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Psych 230 (Developmental Psychology)

Terms in this set (22)

Myelination
the process by which axons become coated with myelin, a fatty substance that speeds the transmission of nerve impulses from neuron to neuron
Corpus callosum
a long, thick band of nerve fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain and allows communication between them.
Laterization
literally, sidedness, referring to the specialization in certain functions by each side of the brain, with one side dominant for each activity. The left side of the brain controls the right side of the body, and vice versa.
impulse control
the ability to postpone or deny the immediate response to an idea or behavior.
Perseveration
the tendency to persevere in, or stick to, one thought or action for a long time.
amygdala
a tiny brain structure that registers emotions, particularly fear and anxiety.
Hippocampus
a brain structure that is a central processor of memory, especially memory for locations.
hypothalamus
a brain area that responds to the amygdala and the hippocampus to produce hormones that activate other parts of the brain and body.
injury control/harm reduction
practices that are aimed at anticipating, controlling, and preventing dangerous activities; these practices reflect the beliefs that accidents are not random and that injuries can be made less harmful if proper controls are in place
primary prevention
actions that change overall background conditions to prevent some unwanted event or circumstance, such as injury, disease, or abuse
secondary prevention
actions that avert harm in a high-risk situation, such as stopping a car before it hits a pedestrian
tertiary prevention
actions, such as immediate and effective medical treatment, that are taken after an adverse event (such as illness or injury) and that are aimed at reducing harm or preventing disability.
child maltreatment
intentional harm to or avoidable endangerment of anyone under 18 years of age.
child abuse
deliberate action that is harmful to a child's physical, emotional, or sexual well-being.
child neglect
failure to meet a child's basic physical, educational, or emotional needs
substantiated maltreatment
harm or endangerment that has been reported, investigated, and verified
reported maltreatment
harm or endangerment about which someone has notified the authorities.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
an anxiety disorder that develops as a delayed reaction to having experienced or witnessed a profoundly shocking or frightening event. such as rape, severe beating, war, or natural disaster. Its symptoms may include flashbacks to the event, hyperactivity and hypervigilance, displaced anger, sleeplessness, nightmares, sudden terror or anxiety, and confusion between fantasy and reality.
Permanency planning
an effort by child-welfare authorities to find a long-term living situation that will provide stability and support for a maltreated child. A goal is to avoid repeated changes of caregiver or school, which can be particularly harmful to the child
foster care
a legal, publicly supported system in which a maltreated child is removed from the parents' custody and entrusted to another adult of family, which is reimbursed for expenses incurred in meeting the child's needs.
kinship care
a form of foster care in which a relative of a maltreated child, usually a grandparent, becomes the approved caregiver
adoption
a legal proceeding in which an adult or couple is granted the joys and obligations of being that child's parent(s)
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