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307 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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competence |
The ability to adapt to one's environment. Children's competence involves their performance relative to their same-age peers as well as their individual course of development. |
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developmental pathway |
A concept to describe the sequence and timing of particular behaviours, and to highlight the known and suspected relationships of behaviours over time. |
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developmental tasks |
Psychosocial tasks of childhood that reflect broad domains of competence and tell us how children typically progress within each of these domains as they grow. |
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equifinality |
The concept that similar outcomes may stem from different early experiences. |
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externalising problems |
Problem behaviours that begin during childhood and encompass acting-out behaviours such as aggression and delinquent behaviour. |
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internalising problems |
Problem behaviours that begin during childhood and include anxiety, depression, somatic complaints, and withdrawn behaviour. |
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multifinality |
The concept that various outcomes may stem from similar beginnings. |
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nosologies |
Efforts to classify psychiatric disorders into descriptive categories. |
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protective factor |
A variable that precedes a negative outcome of interest and decreases the chances that the outcome will occur. |
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psychological disorder |
A pattern of behavioural, cognitive, or physical symptoms that includes one or more of the following prominent features: (a) some degree of distress in the subject; (b) behaviour indicating some degree of disability; and (c) an increased risk of suffering, death, pain, disability, or an important loss of freedom. |
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resilience |
The ability to avoid negative outcomes despite being at risk for psychopathology |
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risk factor |
A variable that precedes a negative outcome of interest and increases the chances that the outcome will occur |
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stigma |
A cluster of negative attitudes and beliefs that motivates fear, rejection, avoidance, and discrimination against people with mental illnesses. |
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adaptational failure |
Failure to master or progress in accomplishing developmental milestones. |
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attachment |
The process of establishing and maintaining an emotional bond with parents or other significant caregivers. |
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behavioural genetics |
A branch of genetics that investigates possible connections between a genetic predisposition and observed behaviour. |
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brain circuits |
Paths made up of clustered neurons that connect one part of the brain to another. |
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continuity |
A theoretical position for explaining development which proposes that normal and abnormal developmental changes are gradual and quantitative. |
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cortisol |
A stress hormone produced by the adrenal glands |
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developmental psychopathology |
An approach to describing and studying disorders of childhood and adolescence in a manner that emphasises the importance of developmental processes and tasks |
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discontinuity |
A theoretical position for explaining development proposing that normal and abnormal developmental changes are abrupt and qualitative. |
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emotion reactivity |
A dimension of emotional processes associated with individual differences in the threshold and intensity of emotional experience |
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emotion regulation |
The processes by which emotional arousal is redirected, controlled, or modified to to facilitate adaptive functioning |
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epigenetic |
The underlying biological changes to genetic structure resulting from environmental factors, such as toxins, diet, stress, etc |
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epinephrine |
A hormone produced by the adrenal glands that is released into the bloodstream in response to stress in order to energise and prepare the body for a possible threat. Also known as adrenaline |
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etiology |
The study of the causes of disorders |
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family systems |
Theory that the behaviour of an individual can be most accurately understood in the context of the dynamics of their family |
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frontal lobes |
Area of the brain located at the front of each cerebral hemisphere; responsible for the functions underlying much of our thinking and reasoning abilities, including memory. |
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gene environment interaction (GxE) |
Complex interplay of nature and nurture to account for genetic and environmental influences and their timing. |
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hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis |
A regulatory system of the brain made up of the hypothalamus control center and the pituitary and adrenal glands; it influences a person's response to stress and his or her ability to regulate emotions. |
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interdependent |
The assumption that abnormal child behaviour is determined by both the child and his or her environment, and that these two factors are interconnected. |
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molecular genetics |
The methods of genetics that directly assess the association between variations in DNA sequences and variations in particular traits. |
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neural plasticity |
The malleable nature of the brain |
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nonshared environment |
A subtype of environmental influences that refers to the environmental factors that produce behavioural differences among siblings living in the same household. |
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organisation of development |
The assumption that early patterns of adaptation evolve over time and transform into higher-order functions in a structured manner. |
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sensitive periods |
Windows of time during which environmental influences on development (both good and bad) are heightened, thus providing enhanced opportunities to learn. |
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shared environment |
A subtype of environmental influences that refers to the environmental factors that produce similarities in developmental outcomes among siblings living in the same household. |
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social cognition |
A construct to describe how people think about themselves in relation to others, and how they interpret ambiguous events and solve problems. |
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social learning |
A theoretical approach to the study of behaviour that is interested in both overt behaviours and the role of possible cognitive mediators that may influence such behaviours directly or indirectly. |
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temperament |
The child's innate reactivity and self-regulation with respect to the domains of emotions, activity level, and attention |
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transaction |
The process by which the subject and environment interact in a dynamic fashion to contribute to the expression of a disorder. |
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analogue research |
Research that evaluates a specific variable of interest under conditions that only resemble or approximate the situation to which one wishes to generalise. |
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assent |
