LECTURE 2
Systematic Observational Methods:
1. Tally
(Frequency Count)
Operational Definition:
Defining the behavior in terms of observable
events
Aggression:
· Any
non-verbal physical contact
(Is this a good operational
definition?)
Hitting:
· Close
fisted contact by the child against another person, animal, or inanimate
object. Contact is made quickly and is not prolonged. Each time fist is
extended, contacts, and is withdrawn counts as one hit
Slapping:
· Same
definition as hitting, except open-handed instead of close-fisted
Shoving:
· Simultaneously
placing two open hands against person or object for longer than a slap, and
exerting force in an attempt to displace the location of the object
Observation of Aggression
(you will need to come to class to see
this slide)
Obnoxious Behaviors of Normal Child:
- 2 yr. olds: 1.00
response per minute
- 3 yr. olds: .87
response per minute
- 4 yr. olds: .75
response per minute
- 5 yr. olds: .50
response per minute
Girls' Social Interaction & Ritalin
(you will need to come to
class to see these slides)
How to Treat Children with ADHD:
- Drug therapy
(Ritalin), plus
- Behavioral therapy
(programs designed to teach task focus and impulse control), plus
- Parent training
Operational Definitions:
- "Terrible
attitude"
- Intelligence
- Anxiety
Colic:
· Inconsolable
crying for which no physical cause can be found, which lasts for more than
three hours day, occurs at least three days a week or more, and continues for
at least three weeks
Systematic Observational Methods (Cont):
2. Duration
3. Interval
Aggressive Behaviors & Time of Day
(you will need to come to
class to see these slides)
Aggression:
- Stable across settings
(50% chance of home and school reports coinciding)
- Stable across time
(continuity extends into adulthood)
- Usually emerges quite
early (by age 8)
- "High
variety" children most at risk
Undercontrolled Disorders:
- Childhood behavior
problems that involve "externalizing", i.e., acting out
difficulties in ways that disturb other people
- Examples: ADHD,
aggression, conduct disorder (persistant antisocial behavior)
Overcontrolled Disorders:
- Childhood behavior
problems that involve "internalizing" difficulties in ways
that cause inner distress
- Examples: depression,
anxiety, phobias, severe shyness and social withdrawal
Do Childhood Behavior Problems Persist?
- Overall, there is
more discontinuity than continuity in childhood behavior problems
- That is, most
children with "at risk" temperaments do not have
diagnosable problems as adults
- However, there is
continuity in many individuals for autism, ADHD, major depression, and
antisocial behavior
- Moreover,
undercontrolled children at age 3 (described as irritable, impulsive,
rough) are more likely than other children to become antisocial adults
with criminal records
- Overcontrolled,
inhibited children at age 3 (described as shy, anxious, easily upset)
are more likely as adults to be diagnosed as depressed (but not anxious)
What Causes Childhood
Disorders?
- Research shows that
children with psychological disorders often come from problem-ridden families
- They are more likely
to have parents who are disturbed themselves
- Poor parenting is
also implicated: children with behavior problems are more likely to have
hostile or rejecting parents
But
is "poor parenting" the only explanation?
Many
childhood disorders are partially genetic, and may be the cause, as well as
the effect, of problems in the parent/child relationship
How Are Childhood Disorders Best Treated?
- Psychotherapy works
at least as well with children as it does with adults
- Undercontrolled,
externalizing problems are just as responsive as overcontrolled,
internalizing problems
- Behavioral therapies
(e.g. reinforcement, modeling) are more effective than nonbehavioral
("talking") therapies
END
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