Child Psych Exam 3 (Chapter 12 - The Family)

types of families

"Traditional" Gay & lesbian parents Single parents Divorced parents Blended families Extended families (families have become much more diverse esp in industrialized nations)

permissive child-rearing style

-high acceptance, warm -mixed involvement: overindulgent or inattentive -very little control (makes few or no demands engaging in little control) -lack of gradual autonomy granting (allow children to make decision for themselves at an age they are not capable of doing so yet)

Consequences of child maltreatment

-Family circumstances often impair: --Development of attachment --Emotional self-regulation --Empathy and sympathy --Self-concept --Social skills --Academic motivation -Central nervous system damage and response to stress

Univolved-Child-rearing style

-low acceptance and involvement -low control -indifference to autonomy parents are often emotionally detached or depressed -> overwhelmed and stressed by life they have little time/energy to give to their children -they respond to the child's immediate demands but give little attention to parenting stategies that involve long-term goals -stress factors associated with poverty can lead to engagement in uninvolved child rearing

growing up with siblings (early)

-can be difficult transition for firstborn (arrival of baby sib can be difficult preschoolers often feel threatened by the arrival of a new baby... realize they must share mom and dad (esp if sib is 2yo+ = old enough to feel displaced)) -infants find older siblings comforting (older children show affection/sympathetic concern for younger siblings) -play together by second year (contexts unique in which social competence expands, esp as younger sibs take more active role in play, starting btwn 2-4 y/o) -temperament and parenting affect relationship (neg temperament - high emotion reactivity or activity level = high sib conflict; maternal harshness and lack of involvement = anatagonistic relationships; POS temperament - maternal warmth toward both children)

changes in family structure in U.S. (1960 v 2014)

-changed dramatically over past 50 years in 2014 children were much more likely to be living with singles parents or with unmarried cohabiting parents than in 1960.

Authoritarian child rearing style

-low in acceptance and involvement (cold and rejecting) -high direct and psychological (coercive) control (exert control by yelling, commanding, criticizing, threatening; high expectations, withdraw love when dissatisfied) -low autonomy granting (make decisions for their child and expect unquestioning obedience, resort to punishment when child disobeys)

growing up with sibilings (middle childhood/ adolescence)

-sib rivalry increases in middle childhood (children participate in wider range activities, parents make more comparisons between them; more common for same-sex siblings who are close in age, resulting in more quarreling and antagonism, esp when parenting is cold/harsh) -still provide companionship and rely on another for assistance despite conflicts As adolscencents: involved in more relationships outside family, invest less time and energy in sibilings = sib relationships often less intense in both pos and neg feelings -most attachments remain strong (esp between sisters) -overall sibilings who establish positive bond in early childhood continue to show greater affection and caring during adol - linked to more favorable emotional and social adjustment

three features of child rearing styles (Baumrind's findings)

1. acceptance and involvement (establish emotional connection w/ child) 2. control (promotes mature behavior) 3. autonomy granting (encourages self-reliance)

evolutionary origins and function of family

1. enhance survival -balance of males and females in social group (men and women have diff responsibilities to increase chance of food, and diversifies food options) 2. increase male certainty that newborn baby was his offspring (motivates him to invest and provide for child and mother in child rearing) 3. larger kin networks (grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc) increases chances of successful competition with others for vital resources and provided assistance with child rearing 4. emotional bond evolved (bc economic and social obligations are essential for survival, fostering long-term commitment among family members)

Never-married single parent families

10% of american children live w a single parent who never married and doesnt have a partner -85-90% are mothers -in more recent years more single women over 30 in high status occupations mostly young parents In US, largest group is A.A. young women -over 60% births to black moms in their 20s = women w/o partner, compared w 13% white women (job loss, persistent unemployment, lack of opp for black men to provide economically for their families contribute to #) - 1/3 marry later risks: -single mothers find it harder to overcome poverty (children display adjustment probs associated w economic hardships) -poor child outcomes bad partner worse than no partner -children of never married mothers who lack fatherly warmth and involvement achieve less well in school and engage in more antisocial behavior than counterparts in low-ES, first remarried fams) marriage to child's bio dad only benefits child when he is reliable source of economic and emotional support/if hes antisocial children are at greater risk of conduct probs than when reared by mother alone

consequences of parental divorce (long term)

After some time has passed, the consequences of divorce are still noticeable, but of course some change improved adjustment after 2 years -The majority of children show improved adjustment by two years after divorce. -It takes some time to adjust, but most do... achievement and behavior problems -children/adolescents of divorced parents score slightly lower than children of continuously married parents in academic achievement, self-esteem, and social competence, and they show more emotional and behavior problems father's involvement -when custodial parent is mother, a good father child relationship is important -leading to lower levels of defiance and aggression, and for girls, protection against sexual activity and unhappy romantic involvements bad married household- worse than divorce (transition to low-conflict single-parent household) but research suggests when parents divorce bc of moderate (not extreme dissatisfaction, children are extremely puzzled and upset) supportive co-parenting - best outcomes -effective parenting - esp how well the parent handles stress and shields child from family conflict and extent of using authoritative parenting style -parents who set aside their disagreements and support each other in their child-rearing roles increase the chances that their child will grow up comptent stable and happy

effectiveness of authoritative style

Authoritative style and children's competence correlated ~Affected by children's temperament ~Predicts maturity and adjustment Parent-child relationship more bidirectional with time (as each participant modifies the actions of the other and forms expectancies for the other's behavior) Positive emotional context ~Affection ~Appropriate control ~Respect for self-determination

