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Developmental psychology is concerned with understanding both what changes occur with age, and how those changes take place—the process of development. It is concerned with two main questions.
- Does development take place in stages or is the process more continuous, or more variable, than that?
- Is Development biologically determined by nature or nurture
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Similarities in the characteristics of genetically identical twins reared apart suggest strong genetic influences on development. However, it is clear that the environment also influences development
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Babies are predisposed to learn
- Children as young as 15 months can have some understanding of false beliefs.
- Even 6 month old babies can use this strategically
- Babies as young as 10 months have some understanding of social dominance.
- The child’s bond with their primary caregiver (called attachment) is a determinant for psychological development.Secure attachments enable children to feel secure in exploring new settings and becoming detached.
- Securely attached children are able to use their caregiver’s presence as a safe base for exploration and protest at their departure
- Children with a more avoidant attachment pattern treat strangers and caregivers similarly.
- Ambivalent or resistant attachment patterns mean the child has difficulty in using the caregiver as a safe base for exploration and showing distress on separation but anger on return.
- In humans, it seems that the most important factors influencing attachment are the child’s temperament (its ‘nature’) and the attachment figure’s responsiveness: understanding of and sensitivity to the child’s need
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The harmful effects of early experiences can be ameliorated if the child is rehabilitated and conditions improved
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One of the last regions to become fully formed is the region that inhibits risky behavior.
- As we mature, the amount of myelin increases which improves neural function.
- Intelligence appears to increase for those who continue to use their minds
Erikson’s Theory
- Erikson’s Theory Of Development suggests that developments occurs in stages with each stage involving a specific dilemma or psychosocial crisis. These stages need not be fixed.
| Stage | Virtue | Crisis | Significant Relationship | Question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infancy | Hope | Trust and risk disappointment Mistrust and become unable to relate to others fully. | Mother / Primary Caregiver | Can I trust this world? |
| Toddlerhood | Will | Autonomy and personal responsibility. Too much however may lead to risk taking behavior. Shame arising from doubt in one’s abilities leading to being afraid of exploration or eventually growing up with a rebellious attitude if their parents were too restrictive | Parents | Is it okay to be me? |
| Early childhood | Purpose | Initiative and increased personal responsibility in making one’s choices. This also includes being able to plan to achieve one’s goals and handling failure appropriately. Guilt in making choices or in their own needs and desires | Family | Is it okay for me to do, move, and act |
| Middle childhood | Competence | Industry in exerting oneself to overcome challenges with reference to others, and constantly improving oneself in all respects. Inferiority and fearing challenge, or feeling like a failure leading to low self-esteem, lethargy, and a lack of motivation | Neighbors, School | Can I make it in the world of people and things? |
| Adolescence | Fidelity | Establishing a strong sense of Identity by exploring different roles. This stage forms a crossroads based on the past and anticipation towards the future. Confusion from overwhelming opportunities and failure to develop an integrated self-image | Peers, Role Model | Who am I? Who can I be |
| Early adulthood | Love | Intimacy and exploring romantic or other attachments and strong bonds which involves being open to others. Isolation and fearing relationships, and being lonely. This can also extend to distantiation or destroying things dangerous to one’s ideals | Friends, Partners | Can I unite myself with another person |
| Middle adulthood | Care | Generativity by being productive and contributing to family and society Stagnation and feelings of uselessness — seeing themselves as not leaving anything of value behind. | Household, Workmates | Can I make my life count? |
| Late adulthood | Wisdom | Being able to look back at one’s life with a sense of Ego Integrity and accomplishment Looking back at life with a sense of Despair | Humankind | Is it okay to have been me? |