MCCCD Official Course Competencies:

PSY241  19954-19975

Understanding and Changing Behavior in Children

1.

Identify and compare and contrast major theories in child development with implications for understanding and changing children's behavior. (I)

2.

Discuss multicultural issues impacting communication, observation, and education of children. (II)

3.

Analyze and explain how various environmental factors impact socialization. (II)

4.

Demonstrate effective communication techniques for children from a variety of cultures. (II)

5.

Distinguish among pre-natal, congenital and genetic influences. (III)

6.

Summarize various temperaments and the behaviors associated with each (i.e. "easy," "difficult," "slow to warm.") (III)

7.

Discuss issues related to "goodness of fit" of caregiver and child temperament. (III)

8.

Analyze individual differences in personality as they impact understanding and changing behaviors of children (III)

9.

List various causes and treatments of congenital defects and defects related to poor prenatal care which impact children's behavior (III)

10.

Describe techniques of gathering different types of data and discuss their strengths and limitations. (IV)

11.

Discuss degrees of objectivity in observational data. (IV)

12.

Define validity and reliability. (IV)

13.

Identify and give examples of methods of establishing validity and reliability in observational and self-report data. (IV)

14.

Describe approaches to managing children's behavior and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each. (V)

15.

Identify and list community resources available to support interventions. (V)

16.

Plan and demonstrate an individual intervention to modify behavior. (V)

17.

Demonstrate a group approach to modify behavior. (V)

18.

List techniques for enhancing communication in the family system. (VI)

19.

Describe techniques for using peer influence to help children reach desired goals or attain specified behavior. (VI)

20.

Identify parent, peer, and community influences on children's behavior. (VI)

21.

List factors which affect observational learning. (VI)

22.

Differentiate between intrinsic and extrinsic rewards. (VI)

23.

Describe how shaping occurs. (VI)

24.

Define and discuss appropriate use of positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, and punishment. (VI)

25.

Evaluate strategies for monitoring behavioral change. (VII)

26.

Demonstrate appropriate methods of documenting behavioral change. (VII)

27.

Discuss the role of assessment in evaluating the effectiveness of interventions. (VII)

28.

Compare and contrast types of assessment indicating when each is appropriate. (VII)

MCCCD Official Course Outline:

PSY241  19954-19975

Understanding and Changing Behavior in Children

I. Theoretical Concepts with Implications for Understanding and Changing Children's Behavior

A. Theories of cognitive readiness

B. Theories of moral development

C. Theories of ecological, environmental and emotion

II. Multicultural Issues in Child Development

A. Cultural Perspectives

1. Language

2. Behavior

3. Expectations

B. Factors in Socialization

1. Socio-Economic Status (SES)

2. Socio-historic context

3. Environmental factors

C. Differences resulting from socialization

1. Aesthetics

2. Values

3. Goals

D. Communicating with culturally diverse children

1. Listening skills

2. Non-verbal communication

3. Language-based communication

III. Pre-natal, Genetic and Congenital Influences on Children's Behavior

A. Pre-natal Exposure

1. Environmental Teretogens

2. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

3. Addictive Drugs

4. Maternal Stress Level

5. Other

B. Nature vs. Nurture: Genetic Issues

1. Arousal level

2. Temperament

3. Shyness/Risk-taking

4. Personality

5. Other

C. Congenital Problems

1. Down's syndrome

2. Klinefelter's syndrome

3. Fragile X syndrome

4. Other

IV. Techniques for Observing Children

A. Types of data

1. Qualitative

2. Quantitative

B. Methods of gathering baseline data

1. Operationally defining and recording behaviors

2. Structured and unstructured interviews

3. Naturalistic observation

4. Self report questionnaires

5. Other

C. Evaluation of data

1. Objectivity

2. Consistency (reliability)

3. Accuracy (validity)

V. Approaches to Behavior Management

A. Individual approaches

1. Identifying community resources

2. Utilizing community resources

B. Group approaches

1. Structured teams

2. Collaboration

VI. Guiding Children's Behavior

A. Dynamic systems approach

1. Family

2. Peers

3. Community

B. Observational learning

1. Modeling

2. Rewarding

C. Behavior modification

1. Shaping

2. Reward and punishment

3. Differential reinforcement and extinction

D. Cognitive Approach

VII. Evaluating Effectiveness

A. Monitoring change

1. Continued observations

2. Appropriate documentation

B. Assessment

1. Normative

2. Individual outcomes

3. Other