Evidence of some form of agreement on the part of a child to participate in a research study without the child's having the full understanding of the research that would be needed to give informed consent. |
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case study |
An intensive and usually anecdotal observation and analysis of an individual subject. |
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cohort |
A group of individuals who are followed over time and who experience the same cultural or historical events during the same time period. |
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comorbidity |
The overlapping of two or more disorders at a rate that is greater than would be expected by chance alone |
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correlation coefficient |
A number that describes the degree of association between two variables of interest |
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cross-sectional research |
A method of research whereby different individuals at different ages/stages of development are studied at the same point in time. |
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electroencephalogram (EEG) |
An electrophysiological measure of brain functioning whereby electrodes are taped to the surface of the subject's scalp to record the electrical activity of the brain. |
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epidemiological research |
The study of the incidence, prevalence, and cooccurrence of childhood disorders and competencies in clinic-referred and community samples |
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external validity |
The degree to which findings can be generalised or extended to people, settings, times, measures, and characteristics other than the ones in the original study. |
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incidence rates |
The rate at which new cases of a disorder appear over a specified period of time. |
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informed consent |
An individual's expressed willingness to participate in a research study, based on his or her understanding of the nature of the research, the potential risks and benefits involved, the expected outcomes, and possible alternatives. |
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internal validity |
The extent to which an intended manipulation of a variable, rather than extraneous influences, accounts for observed results, changes, or group differences. |
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longitudinal research |
A method of research whereby the same individuals are studied at different ages/stages of development. |
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mediator variables |
The process, mechanism, or means through which a variable produces a specific outcome. |
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moderator variables |
A factor that influences the direction or strength of a relationship between variables. |
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multiple-baseline design |
A single-case experimental design in which the effect of a treatment is shown by demonstrating that behaviours in more than one baseline change as a result of the institution of a treatment. |
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natural experiments |
An experiment in which comparisons are made between preexisting conditions or treatments (i.e., random assignment is not used). |
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naturalistic observation |
The unstructured observation of a child in his or her natural environment. |
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neuroimaging |
A method of examining the structure and/or function of the brain |
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prevalence rates |
The number of cases of a disorder, whether new or previously existing, that are observed during a specified period of time. |
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qualitative research |
Research for which the purpose is to describe, interpret, and understand the phenomenon of interest in the context in which it is experienced. |
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random assignment |
The assignment of research participants to treatment conditions whereby each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to each condition. |
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randomised controlled trials (RCTs) |
A design used to evaluate treatment outcomes in which children with a particular problem are randomly assigned to various treatment and control conditions. |
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real-time prospective designs |
A research design in which the research sample is identified and then followed longitudinally over time, with data collected at specified time intervals. |
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reliability |
The extent to which the result of an experiment is consistent or repeatable. |
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retrospective design |
A research design in which the research sample is asked to provide information relating to an earlier time period. |
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single-case experimental designs |
A type of research design most frequently used to evaluate the impact of a clinical treatment on a subject's problem |
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standardisation |
The process by which a set of standards or norms is specified for a measurement procedure so that it can be used consistently across different assessments. |
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structured observation |
Observation of a subject, usually occurring in a clinic or laboratory, in which the subject is given specific tasks or instructions to carry out, and researchers look for specific information. |
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treatment effectiveness |
The degree to which a treatment can be shown to work in actual clinical practice, as opposed to controlled laboratory conditions. |
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treatment efficacy |
The degree to which a treatment can produce changes under well-controlled conditions that depart from those typically used in clinical practice. |
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validity |
The extent to which a measure actually assesses the dimension or construct that the researcher sets out to measure. |
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behaviour analysis |
An effort to identify as many factors as possible that could be contributing to a child's problem behaviour, thoughts, and feelings, and to develop hypotheses about which ones are the most important and/or most easily changed. |
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behavioural assessment |
The evaluation of the child's thoughts, feelings, and behaviours in specific settings, based on which hypotheses are formulated about the nature of the problem and what can be done about it |
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best practice guidelines |
Systematically developed statements to assist practitioners and patients with decisions regarding appropriate treatment(s) for specific clinical conditions |
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categorical classification |
The diagnostic systems that are primarily based on informed professional consensus, which is an approach that has dominated and continues to dominate the field of child (and adult) psychopathology |
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classification |
A system for representing the major categories or dimensions of child psychopathology and the boundaries and relations among them |
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clinical assessments |
A process of differentiating, defining, and measuring the behaviours, cognitions, and emotions that are of concern, as well as the environmental circumstances that may be contributing to these problems. |
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clinical description |
A summary of unique behaviours, thoughts, and feelings that together make up the features of a given psychological disorder. |
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cultural compatibility hypothesis |
The hypothesis that treatment is likely to be more effective when compatible with the cultural patterns of the child and family. |
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culture-bound syndromes |
Recurrent patterns of maladaptive behaviours and/or troubling experiences specifically associated with different cultures or localities. |
