1. History of Developmental Psychology

2. View of Children Early 1700s- children were seen as an economic asset.
Infant mortality very high.
Child happiness was not a concept- children were “seen and not heard”.
Pregnancy was taboo!

3. England in the 1700s
A woman served 2 years in jail for poking the eyes out of orphans and making them beg on the streets for her.
In the same era, a young boy stole petticoats from a clothing line and was sentenced to hang.

4. Child abuse laws
DID NOT EXIST UNTIL After animal protection laws already existed!
The case of Mary Ellen Wilson: New York, 1875:
Her case brought child
abuse to national attention
and helped create the NYSPCC,
New York Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Children (inspired
by the SPCA).

5. Change in the 1800’s Humanitarianism:
Jonathan Swift (author of Gulliver’s Travels) wrote the satire “A Modest Proposal”.

6. Change in the 1800’s Medicine:
Beginning of child medical care; study of benefits of breastfeeding.