Psychology 2042A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 12: Acute Stress Reaction, Child Neglect, Major Trauma
30 Apr 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Chapter 12- Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders:
• Childhood trauma has pot undermine healthy child dev and cause many forms abnorm
child dev- about 1 in 4 youths report some form major trauma before 16
• Traumatic events- exposure actual/ threatened harm/ fear of death/ injury and are
considered uncommon or extreme stressors (wide-ranging)
• Stressful events- typ more common and less extreme than traumatic events= may be
single event (parental divorce/ breakup)/ may involve multiple or ongoing stressful sits/
events
• Many traumatic and stressful events don’t lead mental health disorder, can affect ongoing
dev processes in insidious and disruptive ways
• Trauma and stressor-related disorders new cat DSM-5 includes Acute Stress Disorder,
Adjustment disorder and PTSD (classified anxiety disorders past DSMs)
• Also includes Reactive Attachment Disorder and Disinhibited Social Engagement
Disorder
• Have direct/ indirect exposure to acute/ chronic stressors/ catastrophic events in common,
which may consist of multiple events over time, such as child maltreatment
• Child maltreatment- generic term refers 4 primary acts: physical abuse, neglect, sexual
abuse and psych abuse (many forms and doesn’t discriminate= applied all)
• Creation in winter 1874 of New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children,
as citizens discovered animals protected from mistreatment but kids not
• Took another 100 years pass legislation clearly defined and mandated reporting of child
abuse and neglect, finally launching new efforts ident and assist abused and neglected
children in NA- despite efforts, child abuse and neglect remain one most common causes
trauma and stressor-rel disorders across lifespan
• NA, before reach adulthood 1 in 10 kids exp some form sexual victimization by adult/
peer and 1 in 10 receives physical punishment by parent/ other caregiver harsh enough to
put child at risk injury/ harm
• Each day in US more than 5 kids- most under 4- die at hands parents/ caregivers
• Most show profound changes in mood, arousal/ behav immed after events- may recover/
manage cope eff, about 1/3 go on to dev symptoms PTSD/ other mental disorders affect
daily lives
• Violence against children and other fam membs used be considered fam matter and sig
neg effects cont poorly acknowledged= occurs many forms and wax and wane in cyclical
manner creates tension, uncertainty and fear in kids, forcing them to cope w harsh
realities and fearful demandsjkl
• Considerable psych impact b/c often occur within ongoing relationships exp be
protective, supportive and nurturing- grow up in envs fail provide consistent and approp
opp guide dev, instead placed in jeopardy physical and emotional harm
• Yet ties to fams- even to abuser- v imp, so child victims may feel torn b/w sense
belonging and sense fear and apprehension
• Kids dependent people harm/ neglect them, face other paradoxical dilemmas as well:
o Victim not only wants to stop violence but also belong to a fam
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
o Affection and attention may coexist w violence and abuse- hopeful abuse not
recur
o Intensity of violence tends to increase over time, although in some cases physical
violence may decrease/ even stop altogether- type abuse can vary but adult’s
abuse power and control remains central issue
History and family context:
• Gens children viewed exclusive property and resp fathers, who had full discretion how
punishment could be admin- right unchallenged any countermovement seek more
humane treatment kids until recog abuse Mary Ellen exp just 140 years ago
• 2 major cult trads infl position until recently: absolute auth over fam by husband and
right fam privacy
• Parents legally allowed punish kids using moderate and reasonable chastisement-
centuries since, been up to courts various countries det what= moderate and reasonable
• Many socs still adhere view kids personal property be managed however parent wishes
• Part past 30 years, legal system’s resp shifted condemn behav throughout most Western
world- UN Conv Rights Child spurred efforts value rights and needs kids and recog
exploitation and abuse many dev countries
• 42 countries est off gov policy regarding child abuse and neglect and 1/3 pop included
various countries conduct annual count child abuse and neglect cases
Healthy families:
• Fam relations earliest and most enduring social relationships sig affect child’s
competence, resilience and sense well-being
• Ill-prep vital and challenging role being parents may rely heavily on child-rearing
