Developmental psychologists
focus on human growth and changes across the lifespan, including physical,
cognitive, social, intellectual, perceptual, personality and emotional growth.
figure 1
Developmental
psychology is a scientific approach which aims to explain growth, change and
consistency though the lifespan. Developmental psychology looks at how
thinking, feeling, and behaviour change throughout a person’s life.
A significant
proportion of theories within this discipline focus upon development during
childhood, as this is the period during an individual's lifespan when the most
change occurs.
Developmental
psychologists study a wide range of theoretical areas, such as biological,
social, emotion, and cognitive processes. Empirical research in this area tends
to be dominated by psychologists from Western cultures such as North American
and Europe, although during the 1980s Japanese
researchers began
making a valid contribution to the field.
The three goals of
developmental psychology are to describe, explain, and to optimize development
(Baltes, Reese, & Lipsitt, 1980). To describe development it is necessary
to focus both on typical patterns of change (normative development) and on individual
variations in patterns of change (i.e. idiographic development). Although there
are typical pathways of development that most people will follow, no two
persons are exactly alike.
Developmental
psychologists must also seek to explain the changes they have observed in
relation to normative processes and individual differences. Although, it is
often easier to describe development than to explain how it occurs.
Finally,
developmental psychologists hope to optimise development, and apply their
theories to help people in practical situations.
Continuity v.s Discontinuity
Think about how
children become adults. Is there a predictable pattern they follow regarding
thought and language and social development? Do children go through gradual
changes or are they abrupt changes?
Normative
development is typically viewed as a continual and cumulative process. The
continuity view says that change is gradual. Children become more skillful in
thinking, talking or acting much the same way as they get taller.
The discontinuity
view sees development as more abrupt-a succession of changes that produce
different behaviors in different age-specific life periods called stages.
Biological changes provide the potential for these changes.
We often hear people
taking about children going through “stages" in life (i.e. “sensori-motor
stage."). These are called developmental stages-periods of life initiated
by distinct transitions in physical or psychological functioning. Psychologists
of the discontinuity view believe that people go through the same stages, in
the same order, but not necessarily at the same rate.
Nature vs.
Nurture
When trying to
explain development, it is important to consider the relative contribution of
both nature and nurture. Developmental psychology
seeks to answer two big questions about heredity and environment:
1.
How much weight does each contribute?
2.
How do nature and nurture interact?
Nature refers to the
process of biological maturation inheritance and maturation. One of the reasons
why the development of human beings is so similar is because our common
specifies heredity (DNA) guides all of us through many of the same
developmental changes at about the same points in our lives. Nurture refers to
the impact of the environment, which involves the process of learning through
experiences.
There are two
effective ways to study nature-nurture.
3.
Twin studies: Identical twins have the same genotype, and
fraternal twins have an average of 50% of their genes in common.
4.
Adoption studies: Similarities with the biological family
support nature, while similarities with the adoptive family support nurture.
Stabilit V.S Change
Stability implies
personality traits present during present during infancy endure throughout the
lifespan. In contrast, change theorists argue that personalities are modified
by interactions with family, experiences at school, and acculturation.
This capacity for
change is called plasticity. For example, Rutter (1981) discovered than somber
babies living in understaffed orphanages often become cheerful and affectionate
when placed in socially stimulating adoptive homes.
Historical Origins
Developmental
psychology as a discipline did not exist until after the industrial revolution
when the need for an educated workforce led to the social construction of
childhood as a distinct stage in a person's life.
The notion of
childhood originates in the Western world and this is why the early research
derives from this location. Initially developmental psychologists were
interested in studying the mind of the child so that education and learning
could be more effective.
Developmental
changes during adulthood is an even more recent area of study. This is mainly
due to advances in medical science, enabling people to live to an old age.
Charles Darwin is credited with conducting the first systematic study of
developmental psychology. In 1877 he published a short paper detailing the
development of innate forms of communication based on scientific observations
of his infant son, Doddy.
However, the
emergence of developmental psychology as a specific discipline can be traced
back to 1882 when Wilhelm Preyer (a German
physiologist) published a book entitled The Mind of the Child.
In the book Preyer describes the development of his own daughter from birth to
two and a half years. Importantly, Preyer used rigorous scientific procedure
throughout studying the many abilities of his daughter.
In 1888 Preyer's
publication was translated into English, by which time developmental psychology
as a discipline was fully established with a further 47 empirical studies from
Europe, North America and Britain also published to facilitate the
dissemination of knowledge in the field.
During the 1900s
three key figures have dominated the field with their extensive theories of
human development, namely Jean
Piaget (1896-1980), Lev
Vygotsky (1896-1934) and John
Bowlby (1907-1990). Indeed, much of the current research
continues to be influenced by these three theorists.
Understanding Developmental Psychology
The study of developmental psychology is
essential to understanding how humans learn, mature and adapt.
Throughout
their lives, humans go through various stages of development. Developmental
psychologists study how people grow, develop and adapt at different life
stages. They conduct research designed to help people reach their full
potential — for example, studying
the difference between learning styles in babies and adults.
Developmental
Psychology Applied
Developmental psychologists study human growth
and development over the lifespan, including physical, cognitive, social,
intellectual, perceptual, personality and emotional growth.
Developmental
psychologists working in colleges and universities tend to focus primarily on
research or teaching. Others working in more applied settings like health care
facilities or clinics help to assess, evaluate and treat people living with
developmental disabilities. Developmental psychologists may also work in
assisted living homes for the elderly, hospitals, mental health clinics and
centers for the home.
RESEARCH
DESIGN
|
DISCRIPTION
|
CROSS-SECTIONAL
|
Involve
participants of deferent ages being studied at a single point of time.
|
LONGITUDINAL
|
Involve
the same participants being studied Over time at deferent points in their
development.
|
SEQUENCIAL
(age/cohort)
|
Involve
a combination of longitudinal and cross sectional design to explore
differences in development of individual From deferent cohort.
|
MICROGENETIC
|
Involve
the same participants being repeatedly studied over relatively short period
of time. A method that enables change to be mapped as it occurs.
|
Referance
article
americanpsycologicalassociation
devolopmentalpsycology studies humans across the lifespan
date:2019
understanding devolopmentalpsycology
english
https://www.apa.org
click hear to open original filehttps://drive.google.com/open?id=1sHFPgcrcUBIJb-XJfpFRwNebzG_6po6gtOa6i3odmAI
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