Child Development and Trauma Flashcards

A child who was removed from their home at age 2 and is now age 6 exhibits no distress when separated from or reunited with their foster parent. This pattern is most consistent with which attachment classification?

Answer: Avoidant attachment

Avoidant attachment is characterized by minimal distress on separation and avoidance upon reunion, developed when caregivers are consistently emotionally unavailable or dismissive of the child's needs.

According to Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, the primary developmental task of infancy (0-18 months) is:

Answer: Trust vs. mistrust

Erikson identified trust vs. mistrust as the primary developmental task of infancy; consistent, responsive caregiving builds trust, while neglect or abuse creates mistrust that affects all subsequent development.

Which intervention model specifically addresses complex trauma in children by focusing on trauma processing, safety, and skills development?

Answer: Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

TF-CBT is an evidence-based treatment specifically designed for children with trauma histories, combining trauma processing with skill-building for both the child and a supportive caregiver.

What is the 'window of tolerance' concept and why is it important in working with traumatized children?

Answer: The optimal zone of arousal in which a person can process information effectively; trauma narrows this window

The window of tolerance is the optimal arousal zone for learning and processing; trauma narrows this window, so workers and caregivers must recognize when children are dysregulated and help them return to the optimal zone.

In child welfare, the concept of 'resilience' refers to:

Answer: The capacity to adapt successfully in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, or significant stress

Resilience is the dynamic capacity to adapt successfully in the context of adversity, developed through protective factors including relationships, skills, and community resources—not an innate fixed trait.

When a child in foster care exhibits aggressive behavior at school following a visit with their biological parent, the most likely explanation from a trauma perspective is:

Answer: The visit triggered trauma memories and activated the child's stress response, affecting their emotional regulation

Visits with biological parents frequently trigger trauma responses and attachment-related emotions; the resulting dysregulation often manifests as behavioral difficulties in the hours or days following the visit.