Developmental Psychology
Overview
Developmental psychology is a scientific discipline that focuses on understanding how and why human beings change over the course of their life. Originally concerned with infants and children, the field has expanded to include adolescence, adult development, aging, and the entire lifespan. This field examines change across three major dimensions: physical development, cognitive development, and socioemotional development. Within these three dimensions are a broad range of topics including motor skills, executive functions, moral understanding, language acquisition, social change, personality, emotional growth, and self-concept.
Historical Development
The scientific study of developmental psychology began in the late 19th century, although philosophical discussions about the nature of children and their development date back to ancient times. The work of psychologists such as Jean Piaget, Erik Erikson, Lev Vygotsky, and John Bowlby has been particularly influential in shaping our understanding of human development.
Theoretical Perspectives
There are many different theoretical perspectives in developmental psychology, each with its own focus and set of assumptions about human development. These include the psychodynamic perspective, the learning perspective, the cognitive perspective, the contextual perspective, and the evolutionary/sociobiological perspective.
Research Methods
Developmental psychologists employ a variety of research methods to study human development, including observations, case studies, surveys, and experiments. Longitudinal and cross-sectional studies are commonly used to examine developmental trends over time.
Physical Development
Physical development refers to the biological changes that occur in humans between conception and the end of adolescence. This includes growth in size and strength, the development of motor skills, and changes in body composition and structure.
Cognitive Development
Cognitive development involves changes in cognitive processes and abilities. In infancy, it is marked by the development of basic abilities like learning to focus attention and recognizing caregivers. In childhood, it involves learning to solve problems and to reason, while in adolescence it includes thinking abstractly and making decisions.
Socioemotional Development
Socioemotional development encompasses changes in a person's relationships, emotions, and personality. This includes the development of emotional expression, understanding and managing emotions, and the formation of personal identity and self-concept.
Developmental Disorders
Developmental disorders are conditions that cause significant impairment in important areas of functioning such as learning, behavior, and social interaction. These include autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and learning disorders.
