Chapter 11 Flashcards
(49 cards)
Are fatal diseases rare or common during middle childhood?
Rare. Most fatal diseases and accidents occur before age 7
Does the rate of growth slow or increase during middle childhood (ages 6-11)?
Slows down
Muscles become stronger and lung capacity increases
What makes middle childhood one of the healthiest and happiest periods of the lifespan?
Ability to provide self-care and increased brain maturation
Ex: Brushing teeth, making lunch, dressing self, walking to school
Biggest influence on children’s health habits?
Parent example. (Social learning theory). If children see parents care for their own health, children will likely do the same
Note: Childhood stress, diet, and health habits affect physical and mental health in adulthood
Embodied cognition
Human thoughts are affected by body health, comfort, position. This is a newer concept in psychology. A well-functioning body helps kids think
Benefits of physical activity in childhood
Better overall health, less obesity, reduces depression, and improves academic achievement
How does reaction time change in middle childhood? What causes it?
It decreases. It takes LESS time for children to react
Caused by increased myelination.
Reaction time definition
The time it takes to respond to a stimulus physically or cognitively
Selective attention
How does it change in middle childhood?
The ability to concentrate on some stimuli while ignoring others.
Improves during middle childhood. Its important for school, team sports, etc
How has modern life reduced neighborhood play?
Fewer open spaces
Stranger danger
Smaller backyards
Homework
Indoor activities like TV and Videojuegos
Are children getting more or less exercise in school?
The trends say less time for exercise in school
Recess stats
1/3 of U.S. children have less than 15 minutes of recess each day. This may reduce children’s mastery of reading and math
What percentage of children have a chronic illness?
40% of all children have a chronic health condition. Some get worse during middle childhood. It can limit active play and impede regular school attendance
Main causes of overweight and obesity in children?
32% of children and adolescents in the U.S. are overweight.
Causes: Heredity,
Parenting practices (how much play is aloud, how long were they breastfed,
Social influences (school lunch quality, park availability)
What do rates of obesity correlate with?
Exposure to advertising. They try to persuade parents to buy unhealthy food.
Obesity causes more deaths worldwide than malnutrition (undernutrition)
What is asthma? Causes?
Chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways that makes breathing difficult.
Over 16% of children have been diagnosed with asthma at some point
Causes: Epigenetic (nature+nurture) causes
Genetics, Air pollution, Carpets, Pets, Allergens (dust, mold), Hygiene hypothesis
Hygiene hypothesis
A lack of early childhood exposure to infectious agents increases susceptibility to allergic diseases by suppressing the natural development of the immune system.
Developmental psychopathology
The field that uses insights into typical development to understand and remediate developmental disorders. When something isn’t going exactly as it should.
General principles that guide our understanding of mental health and developmental differences?
Abnormality is normal
Disability changes year by year
Disability may be better or worse after puberty
Aptitude test
Aptitude: Potential to master a particular skill or body of knowledge.
So, an aptitude test measures potential (of mastery)
Achievement test
A measurement of what you already know.
Ex: A child development test
I.Q.
A measure of mental age divided by chronological age. (tests designed to measure intellectual aptitude)
Average I.Q. range?
85-115
Criticisms of I.Q. testing
Intellectual potential changes over the lifespan
Does not predict success well
Every test score reflects the culture of the people who write, administer, and take it