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developmental history |
Information obtained from the parents about potentially significant historical milestones and events that might have a bearing on the child's current difficulties. |
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developmental tests |
Tests used to assess infants and young children that are generally carried out for the purposes of screening, diagnosis, and evaluation of early development. |
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diagnosis |
The identification of a disorder from an examination of the symptoms. |
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dimensional classification |
An empirically based approach to the diagnosis and classification of child psychopathology that assumes that there are a number of independent dimensions or traits of behaviour and that all children possess these to varying degrees. |
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family history |
Using a background questionnaire or interview, information is obtained from the parents regarding potentially significant developmental milestones and historical events that might have a bearing on the child's current difficulties. |
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idiographic case formulation |
An approach to case formulation or assessment that emphasises the detailed representation of the individual child or family as a unique entity. |
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intervention |
A broad concept that encompasses many different theories and methods with a range of problem-solving strategies directed at helping the child and family adapt more effectively to their current and future circumstances |
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maintenance |
Efforts to increase adherence to treatment over time in order to prevent a relapse or recurrence of a problem. |
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multiaxial system |
A classification system consisting of several different domains (axes) of information about the subject that may assist a clinician in planning the treatment of a disorder. |
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multimethod assessment approach |
A clinical assessment that emphasises the importance of obtaining information from different informants, in a variety of settings, using a variety of procedures that include interviews, observations, questionnaires, and tests. |
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neuropsychological assessment |
A form of assessment that attempts to link brain functioning with objective measures of behaviour known to depend on an intact central nervous system. |
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nomothetic formulation |
An approach to case formulation or assessment that emphasises general principles that apply to all people. |
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prevention |
Activities directed at decreasing the chances that undesired future outcomes will occur. |
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prognosis |
The prediction of the course or outcome of a disorder. |
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projective tests |
A form of assessment that presents the child with ambiguous stimuli, such as inkblots or pictures of people. The hypothesis is that the child will project his or her own personality on the ambiguous stimuli of other people and things |
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screening |
Identification of subjects at risk for a specific negative outcome. |
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semistructured interviews |
Interviews that include specific questions designed to elicit information in a relatively consistent manner regardless of who is doing the interview. |
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target behaviours |
Behaviours that are the primary problems of concern. |
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test |
A task or set of tasks given under standard conditions with the purpose of assessing some aspect of the subject's knowledge, skill, personality, or condition. |
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treatment |
Corrective actions that will permit successful adaptation by eliminating or reducing the impact of an undesired outcome that has already occurred. |
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treatment planning and evaluation |
The process of using assessment information to generate a treatment plan and evaluate its effectiveness. |
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alerting |
Refers to an initial reaction to a stimulus, and involves the ability to prepare for what is about to happen. |
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attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) |
A disorder in which the individual consistently and repeatedly shows age-inappropriate behaviours in the two general categories of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity, resulting in significant impairment in life functioning. |
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attentional capacity |
The amount of information in short-term memory to which one can attend. |
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developmental coordination disorder (DCD) |
A disorder characterised by marked motor in coordination (e.g., clumsiness and delays in achieving motor milestones). |
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distractibility |
A term used to describe deficits in selective attention. |
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executive functions |
Higher-order mental processes that enable a child to maintain a problem-solving orientation in order to attain a future goal. (eg: working memory, mental computation, flexibility of thinking, motor coordination etc) |
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frontostriatal circuitry of the brain |
A structure of the brain consisting of the prefrontal cortex and the basal ganglia; associated with attention, executive functions, delayed response, and response organisation. Abnormalities within this structure have been linked to ADHD. |
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goodness of fit |
The extent to which two things are suited (eg child's early temperament and the parent's style of interaction) |
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hyperactive |
Displaying an unusually high level of energy and an inability to remain still or quiet. |
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impulsive |
Prone to acting with little or no consideration of possible consequences. |
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inattentive |
Lacking the ability to focus or sustain one's attention. |
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methylphenidate |
The stimulant medication most commonly used in treating children with adhd |
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parent management training (PMT) |
A program aimed at teaching parents to cope effectively with their child's difficult behaviour and their own reactions to it. |
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positive illusory bias |
A person's report of higher self-esteem than is warranted by his or her behaviour |
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quality of life |
A person's subjective perception of their position in life as evidenced by their physical, psychological, and social functioning. |
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response-cost procedures |
A technique for managing a subject's behaviour that involves the loss of reinforcers such as privileges, activities, points, or tokens in response to inappropriate behaviour. |
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selective attention |
The ability to concentrate exclusively on relevant stimuli and to avoid distraction by irrelevant stimuli in the environment. |
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stimulant medications |
Drugs that alter the activity in the frontostriatal region of the brain by impacting three or more neurotransmitters important to the functioning of this regiondopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine, and possibly serotonin. |
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subtype |
A group of people with a specific disorder who have something in common, such as symptoms, etiology, problem severity, or likely outcome, that makes them distinct from people with other subtypes of the same disorder. |
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sustained attention |
