1. Think, Pair, Share Are you the same person you were as a preschooler?
In what ways are you the same?
In what ways are you different?
As an 8 year-old?
As a 12 year-old?

2. Introduction to Developmental Psychology

3. Developmental Psychology studies the physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span.
Focus on three issues:
Nature and nurture: How does our genetic inheritance interact with our experiences to influence our development?
Continuity and Stages: What parts of our development are gradual and continuous, what parts are change abruptly in stages?
Stability and Change: Which of our traits persist through life, how do we change as we age?

4. Nature and Nurture
Nature: gene combinations from mother and father predispose us with human similarities and differences.
Nurture: our experiences in the womb, families, peer relationships, and more influence our thinking and acting.

5. Continuity and Stages
Are the differences between infants and adults explained by gradual, continuous growth?
Or differ in stages like a caterpillar changing into a butterfly?

6. Continuity and Stages
Comparison of stage models

7. Continuity and Stages Generally speaking:
Those who emphasize nurture tend to see development as a slow, gradual process.
Those who emphasize nature tend to see development as a sequence of predisposed stages.

8. Stability and Change
As we follow lives through time, is there more evidence for stability or change?
New Zealand study of 3 year-olds who were low in conscientiousness and self-control were more vulnerable to illness, substance abuse, arrest and single parenthood by age 32.
Hyperactive, inattentive 5 year-olds required more teacher attention at age 12.

9. Stability and Change
As we follow lives through time, is there more evidence for stability or change?
Social attitudes are less stable than temperament as one ages.
Many delinquent children who have work problems, substance abuse, and crime as young adults blossom into mature, successful adults.

10. Stability and Change In some ways, we all change with age.
Shy, fearful toddlers begin opening up by age 4.
Most people become conscientious, stable, and confident in the years after adolescence.
Life requires both stability and change
Stability provides our identity.
Change gives us hope for a brighter future.

11. Methods for Studying Development
Cross-Sectional Design
Different participants at various ages are compares to determine age-related differences
Group 1: 20-year olds
Group 2: 40-year olds
Group 3: 60 year olds
Research done in 2015
Longitudinal Design
Same participants are studied at various ages to determine age-related changes
Study 1: 20 year olds
Study 2: Same participants at age 40
Study 3: Same participants at age 60
Research done in 1975
Research done in 1995
Cross-sequential Design
Different participants at various ages are compared at several points in time to determine age-related differences and changes
Study 1:
Study 2:
Group 1: now age 25
Group 2: now age 45
Research to be done in 2020

12. Discovering Psychology: The Developing Child

13. Homework Assignment
Create a chart of your lifetime. Include a minimum of 10 events from different years that you think are significant.
At the bottom of the chart identify at least one developmental characteristic that represents:
Nature
Nurture
Continuity
Stages
Stability
Change

14. Homework Assignment Nature Nurture Continuity Stages Stability Change
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Nature
Nurture
Continuity
Stages
Stability
Change