SLK 310 Chapter 1
Erin Polyblank (U23544806)
INTRO TO NORMAL AND ABNORMAL
BEHAVIOUR IN CHILDREN AND
ADOLECSENTS
Research studies in abnormal child psychology seek to address:
o Defining what constitutes normal and abnormal behaviour for children of
different ages, sexes, and ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
What may be normal for one age may not be normal for another (It
is age dependent).
o Identify the causes and correlates of abnormal behaviour.
The nature of the disorder and how it will change over time.
Look at the nature of their environment.
o Make predictions about long term outcomes.
o Develop and evaluate methods for treatment and/or prevention.
How to prevent the psychological disorders.
If development of a disorder, how does one treat it.
Are these treatments actually based on research and is it
working for those specific disorders
Assign a diagnostic label as to ensure the correct treatment and
what the life of the person will often look like in the future.
FEATURES THAT DISTINGUISH CHILD AND ADOLESCENT DISORDER
(FROM ADULTS)
Children don’t often seek help themselves thus they are often noticed by
adult figures like teachers and therapists.
Many children and adolescents’ problems
o Involves a failure to show expected developmental progress.
Children are expected to show certain goals by specific times that will
show their development thus if they are not showing these then there
may be a problem at hand.
Around 2 years old children are potty trained thus if a child at 5
years old is continuously wetting themselves it then shows that
there is a decline or lack of development. (Regression)
o Are not totally abnormal.
1
,SLK 310 Chapter 1
Erin Polyblank (U23544806)
Often do not have issues developmentally, rather it is a
result/reaction to familial problems.
All children will show some sort of psychological distress or abnormal
behaviour, but it evident that this does not mean that they hold
psychological issues/disorders.
Is it a constellation of issues or is its normal behaviour.
Interventions for children and adolescents are often intended to promote
further development.
o Foundations are set here
o Interventions should attempt to correct the foundations that are impacted
in order to ensure that the child will be able to continue their
development.
Treatment must alleviate symptoms of issues but also attempt to
realign their mental and developmental trajectory.
HISTORICAL VIEWS AND BREAKTHROUGHS
Early writings suggest that children were considered servants of the state in
the city-states of early Greece.
Ancient Greek and roman societies believed that any person with a physical
or mental handicap, disability, or deformity was an economic burden and
social embarrassment.
o They would be abandoned or put to death.
Prior to the 18th century, children’s mental health problems were seldom
mentioned.
o The church used its strong influence on attribute children’s unusual or
disturbing behaviours to their inherently uncivilized and provocative
nature.
o At this time, possession by the devil was the only explanation accepted
by people.
THE EMERGENCE OF SOCIAL CONSCIENCE
Until very recent changes in laws and attitudes, children (as well as women,
members of minority groups and those with special needs) were often the last
to benefit from society’s prosperity and were primary victims of its
shortcomings.
2
, SLK 310 Chapter 1
Erin Polyblank (U23544806)
o Before any meaningful change occurs, it requires a philosophy of humane
understanding in how society recognizes and addresses the needs of
some of its members.
Each society must develop ways and means to recognise and protect
the rights of individuals.
In western society, social conscience first occurred in the 17 th century.
o John Locke (1632-1704) believed in individual rights and expressed
that children should be raised with thought and care instead of
indifference and harsh treatment.
Locke saw children as emotionally sensitive beings who should be
treated with kindness and understanding, while being given proper
educational opportunities.
There was a turn in the 19th century with the first documented efforts to work
with a special child was undertaken by Jean Marc Itard (1774-1838).
o This undertaking launched a new era of a helping orientation toward
special children, which focused on the care and treatment of the ‘mental
defectives’.
Psychologists such as Leta Hollingworth (1886-1939) argued that many
mentally defective children were actually suffering from emotional and
behavioural problems due to inept treatment by adults and a lack of proper
intellectual challenge.
o This resulted in the distinction between people with intellectual disability
(Imbeciles) and those with psychiatric or mental disorders (Lunatics)
Benjamin Rush (1745-1813) argued that children were incapable of true
adult-like insanity, because the immaturity of their developing brains
prevented them from retaining the mental events that caused insanity.
o The term ‘moral insanity was created as a means of accounting for
nonintellectual forms of abnormal child behaviour.
Dorothea Dix (1802-1887) established 32 humane mental hospitals for the
treatment of troubled youths who were previously relegated to cages and
cellars.
Early efforts to assist children provided the foundation for evolving views of
abnormal child behaviours as the result of combinations of biological,
environmental, psychological and cultural influences.
