Developmental Perspective
• children with psychological disorders vary
in symptoms and causes
• But all have experienced some problem in
development
Assumptions:
• Developmental processes are important
• Context is important
• Multiple factors interact in shaping
adaptive and maladaptive development
− i.e. causal factors are COMPLEX
Developmental Pathways
• Refers to the sequence and timing of
behaviors, and the relationship between
them over time
• Two types of developmental pathways:
− multifinality: similar early experiences
lead to different outcomes
− equifinality: different early experiences
lead to a similar outcome
Developmental Pathways
(cont.)
Figure 1.1 (a) Multifinality: Similar early experiences lead to different outcomes; (b)
Equifinality: Different factors lead to a similar outcome
A general developmental framework
1. Biological context – organic influences
2. Individual context – variables within the person
3. Family context – parent/child relationships,
family system, parenting strategies, etc.
4. Social context – broad social relationships
e.g. peer relationships, school
5. Cultural context – larger social and cultural
factors
e.g. social class, ethnicity, nationality, etc.
• Insert developmental framework picture
here
What is the first question to ask?
• vignettes
Developmental psychopathology
symptom
normality
pathology
enuresis
3 years
8 years
separation
anxiety
8-24 months
5 years
negativism
2 years
7 years
inability to
3 years
complete tasks
10 years
Domains of development
Biological
Genetics – interactions between genes
and environment
“niche-picking” – children increasingly
shape their own environments
temperament types
“goodness of fit” – meshing of
temperament & demands of the
environment
Domains of Development cont’
Cognitive
magical thinking
e.g. play shark/am a shark?
understanding of causality
cognitive distortions
Domains of Development cont’
Emotional Development
emotion expression – influenced by
caregivers
social referencing – a way to judge
meaning
emotion understanding
emotional regulation
Domains of Development cont’
Attachment
patterns of attachment – quality of
caregive/infant relationship
secure
insecure – ambivalent (resistant)
- avoidant
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Thought Questions related to
development
1. How do you think family and social
influences change over the course of
development?
2. What is your opinion of the macro model
presented? Is there anything missing
from the model or anything that you
might remove?
Readings