The ability to maintain a persistent focus of attention over time or when fatigued. |
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tic disorders |
Disorders characterised by sudden, repetitive, nonrhythmic motor movements or phonic productions, such as eye blinking, facial grimacing, throat clearing, and grunting or other sounds. |
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adolescent-limited (AL) path |
A developmental pathway to antisocial behaviour whereby the child's antisocial behaviour begins around puberty, continues into adolescence, and later desists in young adulthood. |
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adolescent-onset conduct disorder |
A specific type of conduct disorder for which the characteristics are not exhibited prior to 10 years of age. |
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amplifier hypothesis |
The premise that stress may serve to amplify the maladaptive predispositions of parents, thereby disrupting family management practices and compromising the parents' ability to be supportive of their children. |
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antisocial personality disorder (APD) |
An adult disorder characterised by a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others, as well as engagement in multiple illegal behaviours. |
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behavioural activation system (BAS) |
A subsystem of the brain that activates behaviour in response to cues of reward or nonpunishment. |
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behavioural inhibition system (BIS) |
The ability to delay one's initial reactions to events or to stop behaviour once it has begun. |
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bullying |
When one or more children expose another child, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions, such as physical contact, words, making faces or dirty gestures, and intentional exclusion from a group. |
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callous and unemotional (CU) interpersonal style |
A mode of social interaction that is characterised by such traits as the absence of feelings of guilt, not showing empathy, and not showing emotions. |
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childhood-onset conduct disorder |
A specific type of conduct disorder whereby the child displays at least one characteristic of the disorder prior to 10 years of age. |
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coercion theory |
A developmental theory proposing that coercive parent-child interactions serve as the training ground for the development of antisocial behaviour. |
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conduct disorder (CD) |
A form of disruptive behaviour disorder in which the child exhibits an early, persistent, and extreme pattern of aggressive and antisocial acts that involve the infliction of pain on others or interference with others' rights through physical and verbal aggression, stealing, vandalism, truancy, or running away. |
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conduct problem(s) |
Age-inappropriate actions and attitudes that violate family expectations, societal norms, and the personal or property rights of others. |
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destructive nondestructive dimension |
An independent dimension of antisocial behaviour consisting of a continuum ranging from acts such as cruelty to animals or destruction of property at one end, to non destructive behaviours such as arguing or irritability at the other. |
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disruptive behaviour disorders |
A DSMIV- TR category for persistent patterns of antisocial behaviour that includes oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder. |
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externalising behaviour |
A continuous dimension of behaviour that includes a mixture of impulsive, overactive, aggressive, and delinquent acts. |
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hostile attributional bias |
The tendency of aggressive children to attribute negative intent to others, especially when the intentions of another child are unclear |
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juvenile delinquency |
A broad term used to describe children who have broken a law, anything from sneaking into a movie without a ticket to homicide. |
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life-course persistent (LCP) path |
A developmental pathway to antisocial behaviour in which the child engages in antisocial behaviour at an early age and continues to do so into adulthood. |
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multisystemic therapy (MST) |
An approach to treatment that attempts to address the multiple determinants of problematic behaviour, and by drawing on multiple techniques,, as well as specialised interventions |
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oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) |
The least severe form of disruptive behaviour disorder, in which children show an age-inappropriate and persistent pattern of irritable, hostile, oppositional, and defiant behaviour. |
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overtcovert dimension |
An independent dimension consisting of a continuum of antisocial behaviour ranging from overt forms such as physical aggression at one end, to covert forms (i.e., hidden or sneaky acts) at the other. |
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problem-solving skills training (PSST) |
Instruction aimed at targeting the cognitive deficiencies and distortions displayed by children and adolescents who experience conduct problems in interpersonal situations |
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reciprocal influence |
The theory that the child's behaviour is both influenced by and itself influences the behaviour of other family members. |
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social selection hypothesis |
The premise that people tend to select environments in which there are other people similar to themselves. |
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socialcognitive abilities |
The skills involved in attending to, interpreting, and responding to social cues. |
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subclinical levels of symptoms |
Troubling symptoms too few in number to qualify for a categorical diagnosis. |
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anxiety |
A mood state characterised by strong negative affect, bodily symptoms of tension, and apprehensive anticipation of future danger or misfortune. |
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anxiety disorders |
A disorder in which the child experiences excessive and debilitating anxiety. |
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behaviour lens principle |
A principle that states that child psychopathology reflects a mixture of actual child behaviour and the lens through which it is viewed by others in a child's culture. |
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compulsions |
Repetitive, purposeful, and intentional behaviours or mental acts that are performed in response to an obsession. |
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exposure |
A behaviour therapy technique for treating anxiety disorders that exposes the subject to the source of his or her fear while providing appropriate and effective ways of coping with the fear |
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fear |
An alarm reaction to current danger or life-threatening emergencies; marked by strong escape-oriented tendencies and a surge in the sympathetic nervous system. |
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fight/flight response |
The immediate reaction to perceived danger or threat whereby efforts are directed toward protecting against potential harm, either by confronting the source of danger (fight), or by escaping from the situation (flight). |
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flooding |
A procedure for treating anxiety that involves prolonged and repeated exposure to the anxiety-provoking situation until the subject's level of anxiety has diminished. |
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generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) |
A form of anxiety disorder in which the subject experiences chronic or exaggerated worry and tension, almost always anticipating disaster, even in the absence of an obvious reason to do so. |
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generalised social phobia |
