Chapter 8 The Play Years: Biosocial Development

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

A delayed reaction to a trauma or shock, which may include hyperactivity and hypervigilance, displaced anger, sleeplessness, sudden terror anxiety, and confusion between fantasy and reality.

kinship care

A form of foster care in which a relative of a maltreated child becomes that approved caregiver.

foster care

A legal, publicly supported plan in which a maltreated child is removed from the parents' custody and entrusted to another adult, who is paid to be the child's caregiver.

hypothalamus

A brain area that responds to the amygdala and the hippocampus to produce hormones that activate other parts of the brain and body.

hippocampus

A brain structure that is a central processor of memory, especially the memory of locations.

corpus callosum

A long band of nerve fibers that connect the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

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 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 and adverse event such as illness and injury occurs, and are aimed at reducing the harm or preventing disability.

permanency planning

An effort by authorities to find long-term living situation that will provide stability and support for a maltreated child. A goal is to avoid repeated changes of caregiver or school, which can be particularly harmful to the child.

child maltreatment

Intentional harm to or avoidable endangerment of anyone under 18 years of age.

child abuse

Deliberate action that is harmful to the child's physical, emotional, or sexual well-being.

child neglect

Failure to meet a child's basic physical, educational, and 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.

lateralization

Literally, sidedness. The specialization in certain functions by each side of the brain, with one side dominant for each activity. The left side of the brain controls the right side of the body, and vice versa.

injury control/harm reduction

Practices that are aimed at anticipating, controlling, and preventing dangerous activities; these practices reflect the beliefs that accidents are not random and that injuries can be made less harmful if proper controls are in place.

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.