Atypical Development

This chapter considers deviations from the normal developmental path of two sorts. The first section of the chapter addresses childhood clinical syndromes that impact both children’s development and parents’ beliefs. Three syndromes are discussed: intellectual disabilities, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The second section of the chapter addresses deviations in the parent component of the parent–child dyad, considering both clinical conditions (in particular, depression and schizophrenia) and maladaptive parental practices (in particular, abuse or neglect). It also discusses the concept of resilience; that is, the ability of some children to overcome adverse early experiences.