A severe form of social phobia in which the subject fears most social situations |
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graded exposure |
Gradual exposure of a subject to a feared situation. |
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negative affectivity |
A persistent negative mood evidenced by nervousness, sadness, anger, and guilt. |
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neurotic paradox |
The pattern of self-perpetuating behaviour in which children who are overly anxious in various situations, even while being aware that the anxiety may be unnecessary or excessive, find themselves unable to abandon their self-defeating behaviours. |
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obsessions |
Persistent, intrusive, and irrational thoughts, ideas, impulses, or images that focus on improbable or unrealistic events or on real-life events that are greatly exaggerated. |
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obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) |
A form of anxiety disorder in which the subject experiences repeated, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts that cause anxiety and often engages in ritualised behaviour to relieve this anxiety. |
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panic |
A group of unexpected physical symptoms of the fight/flight response that occur in the absence of any obvious threat or danger. |
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panic attack |
A sudden and overwhelming period of intense fear or discomfort accompanied by four or more physical and cognitive symptoms characteristic of the fight/flight response. |
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panic disorder (PD) |
A form of anxiety disorder characterised by panic attacks and sudden feelings of terror that strike repeatedly and without warning. There is also persistent concern about having another attack |
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positive affectivity |
A persistent positive mood as reflected in states such as joy, enthusiasm, and energy. |
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posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) |
A form of anxiety disorder whereby the child displays persistent anxiety following exposure to or witnessing of an overwhelming traumatic event that is outside the range of usual human experience. |
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response prevention |
A procedure used in the treatment of anxiety that prevents the child from engaging in escape or avoidance behaviours |
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school refusal behaviour |
A form of anxious behaviour in which the child refuses to attend classes or has difficulty remaining in school for an entire day. |
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selective mutism |
The inability or refusal to talk in social situations, despite the fact that the subject may talk at home or in other settings. |
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separation anxiety disorder (SAD) |
A form of anxiety disorder in which the subject displays age-inappropriate, excessive, and disabling anxiety about being apart from his or her parents or away from home. |
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social phobia |
A marked and persistent fear of social or performance situations in which the subject is exposed to possible scrutiny and embarrassment. |
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anhedonia |
A negative mood state characterised by a lack of enjoyment in anything one does and a loss of interest in nearly all activities. |
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bipolar disorder |
A type of mood disorder characterised by an ongoing combination of extreme highs and extreme lows |
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co-rumination |
A negative form of self disclosure and discussion between peers focused narrowly on problems or emotions to the exclusion of other activities or dialogue. |
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depressive ruminative style |
a cognitive distortion in which one focuses narrowly on negative events for long periods |
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depressogenic cognitions |
the negative perceptual and attributional styles and beliefs associated with depressive symptoms |
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diathesis stress model of depression |
A theory of depression proposing that the impact of stress is moderated by individual risk factors and that the occurrence of depression depends on the interaction between the subject's personal vulnerability and life stress. |
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double depression |
An instance in which a major depressive episode is superimposed on the subject's previous dysthymic disorder. |
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dysphoria |
A negative mood state characterised by prolonged bouts of sadness. |
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dysthymia |
A form of depressive disorder characterised by at least 1 year (2 years in adults) of depressed mood for more days than not, accompanied by additional depressive symptoms that do not meet criteria for a major depressive episode |
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dysthymic disorder (DD) |
A form of depressive disorder characterised by at least 1 year (2 years in adults) of depressed mood for more days than not, accompanied by additional depressive symptoms that do not meet criteria for a major depressive episode |
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emotion regulation |
The processes by which emotional arousal is redirected, controlled, or modified to facilitate adaptive functioning. |
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euphoria |
An exaggerated sense of well-being. |
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hopelessness theory |
The view that depression-prone individuals make internal, stable, and global attributions to explain the causes of negative events, and external, unstable, and specific attributions about positive events. |
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irritability |
A common symptom of depression characterised by easy annoyance and touchiness, an angry mood, and temper outbursts. |
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major depressive disorder (MDD) |
A form of depressive disorder characterised by one or more major depressive episodes that last for at least 2 weeks and are accompanied by additional symptoms such as sleep disturbances or thoughts of suicide. |
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mania |
An abnormally elevated or expansive mood. |
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mood disorder |
A disorder in which the subject suffers from extreme, persistent, or poorly regulated emotional states. |
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negative cognitive schemata |
Stable structures in memory, including self-critical resistant to change even in the face of contradictory evidence. beliefs and attitudes, that guide information processing in a way that is consistent with the negative self-image of the subject. |
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negative cognitive triad |
Negative views about oneself, the world, and the future that are characteristic of youngsters with depression. These views maintain feelings of helplessness, undermine the child's mood and energy level, and are related to the severity of depression. |
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adaptive functioning |
The ability to cope effectively with ordinary life demands, to live independently, and to abide by community standards. A necessary component for defining levels of intellectual disability. |
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Angelman syndrome |
A genetic disorder associated with an abnormality of chromosome 15. Children typically suffer from moderate to severe mental retardation, ataxia (awkward gait), jerky movements, hand flapping, seizures, the absence of speech, and distinctive facial features such as a large jaw and open-mouthed expression. |
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culturalfamilial group |
Intellectual disability (ID) in which there is no evidence of organic brain damage (usually associated with mild ID). |
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difference viewpoint |
The view that cognitive development of children with intellectual disability differs from that of normally developing children in more ways than merely differences in developmental rate and upper limit. |
