Child Development: Understanding Cognitive, Physical & Social Growth
Child Development
Tenets of Development
- Development depends on heredity and the environment.
- Development proceeds in a relatively orderly and predictable manner.
- Children develop at different rates.
- Factors influencing human intellectual development include: Experience, Learning, and Maturation.
Putting Piaget’s Theory into Perspective
- The stages that affect all types of tasks aren’t universally valid.
- Piaget underestimated the abilities of young children.
- He overestimated the abilities of older learners.
Understanding the Dynamics of Violent Youth and Serial Murderers
The Violent Youth: Enhancer Elements
The most representative and relevant characteristics of young people exhibiting violent behaviors include a plurality of elements constituting this type of behavior. Violent behavior can be seen as a three-step process, where anger (an emotion) is the first step, hostility (an attitude) is the second, and assault (a violent action to harm another) is the last. Violent behavior must be viewed from an interactive perspective, with different elements involved.
This
Read MoreUnderstanding Personality, Disorders & Mental Health
Personality, Temperament & Character
What is Personality?
Personality is the combination of temperament and character, forming a unique set of psychological characteristics that influence our actions.
Temperament
Temperament is our biological inheritance, representing the influence of our physical nature. It is considered difficult to change or modify.
Character
Character encompasses characteristics acquired during our growth and development. It involves a degree of conformity to social norms.
Structure
Read MoreRisk Factors & Protection in Victims of Terrorism & Sexual Assault
Risk Factors and Protection in Victims of Terrorism
Nature and Intensity of the Traumatic Event
The occurrence and severity of psychopathological consequences of an attack are directly related to the nature and intensity of the traumatic event. Terrorist acts that pose an immediate, sudden, and violent threat to life and physical integrity, and are unexpected, leaving the individual unprepared, have greater potential for harm. Examples include bombings or shootings at close range.
Factors of the Subject’
Read MoreUnderstanding Social Influence: Conformity, Persuasion, and Group Dynamics
Social Influence: An Overview
Social influence is the process where individuals or groups attempt to change the thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and actions of others. There are three main types:
Types of Social Influence
1. Interpersonal Influence
This involves face-to-face communication, reciprocal influence, and typically occurs in small groups, such as a couple’s relationship.
2. Persuasion
Persuasion happens when a communicator tries to influence a target audience. This communication is often one-
Read MoreUnderstanding Learning Disabilities: Assessment and Diagnosis
Informal Assessment: Interviews and Questionnaires
Interviews and questionnaires offer valuable insights as a form of informal assessment. A model interview proposed by Houck and Geller includes the following:
- Identification of the Subject: Gathering basic information about the individual.
- Opinions on School Activity: Understanding the individual’s perspective on their educational experiences.
- Development of Programs for Special Needs Education: Exploring the need for and potential components of individualized