Abnormal Child Psychology

Protective factors

reduce chance of developing disorder

Development influenced by multiple factors (types of factors)

risk and protective - have additive effects

Example of a positive developmental cascade

secure attachment/manages emotions/age appropriate language --> manages transition to school/good friendships

Bronfenbrenners ecological systems theory

- Child's environment portrayed as series of nested and interconnected structures - Different levels of influences, and their reciprocal connections, are key to understanding normal and abnormal development

Strengths of diagnostic/categorical approach

- Good descriptions of clinical problems - Enables communication with other professionals

Limitations of diagnostic/categorical approach

- Labeling children - Overlap between categories - Little insight into mechanisms underlying difficulties - Many problems are on a continuum

Assumptions of developmental psychopathology approach (4)

1. Atypical and typical development is mutually informative 2. Development occurs within nested contexts 3. Development is influenced by multiple risk factors (and protective factors) 4. Developmental pathways may be continuous or discontinuous.

Diagnostic/categorical approach definitions

1. Clinically significant behavioural, psychological pattern 2. Distress, disability, increased risk of suffering or harm 3. Not socially/culturally expected response to event

2 views on childhood disorder

1. diagnostic/categorical approach 2. developmental psychopathology approach

Developmental psychopathology approach

Adopts a life course perspective of psychopathology

Developmental tasks

Age-specific tasks or skills children typically master to progress within developmental domains (adaptational failure is when tasks are not met)

Turning point

An event that changes the direction of their developmental pathway

Continuity vs. discontinuity

Developmental pathways not always linear: • Some show continuity • Some change into different forms

Equifinality

Individuals different at one time can converge

Multifinality

Individuals similar at one time may evolve differently

Example of a negative developmental cascade

Insecure attachment/shy/problems regulating fear --> reluctant to participate at kindergarten and school/social and academic difficulties --> greater anxiety/depression

Developmental cascades

Process by which a previous experience alters subsequent course of development

Resilience

Processes that facilitate good outcomes despite risk. Resilience not a fixed or universal attribute of the child; it varies according to context and stressors and is connected to collection of protective resources e.g. opportunities for child, family support from community

Example of a developmental task

Secure attachment: Need responsive and available parent to provide secure base from which child can learn how to understand relationships

Developmental pathways

Sequence and timing of behaviours, as well as possible relationships between behaviours over time. Can be continuous or discontinuous

Atypical and typical development is mutually informative

Understanding abnormal development requires an understanding of normal development (vice versa)

Risk factors

predict failure to achieve developmental tasks (but do not inevitably lead to difficulties)