3
Erin Polyblank (U23544806)
INTRO TO NORMAL AND ABNORMAL
BEHAVIOUR IN CHILDREN AND
ADOLECSENTS
Research studies in abnormal child psychology seek to address:
o Defining what constitutes normal and abnormal behaviour for children of
different ages, sexes, and ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
What may be normal for one age may not be normal for another (It
is age dependent).
o Identify the causes and correlates of abnormal behaviour.
The nature of the disorder and how it will change over time.
Look at the nature of their environment.
o Make predictions about long term outcomes.
o Develop and evaluate methods for treatment and/or prevention.
How to prevent the psychological disorders.
If development of a disorder, how does one treat it.
Are these treatments actually based on research and is it
working for those specific disorders
Assign a diagnostic label as to ensure the correct treatment and
what the life of the person will often look like in the future.
FEATURES THAT DISTINGUISH CHILD AND ADOLESCENT DISORDER
(FROM ADULTS)
Children don’t often seek help themselves thus they are often noticed by
adult figures like teachers and therapists.
Many children and adolescents’ problems
o Involves a failure to show expected developmental progress.
Children are expected to show certain goals by specific times that will
show their development thus if they are not showing these then there
may be a problem at hand.
Around 2 years old children are potty trained thus if a child at 5
years old is continuously wetting themselves it then shows that
there is a decline or lack of development. (Regression)
o Are not totally abnormal.
1
,SLK 310 Chapter 1
Erin Polyblank (U23544806)
Often do not have issues developmentally, rather it is a
result/reaction to familial problems.
All children will show some sort of psychological distress or abnormal
behaviour, but it evident that this does not mean that they hold
psychological issues/disorders.
Is it a constellation of issues or is its normal behaviour.
Interventions for children and adolescents are often intended to promote
further development.
o Foundations are set here
o Interventions should attempt to correct the foundations that are impacted
in order to ensure that the child will be able to continue their
development.
Treatment must alleviate symptoms of issues but also attempt to
realign their mental and developmental trajectory.
HISTORICAL VIEWS AND BREAKTHROUGHS
Early writings suggest that children were considered servants of the state in
the city-states of early Greece.
Ancient Greek and roman societies believed that any person with a physical
or mental handicap, disability, or deformity was an economic burden and
social embarrassment.
o They would be abandoned or put to death.
Prior to the 18th century, children’s mental health problems were seldom
mentioned.
o The church used its strong influence on attribute children’s unusual or
disturbing behaviours to their inherently uncivilized and provocative
nature.
o At this time, possession by the devil was the only explanation accepted
by people.
THE EMERGENCE OF SOCIAL CONSCIENCE
Until very recent changes in laws and attitudes, children (as well as women,
members of minority groups and those with special needs) were often the last
to benefit from society’s prosperity and were primary victims of its
shortcomings.
2
, SLK 310 Chapter 1
Erin Polyblank (U23544806)
o Before any meaningful change occurs, it requires a philosophy of humane
understanding in how society recognizes and addresses the needs of
some of its members.
Each society must develop ways and means to recognise and protect
the rights of individuals.
In western society, social conscience first occurred in the 17 th century.
o John Locke (1632-1704) believed in individual rights and expressed
that children should be raised with thought and care instead of
indifference and harsh treatment.
Locke saw children as emotionally sensitive beings who should be
treated with kindness and understanding, while being given proper
educational opportunities.
There was a turn in the 19th century with the first documented efforts to work
with a special child was undertaken by Jean Marc Itard (1774-1838).
o This undertaking launched a new era of a helping orientation toward
special children, which focused on the care and treatment of the ‘mental
defectives’.
Psychologists such as Leta Hollingworth (1886-1939) argued that many
mentally defective children were actually suffering from emotional and
behavioural problems due to inept treatment by adults and a lack of proper
intellectual challenge.
o This resulted in the distinction between people with intellectual disability
(Imbeciles) and those with psychiatric or mental disorders (Lunatics)
Benjamin Rush (1745-1813) argued that children were incapable of true
adult-like insanity, because the immaturity of their developing brains
prevented them from retaining the mental events that caused insanity.
o The term ‘moral insanity was created as a means of accounting for
nonintellectual forms of abnormal child behaviour.
Dorothea Dix (1802-1887) established 32 humane mental hospitals for the
treatment of troubled youths who were previously relegated to cages and
cellars.
Early efforts to assist children provided the foundation for evolving views of
abnormal child behaviours as the result of combinations of biological,
environmental, psychological and cultural influences.
3