Gay and Lesbian families

Children similar to children of heterosexuals in --Mental health --Peer relations --Gender identity --Sexual orientation (majority = heterosexual) Problems stem from intolerance/family intolerance -major concern is their child will be stigmatized by their parent's sexual orientation but most studies found that teasing and bullying are rare bc parents and children carefully manage the info they reveal to others) -few US states ban gay and lesbian adoptions, until recently FL was one of those states, changed law in 2010 mississippi is now the only state w/ a gay adoption ban (utah and arkansas - prohibits adults who co-habit from adopting) gay and lesbian parents are as committed to and effective at child rearing as heterosexual parents, and sometimes more so

most common family form

Lifelong commitment of man & woman who care for children until mature (feed, shelter, and nurture)

divorce

US divorce rate = 45% -half have children -2/3 remarry --1/2 second marriage divorce again divorce rates in industralized countries rose dramatically btwn 1960-1985, then stabalized in most conturies, US has highest divorce rate in world (45%) and half of divorces involve children 1/4 US children live in single-parent households (most moms, though dads = 12%) divorce is not a single event in the lives of parents and children but rather a transition leading to a variety of new living arrangements accompanied by changes in -housing -income -roles and responsibilities many studies report marital breakup is stressful for children, but individual differences exist depending on custodial parent's psychological health, the child's characteristics, and social supports within the family and surrounding community

Adoptive families

adoption has been around for awhile for many reasons, today adoptive parents may be (infertile, pass along a genetic disorder, older/single, or want to expand their families thru adoption) -fewer unwed US moms give up babies for adoption -more adoption from other countries is common more learning and emotional problems (difficulties increase w/ age of adoption) most adoptees fare well -appear optimistic and well adjusted as adults as long as their adoptive parents help child learn about their heritage in childhood

Gina is dependent, lacks interest in exploration, and is overwhelmed by challenging tasks. She is exhibiting characteristics consistent with girls raised by

authoritarian parents

four main parenting styles

authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, uninvolved

outcomes of uninvolved child-rearing style

even children whose parental disengagement is less extreme display many problems -poor emotional self regulation -school achievement difficulties -antisocial behavior

parental control and warmth in Baumrind's typology of parenting styles (four potential responses of parents reacting to child who will not share a toy)

every parent falls somewhere on the dimension of control and warmth authoritarian: high control/low warmth -share the toy right now bc i said so authoritative: high control, high warmth -share the toy bc it is important to take turns and share what we have uninvolved: low warmth/ low control -i dont care what you do with the toy permissive: high warmth/low control -share the toy if you feel like it

consequences of parental divorce (immediate)

immediate: -instability (fathers presence) , conflict, drop in income (mothers - in US majority of divorced mothers w young children live in poverty) -parental stress, disorganization (in discipline and routines) 20-25% of children in divorced families display severe probs (compare 10% nondivorced); reactions vary with children's age, temperament, and sex Age -differing difficulties based on age and understanding (younger = difficulty grasping reasons for seperation so blame selves; older = better understand but may react strongly when fam conflict is high and supervision is low) Temperament -easy children, who are less often targets of parental anger, also cope better with adversity easier temperament = better able to cope Sex -both sexes show demanding attention getting, acting out behavior -in mother custody families, boys are at slightly greater risk for academic, emotional, and behavioral problems -ex: Boy who lives with mom will probably display the greatest academic, emotional, and behavioral problems following a divorce.

example of adoption and adjustment - swedish longitudinal study

looked at 600+ infant adoption candidates some adopted shortly after birth, some foster care, some not adopted (changed mind, stay w/ bio mom) results: When researchers followed 600 infant adoption candidates into adolescence, they found that adoptees developed more favorably than children returned to their birth mothers or reared in foster homes.

adoption and adjustement

most adoptees fare well and those w/ preexisting problems usually make rapid progress -an early, warm, trusting parent-child relationship fosters development even when children are not genetically related to their parents -children w/ troubled family homes who are adopted at older ages also develop feelings of trust and affection for their adoptive parents -adoptees develop much more favorably than children growing up in foster families or returned to their birth mothers

outcomes of permissive child-rearing style

negative outcomes -children are impulsive, disobedient, and rebellious; are overly demanding and dependent on adults; and show less persistence on tasks and poorer school achievement -Permissively reared teenagers do less well academically, are more defiant of authority figures, and display more antisocial behavior than do teenagers whose parents communicate clear expectations.

