Child Development Notes
Chapter 1- Child Development: Themes, Theories and Methods
– Describe important terms such as conceptions of age, periods of development, domains of development, etc. Development is a lifelong, multidimensional, plastic, multidisciplinary, and contextual process. Developmental psychologists typically divide development into 3 broad domains: 1. Biological (changes in body size, muscle tone, sexual maturity…) 2. Cognitive (changes in thinking, language…) 3. Socioemotional (changes in emotions, social relationships, personality, family roles…)
Think about how these 3 major domains of development connect to one another.
Developmental psychologists organize the process of development into periods of development: 1. Prenatal (conception – birth) 2. Infancy (first 2 years) 3. Early/Middle/Late Childhood (6-11 years) 4. Adolescence (12-21 years) 5. Adulthood: Early (20-30s), Middle (35-60), Late (60+)
Central issues of discussion in developmental psychology: – Origins of Behavior: Nature and Nurture The discussion over the extent to which behavior is the result of heredity, biological factors (nature), and environmental influences (nurture). Recent research supports the view that a dynamic interaction between nature and nurture plays a crucial role in development. Consider twin studies (nature) and inherited genes for a particular mental condition (such as schizophrenia). – Patterns of developmental change: Continuity and Discontinuity The discussion over the extent to which developmental change occur gradually (continuity) or in major qualitative jumps (discontinuity). Researchers focus on gradual, quantitative changes when studying continuity, and on qualitative or stage-like changes when studying discontinuity.
– Factors that Influence Developmental Changes: Individual Characteristics and Contextual Influences What makes children different or similar to one another? To what extent are developmental changes common to everyone
– Describe important terms such as conceptions of age, periods of development, domains of development, etc. Development is a lifelong, multidimensional, plastic, multidisciplinary, and contextual process. Developmental psychologists typically divide development into 3 broad domains: 1. Biological (changes in body size, muscle tone, sexual maturity…) 2. Cognitive (changes in thinking, language…) 3. Socioemotional (changes in emotions, social relationships, personality, family roles…)
Think about how these 3 major domains of development connect to one another.
Developmental psychologists organize the process of development into periods of development: 1. Prenatal (conception – birth) 2. Infancy (first 2 years) 3. Early/Middle/Late Childhood (6-11 years) 4. Adolescence (12-21 years) 5. Adulthood: Early (20-30s), Middle (35-60), Late (60+)
Central issues of discussion in developmental psychology: – Origins of Behavior: Nature and Nurture The discussion over the extent to which behavior is the result of heredity, biological factors (nature), and environmental influences (nurture). Recent research supports the view that a dynamic interaction between nature and nurture plays a crucial role in development. Consider twin studies (nature) and inherited genes for a particular mental condition (such as schizophrenia). – Patterns of developmental change: Continuity and Discontinuity The discussion over the extent to which developmental change occur gradually (continuity) or in major qualitative jumps (discontinuity). Researchers focus on gradual, quantitative changes when studying continuity, and on qualitative or stage-like changes when studying discontinuity.
– Factors that Influence Developmental Changes: Individual Characteristics and Contextual Influences What makes children different or similar to one another? To what extent are developmental changes common to everyone