1. Introduction to Human Development1
Introduction to Human Development
Chapter 1

2. Introduction to Human Development
Introduction to Development
The Nature of Human Development
Theoretical Frameworks for Human Development
The Scientific Approach to the Study of Human Development

3. Introduction to Development
Development refers to changes over time in a person’s body, thought, and behavior due to biological and environmental influences
Developmental psychologists focus on common features of human development
They usually divide the lifespan into developmental periods or stages that most people share

4. Developmental Periods in the Human Lifespan

5. Interactive Approach
Human development is the result of several interacting forces
An interdisciplinary approach is necessary in order to fully understand all the forces that have an impact on the lifespan
These forces include biological potentials, social and environmental factors, and the individual’s own responses to those circumstances
 Article 1b
 Article 1c
 Article 1d

6. Guiding Themes in Human Development
Biological and environmental factors affect development
Development occurs within a social context
Development is best understood by considering domains or categories of human experience
Development is best understood when placed in a theoretical framework and when studied through use of the scientific methods

7. The Nature of Human Development
Individual biology and the environment interact
Society and culture are powerful influences
Children are viewed more favorably today than in the past
Collectivist cultures stress interdependence and cooperation
Individualistic cultures emphasize competition and individual achievement
 Article 1e
 Video 1e

8. The Domains of Human Development
Physical
Changes in physical shape, size, sensory capabilities, motor skills
Cognitive
Acquisition of skills in perceiving, thinking, reasoning, problem solving, language
Personality
Acquiring stable and enduring personality traits
Sociocultural
The processes of socialization and enculturation
 WebVid 1a

9. Video clip
Interview with UNICEF executive director about the effect of war on children in Gaza:

10. Theoretical Frameworks for Human Development
Theories are organized, coherent sets of ideas that help us understand, explain, and make predictions.
Theories change over time and may contradict each other.
Major types of theories:
Biological
Psychodynamic
Behavioral
Cognitive
 Lecture 1a
Activity 1d

11. Biological Views of Human Development
Genetics studies the biological instructions encoded in the human genome
Developmental neuroscience focuses on links between brain function, behavior, and thought
Evolution and natural selection focus on the adaptation of a species to its environment
 Video 1a
 Article 1a

12. Psychodynamic Approach
Psychodynamic approach emphasizes role of unconscious mind and the interactions of psychic processes
Sigmund Freud’s three processes (id, ego, superego) and five psychosexual stages.
Erik Erikson developed a psychosocial theory, emphasizing individual and social interactions, in which people pass through eight stages.

14. Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages
Intimacy versus isolation – 18 to 40 years
Generativity versus self- absorption – 40 to 65 years
Integrity versus despair – 65 years and older
Trust versus mistrust – birth to 1 year
Autonomy versus shame and doubt – 12 to 36 months
Initiative versus guilt – 3 to 6 years
Industry versus inferiority – 6 to 12 years
Ego identity versus ego diffusion – 12 to 18 years

15. Behavioral Views
Focus on the processes that produce observable behavior
Classical Conditioning, Pavlov: reflexive, biologically-based responses to environment
Operant Conditioning, B.F. Skinner: how rewards and punishment influence our behavior
Social Learning Theory, Albert Bandura: what we learn from observing others

16. Cognitive Views
Cognitive-developmental theories focus on the processes that underlie the development of thinking, reasoning, and problem solving
Jean Piaget: Our minds adapt to new ideas through the processes of assimilating and accommodating new information to our schemes, or frameworks of knowledge
Lev Vygotsky emphasized the importance of learning from other people

17. Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development
Sensorimotor:
Birth to 2 years
Preoperational:
2 years to 7 years
Concrete operational:
7 years to 11 or 12 years
Formal operational:
11 or 12 years and up

18. Integrative Approaches
Systems theories involve a broader focus on all the contexts in which humans develop
Urie Bronfenbrenner developed the bioecological model that emphasizes the interaction between individual and family and societal forces
Systems approach integrates biological, psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, and ecological perspectives

19. The Bioecological Model
 WebVid 1b

20. Video Clip Description of Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model:

21. The Scientific Approach to Studying Human Development
The scientific method uses specific techniques and ethical guidelines to study human behavior. Methods include:
Descriptive: case studies, observations, surveys, interviews, and psychological tests
Longitudinal Studies: study people over time
Correlational research: looks at relationships between variables
Experiments: test hypothesis by means of rigid controls
 Video 1g
 Lecture 1b
 Lecture 1c
 Lecture 1d

22. Case Study and Observation
Case study: compilation of detailed information on an individual, a family, or a community through interview, observations, & formal testing
Baby biography
Systematic observation: observational method in which researchers go into everyday settings and observe and record behavior while being as unobtrusive as possible
Naturalistic observation
Laboratory observation

23. Questionnaires and Surveys
Questionnaire: a paper and pencil method that asks respondents to answer questions about past or present behavior, attitudes, preferences, opinions, feelings, and so forth
Survey: a questionnaire administered to a large group
Interview: a questionnaire that is administered verbally, usually in a one on one setting
Representative sampling: selecting a sample from a larger population so that the sample represents or mirrors the population in every important way

24. Psychological Tests
Often involve the measurement of intelligence or personality traits
Must be carefully constructed and administered so that accurate results are obtained

25. Studying Development Across Time
Longitudinal design – same participants are studied at various points in time to see how they change as they age
Cross-sectional design –compares individuals of different ages at one point in time
Confounding
Cohort effects
Sequential cohort design –several overlapping cohorts of different ages are studied longitudinally
 Video 1b

26. Developmental Research Designs Compared

27. Correlation
Research technique that describes the relationship between two variables
The correlation coefficient
Correlation tells us nothing about causation
 Video 1d

28. Experiments The study of cause and effect Random assignment
Independent variable – variable that is manipulated in order to observe its effects on the dependent variable
Dependent variable – variable that changes as a result of manipulating the independent variable
Replication
 Video 1c
 Video 1f

29. Research Methods
Regardless of method, it is important to replicate, or repeat the studies to insure consistency of results
Each method has strengths and weaknesses
Sometimes methods are combined, as in a quasi-experiment
All methods must observe strict ethical guidelines and are the subject to scrutiny by Institutional Review Boards
Guiding ethical principles are informed consent, confidentiality, and doing no harm to the subject

30. Moral Foundations of Ethical Research with Human Participants
Protection from Harm
Institutional Review Boards evaluate research projects with regard to their potential risks to participants
Informed Consent
Informed consent is a clear statement of the procedures and risks as well as the obligations of both the participants and the researchers
Privacy and Confidentiality
Knowledge of Results
Beneficial Treatments

31. Summary
Human development is studied within four interacting domains—physical growth, cognitive growth, personality development, and sociocultural development
We employ various theories in order to study human development using scientific methods
The major theories we study today are biological, psychodynamic, behaviorism, cognitive-developmental, and systems theories

32. Summary
The rules of science provide specific techniques and ethical guidelines for studying human development
These methods include:
case studies
observations
questionnaires, surveys, and interviews
longitudinal, cross-sectional and sequential-cohort designs
correlation studies
experiments
Ethical guidelines like informed consent, confidentiality and doing no harm to subjects must always be used
Activity 1b
Activity 1c
Activity 1e