To what extent does childhood trauma affect development?

Refer to the paper 2 assessment criteria when awarding marks. These can be found under the “Your tests” tab > supplemental materials.

The command term “to what extent” requires candidates to consider the impact of childhood trauma on development. Responses may address the influence of trauma on different aspects of development, such as physiological, cognitive and/or social development.

Relevant studies of childhood trauma on development include, but are not limited to:

• the effects of deprivation in critical periods (the cases of Genie/Anna/Isabelle)
• PTSD as a consequence of trauma (Feldman and Vengrober, 2011; Luo et al., 2012)
• Rutter et al.’s (2001) and Rutter’s (1981) studies on the consequences of deprivation
• Cockett and Tripp’s (1994) study on long-term attachment deprivation effects
• Koluchova’s case study showing the possibility of reversing the effects of deprivation.

It is appropriate and useful for candidates to address resilience in order to respond to the command term “to what extent”. This could also be addressed by discussing the positive and negative effects of trauma. Both approaches are acceptable.

It is appropriate and useful for candidates to address other relevant factors (such as deprivation, neglect or domestic violence) in order to respond to the command term “to what extent”.