RPT Child Development & Psychopathology 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to Piaget, a child in the preoperational stage who believes the moon follows them as they walk is demonstrating which cognitive characteristic?
- Centration
- Egocentrism (Correct answer)
- Animism
- Irreversibility
Correct answer: Egocentrism
Egocentrism in the preoperational stage causes children to interpret environmental events as revolving around themselves.
Question 2: A 4-year-old child diagnosed with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) would most likely demonstrate which pattern of behavior in play therapy?
- Overly imaginative and cooperative play
- Indiscriminate sociability with strangers (Correct answer)
- Persistent refusal to engage with any adult
- Intense separation anxiety with the primary caregiver
Correct answer: Indiscriminate sociability with strangers
The disinhibited type of RAD is characterized by indiscriminate sociability and lack of appropriate attachment behaviors with unfamiliar adults.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes 'object permanence' and the age at which it is typically fully consolidated?
- Understanding that objects exist when out of sight, consolidated by 18–24 months (Correct answer)
- Understanding that objects have fixed properties, consolidated by 36 months
- Understanding that symbols represent objects, consolidated by 12 months
- Understanding that objects can be shared, consolidated by 48 months
Correct answer: Understanding that objects exist when out of sight, consolidated by 18–24 months
Object permanence — knowing an object exists even when not visible — is fully consolidated around 18–24 months according to Piaget.
Question 4: In DSM-5, which specifier is used for ADHD when significant symptoms are present but full criteria are not met?
- ADHD, Partial Remission
- ADHD, Other Specified (Correct answer)
- ADHD, Unspecified
- ADHD, Subclinical Presentation
Correct answer: ADHD, Other Specified
'Other Specified ADHD' is used when the clinician communicates the reason criteria are not fully met but significant impairment is present.
Question 5: A school-age child repeatedly washes their hands 20+ times daily due to fears of contamination, causing significant academic impairment. The play therapist should consider which primary diagnosis?
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Specific Phobia
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (Correct answer)
- Illness Anxiety Disorder
Correct answer: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Repetitive compulsive behaviors driven by obsessional fears of contamination, causing functional impairment, are hallmark features of OCD.
Question 6: Vygotsky's concept of the 'Zone of Proximal Development' (ZPD) is most directly applicable to play therapy in which way?
- Children should only engage in play that reflects their current developmental level
- A skilled therapist can scaffold experiences that move a child toward new developmental capacities (Correct answer)
- Play should be entirely child-directed without adult interference
- Developmental milestones are fixed and cannot be accelerated through intervention
Correct answer: A skilled therapist can scaffold experiences that move a child toward new developmental capacities
The ZPD describes the gap between what a child can do alone and with guidance, supporting therapeutic scaffolding in play.
Question 7: Which attachment pattern, identified by Mary Main, involves contradictory behaviors such as approaching the caregiver while turning away, and is associated with trauma or frightening parenting?
- Anxious-Ambivalent
- Avoidant
- Disorganized/Disoriented (Correct answer)
- Secure
Correct answer: Disorganized/Disoriented
Disorganized attachment involves contradictory, disoriented behaviors and is linked to frightened or frightening caregiving.
RPT Child Development & Psychopathology 2
According to Piaget, a child in the preoperational stage who believes the moon follows them as they walk is demonstrating which cognitive characteristic?