Developmental Psychology- study how people grow and change through out life span
This includes › physical (body) development, › social (friendships) development, › cognitive (brains) development
Maturation- Automatic and sequential process of development that results from genetic signals.› Roll, sit , crawl , stand ,walk = genetic
timetable Critical Period- stage of development which
person is best suited to learn a skill or behavior › Behaviorists believe babies born with a blank
slate and environment affects behavior
Stages versus Continuity Argument that Development like
› stairs with on distinct stage or › a slow merging of all stages unnoticed
Physical Development Height, weight, Cognitive Development› Motor development- Reflexes, crawling
Social Development Contact Comfort -Babies are comforted by being held
and respond to mother’s voice Self esteem begins early in life. Self esteem - is the value or worth that people attach to
themselves. › Gives people the confidence to know they can overcome
difficulties › Children who know that they are good at something usually
have a higher self-esteem
Attachment- infants develop a specific attachment with their mothers and will cry when mothers are not present› Infants who do not receive adequate contact comfort may
develop what is called “failure to thrive” a medical condition which an infant does not gain enough weight and fail to develop normally.
The first year in life is the most important time period to establish attachment to the mother
Secure children tend to be more happy, friendly, and more cooperative with parents and teachers.
Research shows that children fare better if parents are warm and friendly with them
They are more likely to develop a sense of moral goodness and responsibility
Children from cold parents are more interested in escaping punishment than in doing the right thing.
Jean Piaget (1896-1980) believed that children’s thinking developed in a sequence of stages
Some may be advanced but all children developed in the same sequence› Sensori-motor stage› Preoperational stage› Concrete-Operational
stage› Formal-Operational
stage
Sensorimotor stage- babies learn to coordinate sensation and perception with motor activity (Birth- 2 years).
Children 3-4 months old are fascinated with their own hands and legs.
Babies 4-8 months infants are exploring cause and effect relationships› hit mobiles above head and they move.
Around 10 months infants figure out object permanence- understand object exists when it can’t be seen or touched.› Objects permanence occurs because infants are able
to hold an idea in mind.
Examples Infants that are two or three months are
fascinated by their arms and legs They also like watching their fist open
and close. 10-month child would search for a teddy
bear that was hidden behind a screen Infants understand when things are
taken away that they still exist
Age Level of Scemas Object knowledge
Motor Development
0-1 Reflexes None
1-4 spontaneous movements repeated for the sake of bodily satisfaction ex. thumb-sucking
objects are images linked to the infant's actions
Holding head up/ sitting up
4-8 making interesting sights last, beginnings of intentional activity
search for partially hidden objects
Sitting up
8-12 coordination of cover removal and graspinggoal-oriented
search for fully hidden objects
crawling
12-18 inventing new means cannot take account of invisible displacements
Walking to solve problems
18-24 mental representation full object permanence
Preoperational Stage- (2-7 years ) children begin to use words to represent objects.
children in this stage do not yet understand › concrete logic› cannot mentally manipulate information› unable to take the point of view of other people
A period of egocentrism- inability to see another person’s point of view› The world exists to meet their needs (ex. sit in front of
TV).
using symbols as evidenced by the increase in playing and pretending.
Concrete Operational Stage (7-11 years) logical only when think about specific objects, they can’t grasp abstract ideas
Many teachers use hands on activities, seeing and touching help them understand abstract concepts.
understanding of reversibility, or awareness that actions can be reversed.
Inductive logic involves going from a specific experience to a general principle (talking to strangers)
Have difficulty using deductive logic,› which involves using a general principle to determine the
outcome of a specific event.
Formal Operational Stage –(age 12-25years) begins in puberty › ideas can be compared just a s objects,› use reason and logic to solve problems,› capable in dealing with a hypothetical situations, think
ahead. › children begin to consider possible outcomes and
consequences of actions. Long-term planning. In earlier stages, children used trial-and-error to solve
problems. During the formal operational stage, the ability to
systematically solve a problem in a logical and methodical way emerges.
___ Conservation
___ Moral Judgement
___ Abstract Thinking
___ Object Permanence
___ Reversibility
___
A woman was near death from a special kind of cancer. There was one drug that the doctors thought might save her. It was a form of radium that a pharmacist in the same town had recently discovered. The drug was expensive to make, but the pharmacist was charging 10 times what the drug cost him to make. He paid $200 for radium and charged $2,000 for a small dose of the drug. The sick women’s husband, Heinz, went to everyone he knew to borrow money, but he could only raise about $1,000- half the amount he needed. He told the pharmacist that his wife was dying and asked him to sell it cheaper or let him pay later. But the pharmacist rejected the man’s plea saying that he had discovered the drug and intended to make money from it. Heinz became desperate and broke into the man’s store to steal the drug for his wife.
Was Heinz right in stealing the drug?
