DevelopmentalPsychology[发展心理学](PPT-49).pptVIP

Developmental Psychology Developmental Psychology Focuses on development across life span – a field of psychology that focuses on development across the life span. Development More-or-less predictable changes in behavior associated with increasing age Nature or nurture? Nature: behavior unfolds like a plant over time Nurture: behavior is molded by experiences Basic Processes of Development Maturation Biological process of systematic physical growth Experience plays a role in specific contexts McGraw’s study of toilet training twins Children change dramatically from birth to adulthood Early Experiences and Critical Periods Imprinting (Lorenz) Inborn tendency or instinct Sensitive period – critical period Early social deprivation Harlow’s monkeys, social isolation, and continuing detrimental effects Controversy over effects on children Some abnormal effects may be irreversible Variations in Development Normal for children to be variable in their development Discontinuities in development are the rule Parents make important decisions about raising children that impacts on development Raising deaf child Impact of technology and medicine Stage Theories of Development Stages – series of abrupt changes from one period to another – All children must pass through in same order Many advocate unfolds over time More qualitative than quantitative (such as child mastering physical properties of object) Decentered thought allows conservation problem solutions Piaget’s Developmental Theory Identified 4 stages of cognitive development Sensorimotor stage – infant experiences world in sensory information and motor activities Preoperational stage – children sometimes think illogically by adult standards Concrete operational stage – increased abilities Formal operational stage – use of full adult logic Kohlberg’s Theory Moral development Three level, six stage theory Premoral level – child has no sense of morality as adults understand it Child’s moral view based on w