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developmental viewpoint |
The view that all children, regardless of intellectual impairments, progress through the same developmental stages in the same sequence, but at different rates. |
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Down syndrome |
A chromosomal abnormality in which there are three 21st chromosomes rather than the normal two. Children typically function at the moderate level of intellectual disability, have an increased likelihood of medical problems, and have unusual physical features. This syndrome is also called trisomy 21. |
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fetal alcohol syndrome |
A disorder stemming from extensive prenatal exposure to alcohol. Children with this disorder typically suffer from problems in intellectual functioning, central nervous system dysfunction, cranial feature defects, behaviour problems, growth retardation, and physical abnormalities of the face. |
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fragile-X syndrome |
A chromosomal abnormality in which one area on the X chromosome is pinched. Children typically suffer from moderate intellectual disability |
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general intellectual functioning |
One's general level of intellectual ability, defined by an intelligence quotient (IQ or equivalent) derived from an assessment with one or more of the standardised, individually administered intelligence tests. |
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genotype |
An individual's specific genetic makeup. |
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heritability |
The proportion of the variance of a trait that is attributable to genetic influences. |
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inclusion movement |
The integration of individuals with disabilities into regular classroom settings, regardless of the severity of the disability. |
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mild mental retardation |
An IQ level in the range of 50-55 to approximately 70. |
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moderate mental retardation |
An IQ level in the range of 35-40 to 50-55. |
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nondisjunction |
The failure of the 21st pair of the mother's chromosomes to separate during meiosis. In most Down syndrome cases, the extra chromosome results from this failure of the chromosomes to separate. |
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organic group |
intellectual disability stemming from clear organic (physical) causes such as brain damage or improper CNS development. |
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Prader-Willi syndrome |
A complex genetic disorder associated with an abnormality of chromosome 15. Short stature, intellectual disability or learning disabilities, incomplete sexual development, certain behaviour problems, low muscle tone, and an involuntary urge to eat constantly. |
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profound mental retardation |
An IQ level below 20 or 25. |
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self-injurious behaviour (SIB) |
Severe and sometimes life-threatening acts that cause damage to the subject's own body, such as head banging, eye gouging, severe scratching, rumination, some types of pica, and inserting objects under the skin. |
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self-instructional training |
Teaching children to use verbal cues to process information, which are initially taught by the therapist or teacher, to keep themselves on task. |
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severe mental retardation |
An IQ level in the range of 20-25 to 35-40. |
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Asperger's disorder |
A pervasive developmental disorder characterised by major difficulties in social interaction and unusual patterns of interest and behaviour in children with relatively intact cognitive and communication skills. |
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autism |
A pervasive developmental disorder characterised by abnormalities in social functioning and in language and communication, and by unusual interests and behaviours. |
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autism spectrum disorder (ASD) |
A category that includes several pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs), all characterised by significant impairments in social and communication skills, and stereotyped patterns of interests and behaviours. These include autistic disorder, Asperger's disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). |
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central coherence |
The strong tendency of humans to interpret stimuli in a relatively global way that takes the broader context into account. |
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childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD) |
A pervasive developmental disorder characterised by a significant loss of previously acquired skills, as well as the presence of abnormalities in functioning. Appears after age 2. |
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communication deviance |
A measure of interpersonal attentional and thought disturbance observed in families of children with schizophrenia or schizotypal personality disorder |
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delusions |
Disturbances in thinking involving disordered thought content and strong beliefs that are misrepresentations of reality. |
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discrete trial training |
A method of teaching readiness skills or other desired behaviours that involves a step-by-step approach of presenting a stimulus and requiring a specific response. |
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echolalia |
Immediate or delayed parrot-like repetition of words or word combinations. |
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hallucinations |
Disturbances in perception in which things are seen, heard, or otherwise sensed even though they are not real or present. |
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incidental training |
A method of teaching readiness skills or other desired behaviours that works to strengthen the behaviour by capitalising on naturally occurring opportunities. |
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joint attention |
The ability to coordinate one's focus of attention on another person and an object of mutual interest. |
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mentalisation |
Awareness of other people's and one's own mental states. Also referred to as theory of mind. |
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neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia |
This model proposes that genetic vulnerability and early neurodevelopmental insults result in impaired connections among many brain regions. Children who later develop schizophrenia often display developmental impairments well before the onset of their psychotic symptoms. |
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operant speech training |
A strategy used to help children use language more appropriately |
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pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) |
A disorder in which the child displays social, communication, and behavioural impairments associated with PDD, but does not meet the criteria for PDD, schizophrenia, or other disorders. |
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pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs) |
A category of disorders characterised by severe and extensive impairments in social interaction and communication skills, along with stereotyped patterns of behaviours, interests, and activities. |
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pragmatics |
The aspect of language that focuses on its appropriate use in social and communicative contexts. |
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preservation of sameness |
A characteristic of children with autistic disorder who show an anxious and obsessive insistence on the maintenance of sameness that no one but the child may disrupt. |
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pronoun reversals |
The repetition of personal pronouns exactly as heard, without changing them according to the person being referred to. |
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protodeclarative gestures |
Gestures or vocalisations that direct the visual attention of other people to objects of shared interest |
