The Limbic system
is comprised of the amygdale, hippocampus, limbic cortex, and the septal area.
Each of the above brain structures are important but I want to focus on the
function of the Hippocampus. The Hippocampus
is responsible for memory, learning, and controlling emotional
responses. According to Berger (2012) "Excessive Cortisol (the primary stress hormone) may flood the
brain and destroy part of the hippocampus" (Berger, 2012, p.236).
Destruction of the Hippocampus causes a child to have increased risk of
displaying "poor emotional regulation and cognitive impairments"
(Berger, 2012, p.237). Also, they are at more risk of "developing major
depression, post traumatic stress disorder, and
attention-deficit/hyperactivity" (Berger, 2012, p. 236).
Hunger, exposure to violence, and poverty are three sources of stress that
produce Cortisol. I have friends and family who have suffered from one or all
of these stressors. Some of the coping skills are families working together to
try to improve their situation, assuring children that things will be okay, and
receiving assistance in the form of financial and/or medical assistance. A
study was conducted on malnutrition of children in Haiti . "In 1996, 2,335
children were admitted to the hospital and 1,238 of these children were
diagnosed as having malnutrition" (Goodfriend, 1999). The relationship
between the mother and the child was proven to negatively or positively impact the
health of the child. Malnourished
children were more likely to have neglectful parents. The mother was encouraged
to administer food, milk, and medicine to her child. It was found that mothers
who didn't smile, make eye contact, and/or offer physical comfort caused
children to develop insecure attachments. Some children refused to eat and felt
uncomfortable with their mothers. Attentive mothers had a more secure bond with
her children and the child responded in a positive manner. Mortality was seen
as a common problem among children with neglectful parents.
Poverty is a major contributor to
environmental stress. According to Fujita (2012) "based
on several research results, it outlines a recent rising trend in child abuse, and examines its risk factors,
pointing out that major risk factors of child abuse are poverty, single-parent
families, isolation and the fatigue of child-caring"
(Fujita, 2012).
Exposure of violence also negatively
influences development of children. A study was conducted on the effect of
violence on children between the age of 4 to 6 years old. It was found that
"80% of maltreated preschoolers
exhibited patterns of emotion dysregulation in response to witnessing on angry
interaction between adults" (Toth, Harris, Goodman, & Cicchetti,
2011). The majority of the children ,exposed to violence, reacted to all
stimuli. These preschoolers displayed depressive symptoms and an inability to
regulate emotions. In the future, children have an increased risk of
"substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, self injury, and anxiety" (Toth,
Harris, Goodman, & Cicchetti, 2011). "Child maltreatment, in the form
of aggression and violence against children, is one of the most profound
failures of a social environment to support normal development" (Toth,
Harris, Goodman, & Cicchetti, 2011).
References
Berger, K.S.
(2012). The developing person through
childhood (6th ed.). New York ,
NY
Goodfriend, M.
(1999). Malnutrition: Haitian children and their parents. Clinical Pediatrics,
38(4), 256-257. doi:10.1177/000992289903800419
Fujita, H.
(2012). Influences of modern poverty on children's development and schooling.
Japanese Journal Of Developmental Psychology, 23(4), 439-449.
Toth, S. L.,
Harris, L. S., Goodman, G. S., & Cicchetti, D. (2011). Influence of
violence and aggression on children’s psychological development: Trauma,
attachment, and memory. In P. R. Shaver, M. Mikulincer, P. R. Shaver, M.
Mikulincer (Eds.) , Human aggression and violence: Causes, manifestations, and
consequences (pp. 351-365). Washington ,
DC , US
182.3