Outcomes of authoritarian child-rearing style

negative outcomes -children of these parents are anxious and unhappy, low in self-esteem and self-reliance, tend to react with hostility when frustrated, and typically do poorly in school), also exhibit adjustment problems involving both anxious, withdrawn and defiant, aggressive behaviors -gender differences boys show higher rates of anger and defiance girls are often dependent, uninterested in exploration, and overwhelmed by challenging tasks

At its extreme, uninvolved parenting is a form of child maltreatment called

neglect, which disrupts virtually all aspects of development, including attachment, cognition, play, and emotional, and social skills

The american academy of pediatrics and the American public health association recommend the following standards for childcare

o Child-to-caregiver ratio of: - 3:1 for children aged 12 mo or less - 4:1 for 13 to 35 months - 7:1 for 3-year-olds - 8:1 for 4-to 5-year-olds o Maximum group sizes: - 6 for 12-month-olds and younger - 8 for 13- to 35-month-olds - 14 for 3-year-olds - 16 for 4- to 5- year-olds

perceived risk vs actual risk -video: pool safety - infant swimming self rescue

o Infant unsupervised goes outside on deck and falls into pool, he swims over on his back and yells for help o Toddlers and young children learn to roll over and float on their backs o Infant swimming resource has delivered more than 7 million lessons with a 100% safety record and survival rate

high income families

o Parents pressure children to overachieve o Children experience psychological stress

low income families

o Parents spend less quality time w/ their children o Parents are depressed, irritable, practice harsh parenting o Children live w/o basic necessities: food, medical care, shelter, safe schools and neighborhoods

adjustment and social behavior

o Studies find no difference in problem behavior between children in day care and those reared at home o Quality of care decides the behavior of children. -Hours spent: longer hours lead to better adjustment - Most children in day care never develop behavior issues - Background is important too - low SES vs high SES

one-child families

only children -research shows they are not spoiled but are even advantaged in some aspects -higher in self-esteem and motivation and achievement -do better in school/attain higher levels of education than children with siblings -closer relationships with parents than children w/ sibs -tend to be less accepted in the peer group, maybe bc they have not had many opps to learn effective conflict-resolution strategies thru sibiling interactions

child rearing styles

parents start to socialize their children in earnest during the second year, when toddlers are first able to comply with directives -child-rearing styles are combos of parenting behaviors that occur over a wide range of situations, creating an enduring child-rearing climate

summary of child rearing styles

permissive - high support/ low control uninvolved - low support and low control authoritative - high support/ high control authoritarian - low support, high control

Five-year-old Fabiano is allowed to stay up late watching television, has poor manners, and is extremely immature. Fabiano displays characteristics of a child raised by

permissive parents

child maltreatment

physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, emotional abuse

Outcomes of authoritative child rearing style

positive outcomes -linked to many aspects of competence in childhood and adolesence Children of authoritative parents exhibit high self-esteem, social and moral maturity, achievement motivation, and strong school performance.

overprotection vs learning by experience

some things you have to let your kids learn on their own thru their own experiences -the most effective way to keep children safe is to give them a little taste of danger

preventing child maltreatment

strategies needed for family, community, and society: -family social support, -improved parenting practices (healthy families America, nurse-family partnership); -combating poverty; -government intervention; -legal termination of parental rights

family

the child's first, and longest-lasting context for development -arose tens of thousands of years ago among our hunting-and-gathering ancestors

Authoritative child rearing style

the most successful approach- involves: -high acceptance and involvement (warm, attentive and sensitive to their needs), -adaptive control techniques, firm, reasonable control -and gradual appropriate autonomy granting communication is important -listen and encourage child to express self/share own viewpoints (make them more likely to listen to parents)

family size

trend for smaller families (1960 = 3.1 vs today = 1.8 in US) popular advice often recommends smaller families = greater resources of parents -time and attention -affection -material resources money is an issue for family size, but other may not be as hard to share one concern has been lack of attention and resources as an explanation for lower IQs on average in large families

The skills acquired during sibling interactions contribute to the ....

understanding of emotions and other mental states, perspective taking, moral maturity, and competence in relating to other children.

child sexual abuse - grossly under reported (victims, abusers, consequences, prevention and treatment)

victims: -more often female -reported in middle childhood abusers: -usually male -parent or known by parent consequences: -emotional reactions -physical symptoms -effects on behavior prevention and treatment: -prevention = education -treatment = long-term therapy

economic contexts of families (average $ per child per year)

· An average American family will spend $14,000 per child per year - less in low income families; more in high-income families

Family Medical Leave Act (1993)

· Parents are allowed to take 12 weeks off of work o Guarantee that their job will be there when they comeback · HOWEVER o The employer does not have to PAY you · Side not: FSU did allow me to take 12 weeks off paid this summer o But they would not allow me to do this for a second child

Parents' Work Contexts

· Parents' sense of accomplishment at work enhances mental health and quality of parenting · Most parents find work rewarding · However, work-related conflicts transfer into family life, too · Research does not support negative effects on children of working mothers

Childcare contexts (employed mothers)

· percentage of children with employed mothers, from birth through age 4, in each type of childcare agreement father - 29.3% grandparent, sibling, or other relative - 42.1% center-based care - 35%