01 - Introduction to Psychology and Developmental Psychology

1. PSYCHOLOGY What to expect….

2. Psychology is.. The scientific study of behaviour and cognitive processes. Scientific in nature Relies heavily on scientific, systematic methods Any observable action or reaction of a living organism OVERT BEHAVIOUR - directly observable, such as talking, running, scratching or blinking COVERT BEHAVIOUR - those which go on internally such as thinking or imagining Every aspect of mental life and the mind – thoughts memories, mental images, reasoning, decision making

3. GOALS OF PSYCHOLOGY 1. Describe behaviours and mental processes 2. Explain why these processes occur 3. Predict future events 4. Control behaviour and mental processes

4. Developmental Psychology (Infancy to Adulthood) The discipline that seeks to identify and explain the changes that individuals undergo from conception until death. Changes include physical, emotional, social, cognitive, personality and moral

5. PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT Changes in height, weight, motor abilities, brain development and health-related issues.

6. Emotional Development The way in which emotions change or remain stable across the lifespan

7. Social Development The continuous acquisition of attitudes, feelings and behaviours that enable individuals to relate to one another and function appropriately within their society across their life course.

8. Cognitive Development The mental abilities which have to do with knowing and thinking – e.g. decision-making, language development.

9. Personality Development The extent to which an individual’s essence, characteristic thought and behaviour change over the lifespan

10. How will we learn about it? K W L’s Documentaries Discussions/debates Observations Independent Research Excursions Quizzes Group work NOTE-TAKING 

11. How will we be assessed? Research Task/In-Class Essay In-Class Test Oral Presentation Exam

12. Unit Outline: Examine CAREFULLY. Note the due dates, late policies, extension policies, content schedule and criteria to get an A grade. TIME MANAGEMENT. DRAFTS. EXTENSIONS. HOMEWORK CLUB.

13. THE HUMAN LIFESPAN

14. TASK Plot your life so far, and what you anticipate it will be like in the future. It can be a timeline of events/goals Or a rough line graph of excitement/activity/changes You MUST, however, label your graph with the stages/ages of your life and key milestones appropriately (whether it has happened yet or not). Birth

15. Lifespan and Stages Period of Life Time Frame Prenatal Conception to birth 2. Infancy First 2 years 3. Childhood Toddler Preschool Mid childhood Onset of Puberty marks the end of this period 2 years to teens 2 years to 3 years 3 years to 6 years 6 years to 12 years 4. Adolescence 12 years to 20 years 5. Young Adulthood 20 years to 40 years 6. Middle Age 40 years to 65 years 7. Old age a) Young b) Middle c) Old 65 years + 65 years to 70 years 70 years to 85 years 85 years +

16. Areas of Dispute in Developmental Psychology Nature vs Nurture To what extent is development influenced by nature (inheritance) and by nurture (environmental influences)? Continuity vs Discontinuity Is development continuous or does it occur in stages? Universal vs Differences Is there a universal pattern of development indicative of normality or do alternative patterns exist?

17. TYPES OF STUDIES/RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

18. LONGITUDINAL STUDY - A study of a person or the same group of people over an extended period of time.

19. CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY A study of different groups of people who differ in the variable of interest, but share other characteristics such as age, socioeconomic status, educational background and ethnicity. It differs from a longitudinal study as they are designed to look at a variable at a particular point in time.