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protoimperative gestures |
Gestures or vocalisations used to express needs, such as pointing to an object that one desires but cannot reach. |
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Rett's disorder |
A pervasive developmental disorder characterised by a deceleration of head growth in the early years, a loss of previously acquired purposeful hand skills with subsequent development of stereotyped hand movements, a loss of social engagement, poorly coordinated gait or trunk movements, severe impairments in expressive and receptive language development, and severe psychomotor retardation. |
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schizophrenia |
A form of psychotic disorder that involves characteristic disturbances in thinking (delusions), perception (hallucinations), speech, emotions, and behaviour. |
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self-stimulatory behaviours |
Repetitive body movements or movements of objects, such as hand flapping or spinning a pencil. |
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theory of mind (ToM) |
The cognition and understanding of mental states that cannot be observed directly, such as beliefs and desires, both in one's self and in others. |
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communication disorders |
A diagnostic term that refers to difficulty producing speech sounds (phonological disorder) or with speech fluency (stuttering); difficulty using spoken language to communicate (expressive language disorder); or difficulty understanding what other people say (mixed expressive-receptive language disorder). |
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decoding |
A skill necessary for reading that involves breaking words down into parts. |
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direct instruction |
An approach to teaching children with learning disorders based on the premise that to improve a skill the instructional activities have to approximate those of the skill being taught. |
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dyslexia |
Disorder of reading not due to low intelligence. |
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expressive language disorder |
A form of communication disorder characterised by deficits in expression despite normal comprehension of speech. |
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inclusion |
The education strategies that are based on the premise that the abilities of children with special needs will improve from associating with normally developing peers and being spared the effects of labelling and special placements. |
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learning disabilities |
A general term that refers to significant problems in mastering one or more of the following skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning, and mathematics. |
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learning disorders |
A diagnostic term that refers to specific problems in reading (disorder of reading), math (disorder of mathematics), or writing ability (disorder of written expression) as determined by achievement test results that are substantially below what would be expected for the child's age, schooling, and intellectual ability. |
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mixed receptive-expressive language disorder |
A form of communication disorder characterised by deficits in expressive language coupled with a difficulty in understanding some aspects of speech (i.e., deficits in receptive language). |
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nonverbal learning disabilities (NLD) |
Learning disabilities characterised by deficits related to right-hemisphere brain functioning, such as problems in social skills, spatial orientation, and problem solving. |
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phonemes |
The basic sounds that make up language. |
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phonological awareness |
A broad construct that includes recognition of the relationship that exists between sounds and letters, detection of rhyme and alliteration, and awareness that sounds can be manipulated within syllables in words. |
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phonological disorder |
A form of communication disorder characterised by difficulties in articulation or sound production, but not necessarily in word expression. |
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phonology |
The ability to learn and store phonemes as well as the rules for combining the sounds into meaningful units or words |
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unexpected discrepancy |
A basic premise of definitions of learning disorders that denotes a disparity or discrepancy between an individual's measured ability and actual performance. |
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chronic illness |
An illness that is long lasting and often irreversible. |
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dyssomnias |
A category of sleep disorders involving difficulties initiating or maintaining sleep. Such disorders are often characterised by problems with getting enough sleep, not sleeping when one wants to, and not feeling refreshed after sleeping. |
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encopresis |
The passage of feces into inappropriate places, such as clothing, whether involuntary or intentional. |
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enuresis |
The passage of urine into inappropriate places, such as clothing, whether involuntary or intentional. |
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insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus |
A lifelong metabolic disorder in which the body is unable to metabolise carbohydrates due to inadequate pancreatic release of insulin. |
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metabolic control |
The degree to which an individual's glucose level is maintained within the normal range (in reference to diabetes mellitus). |
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morbidity |
The various forms of physical and functional consequences and limitations that result from an illness. |
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nightmares |
A form of parasomnia that occurs during REM sleep and is characterised by repeated awakenings with detailed recall of extended and extremely frightening dreams, usually involving threats to survival, security, or self-esteem. |
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parasomnias |
A category of sleep disorders in which behavioural or physiological events intrude on ongoing sleep: unusual behaviours during sleep such as sleepwalking and nightmares. |
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psychological factors affecting physical condition |
Psychological disorders or conditions that are presumed to cause or exacerbate a physical condition. |
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sleep terrors |
A form of parasomnia that occurs during deep sleep and is characterised by abrupt awakening, accompanied by autonomic arousal but no recall. |
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sleepwalking |
A form of parasomnia that occurs during deep sleep, in which the individual gets out of bed and walks around but has no recall of such activity upon awakening. |
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somatoform disorders |
A group of related problems involving physical symptoms that resemble or suggest a medical condition, but lack organic or physiological evidence: somatisation (i.e., expression of feelings through physical symptoms), hypochondriasis (i.e., preoccupation with real or fancied ailments), and pain disorders (e.g., recurring stomach pains). |
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substance abuse |
In contrast to substance dependence, this diagnosis involves one or more harmful and repeated negative consequences of substance use over the last 12 months. |
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substance dependence |
A maladaptive pattern of substance use for at least 12 months, accompanied by three or more significant clinical signs of distress: tolerance (the need for increased amounts to achieve intoxication), withdrawal (cognitive and physiological changes upon discontinuation of the drug), and other indices of compulsive use |
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substance use disorders (SUDs) |
Disorders that occur during adolescence and include substance dependence and substance abuse that result from the self-administration of any substance that alters mood, perception, or brain functioning. |
