history & methods in developmental psychology

history & methods in developmental psychology

1. Human Development in Historical Perspective Presented by: Rabia Javed Iqbal

2. THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Developmental psychology is the scientific study of age-related changes in behavior , thinking, emotion, and personality Many Western beliefs about human development are based on philosophers' explanations for differences they observed in individuals of different ages

3. History of developmental psychology Developmental psychology first appeared as an area of study in the late 19th century ( Baltes , Lindenberger , & Staudinger, 2007). Developmental psychology focused initially on child and adolescent development, and was concerned about children’s minds and learning (Hall, 1883).

4. There are several key figures in developmental psychology. In 1877, the famous evolutionary biologist Charles Darwin undertook the first study of developmental psychology on innate communication forms . Not long after, physiologist William Preyer (1888) published a book on the abilities of an infant.

5. The 1900s saw many significant people dominating the developmental psychology field with their detailed theories of development: Sigmund Freud (1923, 1961), Jean Piaget (1928), Erik Erikson (1959), Lev Vygotsky (1978), John Bowlby (1958), and Albert Bandura (1977).

6. By the 1920s, the scope of developmental psychology had begun to include adult development and the aging process (Thompson, 2016). In more recent years, it has broadened further to include prenatal development (Brandon et al., 2009 ). Developmental psychology is now understood to encompass the complete lifespan ( Baltes et al., 2007).

7. Theories & Models The key figures in the history of developmental psychology are predominantly known for their own theories and models. Each of these models has contributed to the understanding of the process of human development and growth. Furthermore, each theory and model focuses on different aspects of development: social, emotional, psychosexual, behavioral, attachment, social learning, and many more. Here are some of the most popular models of development that have heavily contributed to the field of developmental psychology.

8. Bowlby’s attachment styles

9. Piaget’s theory of cognitive development

10. Freud’s psychosexual development theory

11.  Bandura’s social learning theory

12. RESEARCH METHODS FOR DEVELOPMENTAL CHANGES

13. There are many different developmental psychology research methods, including cross-sectional, longitudinal, correlational, and experimental . Each has its own specific advantages and disadvantages. The one that a scientist chooses depends largely on the aim of the study and the nature of the phenomenon being studied . Research design provides a standardized framework to test a hypothesis and evaluate whether the hypothesis is correct, incorrect, or inconclusive .