Contexts of development example

Contexts of development: Childbirth What information does this scene provide about the contexts (cultural, socioeconomic, historical etc.) in which this birth is occurring? What does this birth environment suggest about the future care and well-being of this child? How does childbirth in this setting differ from childbirth in a more/less industrially developed country?

Developmental Psychology Roadmap Introduction Issues and questions Developmental Psychology Developmental theories Part 1 Theories

Introduction to Development What is development? Development-continuity and change in the body or behavior across time Developmental psychology-the study of continuity and change in the body and/or behavior over time

Three basic issues Nature vs. Nurture (biology vs. environment) In reality = Nature x Nurture interactions Universal experiences vs. Individual differences Continuity vs. Discontinuity (quantitative vs. qualitative)

Social Barometer

Three basic issues: Where do you stand? Nature vs. Nurture (biology vs. environment) In reality = Nature x Nurture interactions Universal experiences vs. Individual differences (contexts) Continuity vs. Discontinuity = quantitative vs. qualitative

Developmental questions What causes some children to be bullies? Why do some children learn to read with little effort, but others require extensive help? How and when do children learn to distinguish fantasy from reality? In what ways is brain development affected by experience? Can infants add and subtract? Others? Your questions.

Types of questions Descriptive-describing what people know and can do at different ages e.g., What do 3-year-olds know about math? Explanatory-How do changes take place, what processes are involved in change e.g., Why are some kids who grow up in impoverished environments resilient, but others suffer extreme negative consequences?

Characteristics of good theories Organize study designs Explain and predict (provide hypotheses) Universal or generalizeable Parsimonious Testable or falsifiable Heuristic (rich research resource)

Three theoretical controversies Nature vs. Nurture (biology vs. environment) In reality = Nature x Nurture interactions Universal experiences vs. Individual differences (contexts) Continuity vs. Discontinuity = quantitative vs. qualitative Where do you stand?

Freud Made developmental psychology a legitimate field of study Psychoanalytic perspective Psychosexual theory

Components of personality Id: biological needs and desires (innate) Ego: conscious, rational, determines how to meet desires of Id (early infancy) Superego: conscience (develops 3-6 years by interaction with parents)

Stages of psychosexual development Oral Anal Phallic Latency Genital Sexual impulses shift over development

For Thursday: Please bring your textbook and theories grid Be prepared to discuss and apply your assigned theory to a real-world problem Review PSY 203 Additional Course Policies Complete the Course Materials “Quiz” posted to Drangelagriffin.weebly.com/D2L and bring to class Read Chapter 1 assignments. We will not begin Chapter 2 until 1/29 E-mail your questions on birth and pregnancy to griffina@midlandstech.edu