Child Development & Trauma Impact Flashcards

Which developmental window is most critical for the formation of secure attachment, according to attachment theory?

Answer: The first 12–18 months of life

Bowlby's attachment theory identifies the first 12–18 months as the primary sensitive period when caregiver responsiveness shapes the child's internal working model.

A 4-year-old who witnessed domestic violence begins wetting the bed again after being dry for a year. This is best described as:

Answer: Trauma-related regression

Regression to earlier developmental stages (e.g., enuresis) is a common trauma response in young children as the nervous system attempts to cope with overwhelming stress.

Which brain structure is primarily responsible for detecting threat and triggering the fear response in traumatized children?

Answer: Amygdala

The amygdala acts as the brain's alarm system and becomes hyperactive in children with chronic trauma exposure, lowering the threshold for perceived danger.

Erik Erikson's stage 'Initiative vs. Guilt' occurs during which age range and is most vulnerable to disruption by trauma?

Answer: 3–6 years

Erikson's third stage (Initiative vs. Guilt) spans ages 3–6; trauma during this period can produce excessive shame and restrict the child's sense of agency and exploration.

What is 'toxic stress' in the context of child development?

Answer: Strong, frequent, prolonged activation of stress systems without adequate adult support

Toxic stress refers to intense, repeated, or chronic adversity that activates the HPA axis without buffering from caring adults, disrupting brain architecture and organ systems.

A school-age child with a trauma history avoids all group activities and prefers to sit alone. From a developmental lens, which domain is most directly impacted?

Answer: Social-emotional development

Trauma frequently disrupts social-emotional development by impairing trust, emotional regulation, and the capacity to relate safely to peers.

Which of the following is a hallmark sign of disorganized attachment resulting from early trauma or abuse?

Answer: Approaching and simultaneously fearing the caregiver

Disorganized attachment arises when the caregiver is both the source of fear and the expected source of comfort, producing approach-avoidance conflict in the child.