolonged trauma; i.e., meeting developmental tasks despite adversity exposure

How do sensitive periods relate to resilience?

There are periods of heightened neuroplasticity where experiences exert a disproportionate influence on development (12-18 mths, early adolescence)

The interaction between risk and protective factors determines what?

The probabilistic pathways model of development

Risk factors have a ______ and _____ association between _____ and ______.

Statistical; clinical; factor; outcome

Risk factors can be which two things?

Fixed (biological sex, birth weight, intellectual delay)

Variable/dynamic (temperament, family functioning, stress, conflict) - primary target

What is the difference between equifinality and multifinality?

Different risk factors can lead to the same disorder (equifinality) or one risk factor may contribute to multiple (multifinality). These risk factors interact with each other

Risk factors are what?

• Cumulative and additive.

• While 1 risk factor frequently doesn’t lead to psychopathology, adding the first risk factor is the biggest jump in risk. Big initial jump with successive jumps/cumulation

• Additive, but NOT deterministic—contributors

What do protective factors do?

Reduce likelihood of poor outcomes under conditions of risk

What are implications of the developmental systems perspective on assessment and intervention?

• Know research on risk and protective factors, developmental pathways

• Consider these factors in life of this child

• Avoid deterministic approach

What do protective factors include? (3)

• Characteristics of the individual

• Caregiver qualities

• Environmental factors

What are protective characteristics of the individual? (2)

Temperament, intelligence

What are protective caregiver qualities? (1)

Attachment

What are protective environmental factors? (3)

• School quality

• Neighborhood safety

• Protective laws

A systems perspective proposes what?

Causality is circular, occuring within families and across time through causal chains. You can’t take someone out of the system, as there are feedback loops.

What is a potentially functional family system?

Parents as an executive team, on the same page

What are problematic family systems? (2)

Ones where roles are changed in the system. I.e., parents no longer a team, or a child moving up to a parental role or parent moving down to the child role.

Divorce/abandonment/separation provides opportunities for disruptions in functional roles, but can still be well-functioning if executive team is maintained

In a systems perspective, we must think beyond what?

Immediate environment — look at all systems that are a part of a child’s world

Give an example of circular causality.

Child misbehaves → mother depressed, powerless → father withdraws → repeat

Give an example of a causal chain

Maternal substance abuse → limited language/reading → Dislike of school → Early dropping out

A cognitive behavioural perspective of dev psychopathology proposes psychopathology is the product of what? (2)

• Reinforcement/punishment experiences w/ problematic behaviours

• Child/parent’s interpretations which lead to particular thoughts and beliefs

A Cognitive Behavioural Developmental Systems Perspective proposes which 4 things contribute to learnt behaviour?

Operant codnitioning

Observational learning

Classical conditioning

Cognitive mediators including thoughts, beliefs, and schemas

What are implications of the cognitive behavioural developmental systems perspective? (4)

Assessment and formulation content

Assessment and formulation process

Intervention content

Intervention process