Maltreatment and the Developing Brain

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Sharing ideas to help children Lecture byBruce D. Perry, , and the Developing Child:How Early Childhood experience Shapes Child and CultureDr. Perry is an internationally recognized authority on child trauma and the effectsofchild Maltreatment . His work is instrumental in understanding the impact oftraumatic experiences and neglect on the neurobiology of the Developing presented the inaugural Margaret McCain lecture on September 23, 2004We seek to make the world a betterplace. No matter our profession orvocation, we share the desire and theability to make a difference in a child s are complex creatures. Whilehaving the capacity to be humane, wealso have the capacity to be cruel. Why?What determines whether a child growsup to be compassionate, thoughtful, andproductive? Or, impulsive,aggressive, hateful, and non-productive?Is it genetic? Likely not.

Optimal Development A child is most likely to reach her full potential if she experiences consistent, predictable, enriched, and stimulating interactions in a context of attentive

  Developing, Experience, Maltreatment, Maltreatment and the developing