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anorexia nervosa |
A severe eating disorder characterised by the refusal to maintain a minimally normal body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a significant disturbance in the individual's perception and experiences of his or her own size. |
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binge |
Episode of overeating that involves both excessive amounts of food and a lack of control. |
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binge eating disorder (BED) |
A disorder that involves periods of excessive eating with a feeling of a loss of control. It is similar to bulimia but without the compensatory behaviours and has become increasingly widespread during this age of abundant fast food and obesity. |
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binge-eating/purging type |
A type of anorexia whereby the individual regularly engages in episodes of binge eating or purging, or both. |
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bulimia nervosa |
An eating disorder that involves recurrent episodes of binge eating, followed by an effort to compensate by self-induced vomiting or other means of purging. Individuals are also unduly influenced by body shape and weight, and are obsessed with food. |
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childhood obesity |
A chronic medical condition characterised by an excessive accumulation of body fat relative to gender- and age-based norms. |
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compensatory behaviours |
Behaviour shown by persons suffering from bulimia nervosa to prevent weight gain following a binge episode (eg. self-induced vomiting, fasting, exercising, and the misuse of diuretics, laxatives, enemas, or diet pills.) |
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drive for thinness |
A motivational variable underlying dieting and body image, among young females in particular, whereby the individual believes that losing more weight is the answer to overcoming her troubles and achieving success. |
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Eating Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS) |
A category of eating disorders that includes problems that do not quite fulfill criteria for anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. Now called OSFED |
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failure to thrive |
Characterised by weight below the fifth percentile for age, and/or deceleration in the rate of weight gain from birth to the present of at least 2 standard deviations, using standard growth charts for comparison. |
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feeding disorder of infancy or early childhood |
A disorder characterised by a sudden or marked deceleration of weight gain in an infant or a young child (under age 6) and a slowing or disruption of emotional and social development. Now included in OSFED |
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metabolic rate |
The body's balance of energy expenditure, determined by genetic and physiological makeup, along with eating and exercise habits. |
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pica |
A form of eating disorder in which the infant or toddler persists in eating inedible, nonnutritive substances. This disorder is one of the more common and usually less serious eating disorders found among very young children. |
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purging |
Behaviour aimed at ridding the body of consumed food, including self-induced vomiting and the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas. (Also see compensatory behaviour.) |
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restricting type |
A type of anorexia where the individual uses dieting, fasting, or excessive exercise to lose or avoid gaining weight. During the current episode of anorexia, the person has not engaged in binge-eating or purging behaviour. |
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set point |
A comfortable range of body weight that the body tries to defend and maintain. |
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betrayal |
The degree to which a child feels a perpetrator gained his or her confidence through manipulation and coercion, as well as by the position of trust or authority held by the perpetrator. |
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child maltreatment |
The abuse and neglect of children by parents or by others responsible for their welfare: physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse of persons less than 18 years of age. |
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cycle-of-violence hypothesis |
The repetition of patterns of violent behaviour across generations. For example, persons who are abused as children are more likely to be abusive toward others as adults. |
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dissociation |
An altered state of consciousness in which the individual feels detached from the body or self. This process may be voluntary or involuntary, and can be adaptive when resistance or escape from a life-threatening situation is not possible. |
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educational neglect |
Failure to provide for a child's basic educational needs, including allowing chronic truancy, failing to enroll a child of mandatory school age in school, and failing to attend to a special educational need. |
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emotion regulation |
The processes by which emotional arousal is redirected, controlled, or modified to facilitate adaptive functioning. |
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emotional abuse |
Abusive behaviour that involves acts or omissions by parents or caregivers that cause, or could cause, serious behavioural, cognitive, emotional, or mental disorders. |
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emotional neglect |
Failure to provide for a child's basic emotional needs, including marked inattention to the child's needs for affection, refusal of or failure to provide needed psychological care, spousal abuse in the child's presence, and permission of drug or alcohol use by the child. |
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expectable environment |
External conditions or surroundings that are considered to be fundamental and necessary for healthy development. |
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information-processing disturbances |
Cognitive misperceptions and distortions in the way events are perceived and interpreted. |
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non-accidental trauma |
The wide ranging effects of maltreatment on the child's ongoing physical and emotional development. |
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pedophilia |
Sexual activity or sexually arousing fantasies involving a prepubescent child by someone who is at least 16 years old and at least 5 years older than the child. |
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physical abuse |
The infliction or risk of physical injury as a result of punching, beating, kicking, biting, burning, shaking, or otherwise intentionally harming a child. |
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physical neglect |
Failure to provide for a child's basic physical needs, including refusal of or delay in seeking health care, inadequate provision of food, abandonment, expulsion from the home or refusal to allow a runaway to return home, inadequate supervision, and inadequate provision of clean clothes. |
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relational disorders |
Disorders that occur in the context of relationships, such as child abuse and neglect. They signify the connection between children's behaviour patterns and the availability of a suitable childrearing environment. |
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sexual abuse |
Abusive acts that are sexual in nature, including fondling a child's genitals, intercourse, incest, rape, sodomy, exhibitionism, and commercial exploitation through prostitution or the production of pornographic materials. |
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traumatic sexualisation |
One possible outcome of child sexual abuse, whereby the child's sexual knowledge and behaviour are shaped in developmentally inappropriate ways. |
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victimisation |
Abuse or mistreatment of someone whose ability to protect himself or herself is limited (e.g., the mistreatment of a child by his or her parents). |
