PSYC 3140 Chapter Notes -Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Low Birth Weight, Conduct Disorder
13 Apr 2013
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Document Summary
More than 1/3 of all children suffer from a significant emotional or behavioural disorder by the time they are 16. Nurture: psychological symptoms and disorders are linked to major stressors in their environment. 12. 5% of children live below the poverty line: most children who face one stressor face several stressors; e. g. , victims of violence, illicit drug use, engage in unprotected sex, and face racial/ethnic discrimination and harassment. More stressors = more likely to experience severe psychological symptoms. Most children who face major stressors don"t develop severe psychological symptoms or disorders (resilient children). Having at least one healthy, competent adult to rely on seems to help. Nature: many children do not have major stressors in their lives to link to their disorders. Many psychological disorders are a result of nature and nurture (biological predispositions x environmental stressors). Childhood disorders = developmental psychopathology: when children"s behaviours cross the line into unusual or abnormal.
