Key principles of developmental psychopathology

Question 1

What is multi-finality?

Answer 1

The same starting point or cause can lead to multiple different outcomes.

Real world ex:
Early childhood maltreatment >
- eating disorders
- mood disorders
- conduct disorder
- no disorder at all

Question 2

What is equifinality?

Answer 2

Different starting points or causes can lead to the same outcome.

Real world ex:
Genes >
Parental fighting >
Poverty >
= conduct disorder

Question 3

Where do equifinality and multi-finality start?

Answer 3

Before birth.

Ex. Earthquake in Tangshan, China
Equifinality- Multiple types of prenatal adversity (e.g., earthquake stress, malnutrition, maternal illness) could all lead to similar negative adult outcomes, such as lower socioeconomic status or health problems.
Multifinality- The same prenatal exposure (e.g., being in utero during the Tangshan earthquake) could lead to a variety of adult outcomes: some individuals might develop health or economic problems, while others might not.

Question 4

What is the fetal programming hypothesis?

Answer 4

Environmental conditions and exposures during critical periods of fetal development can have long-lasting effects on baby.

When we are stressed we secrete steroid hormones called glucocorticoids >

They pass through placenta and can affect the developing fetal brain >

= abnormal secretion of glucocorticoids correlates with a wide range of mental disorders

Question 5

What are risk factors?

Answer 5

Risk factors increase the likelihood of negative outcomes for children.

Question 6

What are protective factors?

Answer 6

Protective factors are characteristics that increase the likelihood of resiliency despite hardship.

Ex. Child temperament, intelligence, family cohesion, community, society