I. What is Developmental Psychopathology?
A. Developmental psychopathology- the study of
the origins and the course of individual patterns of behavioral maladaptation.
1. Looks at the factors
leading to the development, onset, and course of maladaptive behavior.
2. Usually focuses
on individual differences
3. Behavioral maladaptation
is emphasized
4. Focuses on adaptive
behavior as well
B. Psychopathological disorders-
1. Deviations from age
appropriate norms
2. Exaggerations of normal
developmental events
3. Behaviors that interfere
with the normal developmental process
C. The Developmental Perspective
1. Developmental Pathways-
paths that lead to certain developmental outcomes
2. Continuity and Discontinuity
a. In the context of pathways
b. In the context of disorders and development
D. Questions asked by those in the field of developmental
psychopathology
1. Which pathways lead
to similar outcomes?
2. Given a particular
pathway, what will the variations in outcome be?
3. What factors determine
the choice that an individual makes to follow a particular pathway?
4. What factors determine
whether or not a child continues on a particular pathway or is deflected
from that pathway?
5. When does deviation
from a particular pathway become less an less likely?