2. Lecture #23: Developmental Psychology , Part I Copyright © 2002 L.A. Lowe

3. Questions to Consider  What are some of the different theories of developmental psychology?  What are some of the developmental milestones in:  childhood?  adolescence?  adulthood?

4. Major Theories in Developmental   Freud’s five stage psychoSEXUAL theory.  Piaget’s (1963) four stage cognitive developmental theory.  Erikson’s (1963) eight stage theory of psychosocial personality development.  Kohlberg’s (1969) three stage theory of moral development.

5. Piaget’s (1963) Cognitive Developmental Theory  Premise of Piaget’s theory:  physical development of the CNS and brain leads to:  cognitive and intellectual development in humans.  Four stages of cognitive development:  sensori-motor stage (birth to 2 years).  pre-operational stage (2 to 7 years).  concrete operational stage (7 to 11 yrs.)  formal operational stage (11 yrs. & up).

6. Piaget’s (1963) Theory  Sensori-motor stage -- birth to age 2:  Cognitive developmental milestones during this stage: understanding object permanence. understanding object permanence. usually acquired by ages 1-2. usually acquired by ages 1-2. understanding of deindividuation and independence of self from caretaker. understanding of deindividuation and independence of self from caretaker.  lack of understanding object permanence: an object an infant no longer sees becomes, literally, “out of sight, out of mind”  hence, stranger anxiety. an object an infant no longer sees becomes, literally, “out of sight, out of mind”  hence, stranger anxiety.

7. Piaget’s (1963) Theory (cont’d.)  Pre-operational stage -- ages 2 to 7:  Cognitive developmental “struggles” during this stage: egocentrism. egocentrism. animism -- personification. animism -- personification. artificialism -- nature as human-controlled. artificialism -- nature as human-controlled. conservation: conservation: objects or things remain the same, despite changes in appearance. objects or things remain the same, despite changes in appearance. pre-op. children CANNOT conserve. pre-op. children CANNOT conserve. objectivity in moral judgement -- lack of emotional intelligence, due to egocentrism. objectivity in moral judgement -- lack of emotional intelligence, due to egocentrism.

8. Piaget’s (1963) Theory (cont’d.)  Concrete operational stage -- ages 7 to 11:  Cognitive developmental milestones during this stage: concrete operations: concrete operations: understanding of “cause-effect”. understanding of “cause-effect”. concrete logical thought (“seeing is believing”). concrete logical thought (“seeing is believing”). conservation is understood at this stage. conservation is understood at this stage. subjectivity in moral judgement -- beginnings of emotional intelligence (e.g., empathy, compassion, care, altruism, “Good Samaritanism”, etc.). subjectivity in moral judgement -- beginnings of emotional intelligence (e.g., empathy, compassion, care, altruism, “Good Samaritanism”, etc.).

9. Piaget’s (1963) Theory (cont’d.)  Formal operational stage -- ages 11 & up:  Cognitive developmental milestones during this stage: abstract, logical thought. abstract, logical thought. absolutist, generalized thought? absolutist, generalized thought? i.e., “black and white” thinking. i.e., “black and white” thinking.

10. Evaluation of Piaget’s Theory  Isn’t cognitive development a lifelong process, not one that ends at age 12?  Argument of a 5th stage of cognitive development: post-formal operational thought or dialectical reasoning: post-formal operational thought or dialectical reasoning:  abstract,  absolute,  dynamic and fluid,  “gray”, &  flexible.  abstract,  absolute,  dynamic and fluid,  “gray”, &  flexible.

11. Evaluation of Piaget’s Theory (cont’d.)  Not all children (or adults) reach the formal operational stage of C.D.  in fact, it’s been argued that only 10% to 20% of all adults operate at a level of cognitive development beyond concrete operational stage (similar to Maslow’s statistic re: love and belongingness).  Order of stages may be reached earlier by some children.  e.g., conservation & emotional IQ can be understood by some pre-op. children).

12. Next Time...  Developmental Psychology, Part II.  Please continue reading Chapter 11...

13. Physiological Needs Safety & Security Needs Love & Belongingness Needs Esteem Needs Maslow’s (1970) Hierarchy of Needs Natural progression is upward Self- Actualization 80%-90% never develop beyond Love & Belongingness Are formal operations & post-conventional morality contingent upon L. & B.