methods from own childhood w/o q/ modifying methods- may perpetuate undesirable
child-rearing methods such as physical coercion, verbal threats and neglect child’s needs
• Healthy dev, need caregiving env balances need control and direction/ demandingness w
need stimulation and sensitivity/ responsiveness
• Healthy patterns depend not only on parental competence and dev sensitivity, but also
fam circs and avail comm resources, such as edu and child-rearing info, as well social
networks and supports
• Fam sit itself including marital relationship and child’s characteristics provides basic
context child-rearing
• Expectable env- requires protective and nurturing adults, as well as opp socialization
within a cult (younger) and older= supportive fam, contact peers and ample opp explore
and master env
• Resp parenting involves gradual shifting control from parent to child and comm- healthy
fams learn move gradually from nearly complete parental control, shared control, to
child’s growing self-control and eventual indep as adult (rarely smooth)
Continuum of care:
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
• Dif cult values, comm stands and personal experiences make one person’s abuse another
person’s discipline/ edu
• Competent parents encourage child’s dev in variety ways and match their demands and
expectations to child’s needs and abilities- discipline can be dif and often requires such
firm control, w accompanying verbal statements and affect
• Poor/dysfunct actions rep greater degrees irresp and harmful child care- show any
discernable degree actions toward child often need instruction and assistance effective
child care methods
• Parents violate child’s basic needs and dep status in physically, sexually/ emotionally
intrusive/ abusive manner- failure respond needs cornerstone neglect (pg. 404)
Trauma, stress and maltreatment: Defining features:
• DSM-5 considers some forms child stress and maltreatment under category “other conds
may be focus of clinical attention”- may need to be noted ensure proper treatment
Trauma and stress:
• Trauma and stressful exps in childhood/ adolescence may involve actual/ threatened
death or injury/ threat to one’s physical integrity
• Kids exposed chronic/ severe stressors, such as major accidents, nat disasters,
kidnapping, brutal physical assaults, war and violence/ sexual abuse elevated risk PTSD
• Need to understand how affect kids mental health and more imp find eff ways helping
child victims of such atrocities
• Child witnesses abuse and violence in home/ comm exposed traumatic events pose high
risk to dev
• Younger exposure= fearful and often show regressive and somatic signs distress and
older boys tend more agg peers and dating partners and girls more passive, withdrawn,
low SE
• Less extreme, non-life-threatening forms stressful exps childhood/ adolescence common
and most don’t lead enduring harm/ disorders- changing school, divorce, medical probs,
peer conflict
• Tend exp stress patterns sim adults and during school year even higher than adults=
overwhelmed, dep/sad
How stress affects children:
• Nature and amount of stress is manageable (don’t exceed coping skills)- mild, predictable
and brief usually manageable and can enhance bio and psych comp
• Signs stress appear, increased illness, symp fear and anxiety and probs w peers/ school
• Stressful events fam/ immed env affect each child dif and unique ways- certain sits
trigger more intense and chronic reactions and carry more severe consequences others
• Early, chronic stress challenges dev bio and social dev, infl multiple neurobio changes
effort adapt- chronically aroused stressful env mobilize bio responses= point overload
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Adjustment disorder and ptsd (classified anxiety disorders past dsms: also includes reactive attachment disorder and disinhibited social engagement. Healthy families: fam relations earliest and most enduring social relationships sig affect child"s competence, resilience and sense well-being. Trauma, stress and maltreatment: defining features: dsm-5 considers some forms child stress and maltreatment under category other conds may be focus of clinical attention - may need to be noted ensure proper treatment. Includes destabilizing and compensatory actors infl likelihood abuse/ neglect neg/ positive way. Causes and treatment: other than bio vuls, unknown what factors might cause one neglected child dev rad vs. Dsed- rad typ recover once secure, stable env, those w dsed improve but may show more lasting difs. Se concerning sexuality: may become less capable ident risky sits/ persons/ knowing how respond unwanted sexual/ physical attention- more likely fall victim further trauma and violence.
