1. PSYCHOPATHOLOGY OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY
WEEK 3
CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES ON ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY (CHILDREN)

2. Psychopathology of Children and Adolescents
The study of child psychopathology is complicated by many factors that influence problem definition, course, and outcome as well as treatment.

3. Key issues involved in the study of child psychopathology
1. Development
A. Chronological age
behaviors that would be considered abnormal might be perfectly appropriate at another age level
B. Cognitive Developmental Level
how a particular behavior is perceived, interpreted and labeled by adults abnormal) will depend in large part on the child level of cognitive development

4. PIAGET’S STAGES OF COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
Approximate Age
Key Features
Sensory - motor
0 – 2 years
Object permanence
Mental Representative
Preoperational
2 – 7 years
Representational thought
Fantasy plan
Symbolic gestures
Egocentrism
Concrete-operational
7 – 11 years
Conservation
Complex Classification
Formal-operational
Adolescence-adulthood
Abstract and hypothetical thought

5. C. Competence - their ability to adapt in the environment - judgment of deviancy require knowledge of children’s performance relative to that of their same age peers as well as to their individual course of development - developmental tasks

6. Example of Developmental Tasks
AGE PERIOD
TASK
Infancy to preschool
Attachment to caregiver(s)
Language
Differentiation of self
Self control and compliance
Middle childhood
School adjustment (attendance, appropriate conduct)
Academic achievement (e.g. learning to read)
Getting along with peers (acceptance, making friends)
Rule-governed conduct
Adolescence
Successful transition to secondary schooling
Academic achievement
Involvement in extracurricular activities
Forming close friendship within and cross gender
Forming a cohesive sense of self identity

7. D. Developmental Pathway the sequence and timing of particular behavior as well to possible relationships between behavior over time - multifinality similar early experiences lead to different outcomes - equifinality different factors lead to a similar outcome

8. 2. Environmental factors A
2. Environmental factors A. Stability Childrens’ behavior is much less stable than adults’ behavior because it is more responsive to environmental changes and manipulation B. Referral child are rarely self referred. Their parents or other adults decide the child needs help and seek it out

9. 3. Locus of Problem Whose problem is it
3. Locus of Problem Whose problem is it? - ways of conceptualizing the problem: a) child-centered – the problem is in the child b) dyadic model – the problem is in the nature of the child interaction with another person.

10. c) psychological well being of parents d) family system model – eg marital conflict

11. 3. The effect of Labelling - Labelling can lead to discrimination, stigma, prejudice 4. Child right

12. MEMOS FROM YOUR CHILD
Don’t spoil me. I know quite well that I ought not to have all that I ask for. I’m only testing you
Don’t be afraid to be firm with me. I prefer it, it makes me feel more secure.
Don’t let me form bad habit. I have to rely on you to detect them in the early stages.
Don’t make me smaller than I am. It only makes me behave stupidly.

13. 5. Don’t protect me from consequences
5. Don’t protect me from consequences. I sometimes need to learn the painful way. 6. Don’t be upset when I say “ I hate you”. It isn’t you I hate but your power to frustrate me. 7. Don’t take too much notice of my ailment. 8. Don’t make rush promises. Remember that I feel badly let down when promises are broken.

14. 9. Don’t be inconsistent. That completely confuses me and make me lose faith in you 10. Don’t ever suggest that you are perfect. It gives me too great of shock 11. Don’t forget how quickly I am growing up. It must be very difficult to keep pace with me, but please do try 12. Don’t ever think it is beneath your dignity to apologize to me. An honest apology make me feel surprisingly warm towards you.