The Study of Human Development The Development of Children (5 th ed.) Cole, Cole & Lightfoot Chapter 1:

Chapter 1: The Study of Human Development Basic Concepts Developmental psychology: A study of physical, cognitive, behavioral, and social changes that occur throughout the course of human development Growth years: The period from infancy through adolescence

Study of Child Development Focus Physical changes Cognitive changes Psychosocial changes Aim (Intent) Promote the healthy development of children Answer important questions…

Overview Developmental Psychology Early Beginnings Central Questions As a Discipline Developmental Psychology Early Beginnings Central Questions As a Discipline

Early Beginnings Jean-Marc Itard and Victor, the Wild Boy of Aveyron Wanted to see how much environment shaped development Industrial Revolution and Research into Child Labor Conditions Poor living and working conditions shaped growth and development Charles Darwin’s The Origin of Species Children’s behavior was viewed as having clues to ways humans are related to other species

Central Questions of Developmental Psychology Continuity Gradual and continual change OR abrupt stages? Sources of Development Nature (genetics) OR Nurture (Environment)? Plasticity To what degree and under what conditions is development influenced by change and intervention? Individual Differences What is the impact of temperament, culture, environment?

Gradual Changes vs. Abrupt Growth Developmental Stages Continuity

List three ways in which the person you were at the age of 5 differed from the person you were at the age of 15. Which differences were gradual changes? Which differences were abrupt growth? List three ways in which the person you were at the age of 5 differed from the person you were at the age of 15. Which differences were gradual changes? Which differences were abrupt growth? Partner Talk:

Are there critical or sensitive periods of development? Konrad Lorenz & Goslings

Developmental Psychology Becomes a Discipline Children are studied in a scientific way Objectivity and non-biased researchers Reliable methods of experimentation Valid methods of observation and taking data Replicable and repeatable experiments and studies

Developmental Psychology Becomes a Discipline Methods of Data Collection Self-reporting Naturalistic Observations Research Designs Experimental: treatment and control groups test whether a variable has the effect stated Clinical Interviews: Direct questioning of children or parents

Research Designs: Longitudinal and Cross-sectional

Developmental Psychology Becomes a Discipline The Role of Theory: Gives an explanation of the what, why, and how In Child Development, this means Having a framework that describe what you are observing Having a set of ideas that describe why development happens Having a set of beliefs that guide your actions and interactions with children

What are the main theories in Child Development? Gesell & Freud Watson & Skinner Piaget Vygotsky

The Ecological Approach Uri Bronfenbrenner

But doesn’t growth and development happen anyway, no matter what we think or say about it? YES, we know growth is sequential AND, we know development is predictable

Bio-Social-Behavioral Shift A transition point in development during which a biological, social, and behavioral changes occur at the same time and cause distinctively new forms of child functioning.

Main Shifts & Developmental Periods Shift PointDevelopmental Period ConceptionPrenatal period BirthEarly infancy 2 ½ monthsMiddle infancy 7-9 monthsLate infancy monthsEarly childhood 5-7 yearsMiddle childhood yearsAdolescence yearsAdulthood