Developmental Psychology

Developmental Psychology

• focuses on the scientific understanding of age-related changed in experience and behaviour
• Studying Development is motivated by social / economic change

Infancy -- Childhood -- Adolescence -- Adulthood -- Old Age



Childhood

• Childhood (7 - adolescence) not studied until after the INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
• Factories needed literacy and numeracy skills - met by universal primary education
• Study child's mind so education was effective

Adolescence

• Studied in 20th Century - Western society wealthy enough to protect child from adult economic responsibilities - extending education

Old Age 

• Social / medical advanced raise study into the psychology of old age

4 Catagories of Developmental Study

Physical - development of anatomy (body structure) and physiology (processes) and their effect on thinking, behaving, socially and emotionally

Cognitive - perception, attention, language, memory, thinking, problem solving

Social - socialisation, socialbility, child- rearing practises, moral development, peer group influence

Emotional - close to social development. Nature of attachments, temperment, personality, motivation, aggression, identity

All catagories are interdependant / connected
Eg. physical changed in adolescence parallel with social changes and emotional changes.




Influences on Developement

Nature vs Nuture

Biological Influences - Each individual has a genetic blueprint. Maturation starts at conception.  The progressive rate of development is the same for all children and is also genetically programmed.

Environmental Influences - Family, peers, education, media, religion