Lifespan Development Ch 8

hippocampus

a brain structure that is a central processor of memory, especially memory for locations

kinship care

a form of foster care in which a relative of a maltreated child, usually a grandparent, becomes the approved caregiver

adoption

a legal proceeding in which a adult or couple unrelated to a child is granted the joys and obligations of being that child's parent or parents

foster care

a legal, publicly supported system in which a maltreated child is removed from the parents' custody and entrusted to another adult or family

child abuse

deliberate action that is harmful to a child's physical, emotional, or sexual well-being

injury control/harm reducation

practices that are aimed at anticipating, controlling, and preventing dangerous activities

hypothalamus

produce hormones that activate other parts of the brain and body

corpus callosum

a long, thick band of nerve fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain and allows communications between them

amygdala

a tiny brain structure that registers emotions, particularly fear and anxiety

secondary prevention

actions that avert harm in a high-risk situation, such as stopping a car before it hits a pedestrian

primary prevention

actions that can change overall background conditions to prevent some unwanted event or circumstance, such as injury, disease, or abuse

tertiary prevention

actions, such as immediate and effective medical treatment, that are taken after an adverse event (such as illness or injury)

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

an anxiety disorder that develops as a delayed reaction to having experienced or witness a profoundly shocking or frightening event, such as rape, severe beating, war, or natural disaster.

permanency planning

an effort by child-welfare authorities to find a long-term living situation that will provide stability and support for a maltreated child.

child neglect

failure to meet a child's basic physical, educational, or emotional needs

reported maltreatment

harm or endangerment about which someone has notified the authorities

substantiated maltreatment

harm or endangerment that has been reported, investigated, and verified

child maltreatment

intentional harm to or avoidable endangerment of anyone under 18 years of age

lateralization

literally, sidedness, referring to the specialization in certain functions by each side of the brain, with one side dominant for each activity.

myelination

the process by which axons become coated with myelin, a fatty substance that speeds the transmission of nerve impulses from neuron to neuron

perseveration

the tendency to persevere in, or stick to, one thought or action for a long time