Preconventional moral reasoning- Judgement is based on consequences of behavior- ( age 9)› Stage 1- Avoid Punishment (Hienz wrong = punishment)› Stage 2- Satisfy Needs (Heinz Right)
Conventional moral reasoning - if act conforms to standards of right and wrong judged by society (Age 13-16)› Stage 3- Winning Approval from other people (Both right and
Wrong)› Stage 4- Law and Order (Wrong)
Postconventional moral reasoning- judgments based on ones own personal views. › Stage 5- Social Order- personal values (right- due to
circumstances)› Stage 6- Universal Ethics- morality of individual conscience
(right – values of justice)
Stage
Moral reasoning Goal What is right
Pre conventional
1 Avoid Punishment Do anything to avoid punishment
2 Satisfy Needs Do anything to satisfy needs
Conventional
3 Winning Approval Win approval from others
4 Law and Order Maintain Social Order, regard for authority
Post Conventional
5 Social Order Obedience to accepted laws based on personal values
6 Universal ethics Morality of individual consciousness, not necessarily with others
Age Crisis Name Crisis Description
0-1 TrustV
Mistrust
Infant is well cared for, she will develop faith in the future. But if she experiences too much uncertainty about being
taken care of, she will look at the world with fear and suspicion.
1-2 AutonomyVs.
Doubt
Child learns self control and self assertion. But if receives too much criticism, he will be ashamed of himself and have
doubts about his independence
2-5 InitiativeVs.
Guilt
When a Child begins to make her own decisions, constant discouragement or punishment could lead to guilt and loss
of initiative.
5- Puberty IndustryVs.
Inferiority
The Child masters skills and takes pride in his competence. Too much criticism of his work at this stage can lead to
long term feelings of inferiority.
Age Crisis Name Crisis Description
12-18 Adolescen
ce
IdentityV.
Role Confusion
Teenager tries to develop her own separate identity while “fitting-in” with her friends. Failure leads to
confusion over who she is
18-30 Early
Adulthood
IntimacyVs.
Isolation
Person secure with own identity proceed to an intimate partnership in which he/she makes
compromises for another. Isolated person may have many affairs but always avoids true closeness.
30-50 Middle
Age
GenerativelyVs.
Stagnation
Person stagnated is absorbed in self and tries to hang on to the past. Generativity involves a productive life
that will serve as an example to next generation
50-80 Late Adulthood
IntegrityVs.
Despair
Some people look back over life with a sense of satisfaction and accept both and accept both the bad
and the good. Others face death with nothing but regrets.
Early adolescence Age 11-14
Middle adolescence ages 15-18
Late adolescence ages 18-21
Growth spurt- lasts two to three yearsGirls usually begin spurt 2 years earlier than boysPuberty changes in body that lead to the ability to reproduce.•In Males- more hormones produced testosterone, develop broader shoulders deeper voice more muscle tissue and other things•In Females -Hormones produce estrogen, hips become wider and other things Different maturation rates• In boys seen as a good thing strength and popularity•In girls a negative thing awkwardness
Relationships with parents changes and difficult› Striving for greater freedom, spend less time with
family.› Parents and children usually share similar social,
political, religious, and economic views. Relationships with peers
› Peers become more important with influence and emotional support. (Talking on phone or computers)
› Adolescence usually choose friends who are similar in age, same sex, background, educational goals, and attitudes towards drinking and drug use
› Share secrets and personal feelings (support)
Gender Roles- Should women get a job? What should men do?
Ethnicity identity formation- Cultural values vs. ethnic values
Sexuality- when to show sexual feelings› Bodies are saying go ahead› Parents and teachers say no, wait.› Teenage pregnancy is very difficult for mothers to complete
education and to achieve personal goals and give the child the support and attachment that it needs.
This is a very stressful time in life (trying to figure life out)
Anorexia nervosa- self starvation and a distorted body image
Bulimia- binging or compulsive overeating followed by purging
Substance abuse- seen as enjoyable and to earn respect from peers, others try to escape from the emotional stress
Alcohol accidents are the leading cause of death among teens
These provide temporary relief from stress but usually lead to additional problems
(motivational problem- lead to success problems – lead to more substance problems)
If you or know a friend who has a problem SEEK HELP!! See parents, teachers, or a counselor solve the problem now before it becomes more difficult to solve. There is treatment.
Young adulthood ages 20-40 physically and mentally at their strongest point
Changes in relationships with parents tend to improve
Adults are independent and take responsibility for themselves
In 20’s adults choose a course of life that is right for them
Find Personal stability begin to settle down with who you are
Marriage may enter the picture Teen age marriage suffer high
divorce rates because personal life is not stable yet
In 30’s re-evaluate if course is still right Why am I doing this? Where is my life going? Continue stabilizing life
Age 40-60 lose strength stamina, and coordination Some begin fitness programs to stay in shape Exercise an important influence on the world
(improve relationships, parenting, voting, and help within their communities)
Do this to avoid stagnation emptiness and meaningless lives
Mid-life crisis- reassess life, see younger people advancing quickly, children no longer need them feel as if they lost purpose in life fall into a depression
Need to find a new outlet for their talents and experiences (Age mastery)
How has Will Smith decided to avoid a crisis?
Age 65 People are living longer than ever
Retirement- some see as exciting others approach with anxiety
Wrinkles in skin Senses decline Regular exercise can make adults
feel well and fight disease some experience memory loss Majority of people have no
serious decline in intellectual skills