CHAPTER 1: SLIDESHOW Flashcards
Developmental Psychology
The study of human growth and
changes across the lifespan,
including physical, cognitive,
social, intellectual, perceptual,
personality and emotional
growth
Reasons why we study developmental psychology:
To learn how people grow,
develop, and adapt at different
life stages (“why we are the way
we are”)
* Provides insights into the
various stages of development,
the factors that influence them,
and how to support healthy
development across the lifespan
Child Psychology
- Child psychology is a subset of
developmental psychology,
focusing on conception through
adolescence - Period of time where the most
development occurs
Studying child psychology helps us..
- Understand the self
- Be a responsible parent or adult
- Work with children
- Protect children’s rights
Three domains of child development
Physical, intellectual, social-emotional.
Physical development
involves growth of the body and the development
of both fine and gross motor skills.
Intellectual development
includes how people think and learn and how
people express what they know through
a variety of methods, especially
language.
Social-emotional development
concerns interactions with people and
social groups, disposition, and emotions.
Heredity vs Environment
Nature vs Nurture
THEY WORK TOGETHER!
Heredity
- Traits that a child inherits from blood
relatives - Trait potential
Environment
- Conditions surrounding a child as they
develop - Physical and social environment
Epigenome
- Consists of chemicals that can turn genes on or off
- Both positive and negative factors can affect the genome
- Can change throughout life, but longest-lasting effects are from
experiences that occur from conception – 12 months
Principles of Growth and Development
Constant, Gradual and Continuous, Sequential, Happens At Different Rates, Interrelated
Constant
Many aspects of development are unchanging from childhood to adulthood
Gradual and Continuous
Growth is slow but constantly occurring
Sequential
Certain steps and milestones happen in the same order for most people
Happens at Different Rates
Individuals change at different times and rates
Interrelated
All of these principles interact with each other in complex ways and affect one another
Maturational Theory
- Principal theorist: Arnold Gesell
(1880–1961) - Believed that physical and
intellectual development was
determined by heredity and
biological maturation. - Established many of the age
norms and ideas about
“readiness.”
Psychoanalytic Theory
- Principal theorist: Sigmund Freud
(1856–1939) - Believed personality (and mental
health) was determined by how
children coped with their physical
drives. He examined how children
regulate their desires and take on
social norms - 3 parts of the mind: id, ego, superego
- 5 stages: oral, anal, phallic, latent,
genital
Psychosocial Theory
- Principal theorist: Erik
Erikson (1902–1994) - Concerned about conflicts
that occur between a child’s
needs and social demands - Believed that people who
can cope with each conflict
develop a healthy
personality and vice versa.
Trust vs Mistrust (birth-18 months)
If needs are dependently met, infants will develop a basic sense of trust
Autonomy vs Shame/Doubt (18 months-3 years)
Toddlers learn to exercise will and do things for themselves, or they will doubt their abilities.
Initiative vs Guilt (3-5 years)
Preschoolers learn to initiate tasks and carry out plans, or they feel guilty about efforts to be independent.
