what is the course of developmental psychology about

by Jordon Mraz 7 min read

Developmental Psychology is the study of human development throughout the lifespan. This course explores developmental theory and research with an emphasis on the interactive nature of the biological, cognitive and psychosocial changes that affect the individual from conception to death.

How to become a developmental psychologist?

Feb 02, 2022 · Developmental psychology is the study of how humans grow, change, and adapt across the course of their lives. Developmental psychologists research the stages of physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development from the prenatal stage to infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Learn more about developmental psychology, including the …

What are careers in developmental psychology?

Feb 05, 2018 · Developmental psychology is the branch of psychology that focuses on how people grow and change over the course of a lifetime. Those who specialize in this field are not just concerned with the physical changes that occur as people grow; they also look at the social, emotional, and cognitive development that occurs throughout life.

What developmental psychologists are most interested in?

Sep 19, 2016 · Developmental psychology, a broad area of study exploring the development of humans over time, involves the examination of the ways people develop over the course of their lifespan as well as the...

What are the stages of development psychology?

The Field of Developmental Psychology. Developmental psychology is the study of how our mental capabilities, such as logic, language, and problem solving, progress as we age. Developmental psychologists are interested in the human development of emotions, morals, culture, and identity. In this career, you'll participate in both clinical and ...

What can I expect from a developmental psychology course?

You will analyze and discuss the strengths, and the weaknesses of the major theories of lifespan development, as well as learn about the impact of biological and genetic influences, such as ethnicity, and gender, alongside other cultural factors, on physical growth, cognition, and behavior.

What is the main idea of developmental psychology?

Developmental psychology looks at how thinking, feeling, and behavior change throughout a person's life. A significant proportion of theories within this discipline focus upon development during childhood, as this is the period during an individual's lifespan when the most change occurs.

What does a developmental psychologist do?

Developmental psychologists study how people grow and adapt at different life stages. They conduct research designed to help people reach their full potential. For example, babies who are not walking by 15 months may be demonstrating a developmental delay or signs of a more serious health condition.

Why is it important to study developmental psychology?

The study of developmental psychology is essential to understanding how humans learn, mature and adapt. Throughout their lives, humans go through various stages of development. Developmental psychologists study how people grow, develop and adapt at different life stages.

What 3 major questions are studied in developmental psychology?

Here are some of the basic questions within the realm of developmental psychology and what many psychologists today believe about these issues.Nature vs. Nurture.Early Experience vs. Later Experience.Continuity vs. Discontinuity.Abnormal Behavior vs. Differences.Oct 4, 2020

Are developmental psychologists in demand?

Demand for clinical, counseling and developmental psychologists is expected to grow as more people want help with their problems as they age. More people also want to understand how the human brain develops and changes with age, so developmental psychologists will be needed in greater numbers.

What is the difference between psychology and developmental psychology?

General psychologists might also work in the field of human resources, or be employed by a public school to offer counseling services to students. Developmental psychologists have a more defined focus in terms of their work.

Is developmental psychology the same as child psychology?

Today, however, most recognize that there are great qualitative differences that make children unique. Developmental Psychologists study the physical, mental, and social changes that occur during the lifecycle. Thus, child psychologists focus on these changes that occur from birth to adolescence.

What is developmental psychology?

Developmental psychology is the branch of psychology that focuses on how people grow and change over the course of a lifetime. Those who specialize in this field are not just concerned with the physical changes that occur as people grow; they also look at the social, emotional, and cognitive development that occurs throughout life.

What is the period of development?

The period from infancy through early childhood is a time of remarkable growth and change. Developmental psychologists look at things such as the physical, cognitive, and emotional growth that takes place during this critical period of development.

When can a child not walk?

If a child is not walking or attempting to walk by 16 to 18 months, parents might consider consulting with their family physician to determine if a developmental issue might be present.

What are developmental milestones?

Parents often focus on what are known as developmental milestones, which represent abilities that most children tend to display by a certain point in development.

What is the prenatal period?

The prenatal period is of interest to developmental psychologists who seek to understand how the earliest influences on development can impact later growth during childhood. Psychologists may look at how primary reflexes emerge before birth, how fetuses respond to stimuli in the womb, and the sensations and perceptions that fetuses are capable of detecting prior to birth.

What does it feel like to have a developmental issue?

Receiving a diagnosis of a developmental issue can often feel both confusing and frightening, particularly when it is your child who is affected. Once you or your loved one has received a diagnosis of a developmental issue, spend some time learning as much as you can about the diagnosis and available treatments .

Why do psychologists work?

As humans, we constantly grow throughout our lifespans, from conception to death . Psychologists strive to understand and explain how and why people change throughout life. While many of these changes are normal and expected, they can still pose challenges that people sometimes need extra assistance to manage.

What is developmental psychology?

Developmental psychology, a broad area of study exploring the development of humans over time, involves the examination of the ways people develop over the course of their lifespan as well as the evolution of cultures as a whole. Those who work in the field of developmental psychology seek to better understand how people learn ...

What is the most important aspect of developmental psychology?

One particularly important aspect of developmental psychology that has been widely researched is cognitive development , or how people learn. Behavioral theorists believe individuals are largely passive but are molded by environmental factors through operant and classical conditioning.

Where do developmental psychologists work?

Developmental psychologists might work in schools, hospitals, or assisted living facilities, and they might also conduct research or teach in higher education or government institutes.

Who is Erik Erikson?

Erik Erikson, who was interested in both individual development (how a person develops a sense of self ) as well as a person’s social/cultural identity (the roles played within one's family and in society), is another important figure in the field of developmental psychology.

What did Piaget believe?

Piaget believed all individuals passed through through the same four stages. In order to progress from one stage to the next, a person must meet the goals of the current stage. This theory is used widely in school curriculums. The sensorimotor stage marks the first two years of life.

What is the preoperational stage?

Object permanence and language development are important goals in this stage. The preoperational stage typically lasts until about the age of 7. During this stage, children learn to use symbolic thinking to deepen their understanding of various concepts.

What does it mean when a child feels inadequate?

Children who feel inadequate or inferior to their peers may develop self-esteem issues or struggle with competency. Adolescents (12-18) begin to experience identity vs. role confusion. In this stage, their development begins to depend largely on their own actions as they begin to discover and express their identity .

What is developmental psychology?

Developmental psychology is the study of how our mental capabilities, such as logic, language, and problem solving, progress as we age. Developmental psychologists are interested in the human development of emotions, morals, culture, and identity. In this career, you'll participate in both clinical and field research to trace human development from infancy and childhood to adolescence and adulthood. You may study issues like nature versus nurture, language acquisition, and cognitive development.

What is cognitive development?

Cognitive development is another area of developmental psychology that you may study. One theory you may cover is psychologist Jean Piaget's idea that there are different stages of cognitive development that formulate in infancy and continue into adulthood. In college programs, you may take courses that are based on Piaget's findings. These courses may focus on tracing how infants learn about the world around them, explore how young children develop their gender identity over time, or look at the development of abstract logic in adolescents.

What is developmental psychology?

Developmental Psychology Definition. Developmental psychology is the study of how people grow, change, and remain the same throughout their lifespan. In the past, developmental psychology was primarily used to understand the mental, emotional, and cognitive growth of children. This is because the biggest changes to human beings occur ...

Why is developmental psychology important?

Developmental psychology is also important for helping those with developmental disabilities.

Where do developmental psychologists work?

Developmental psychologists may also work with the elderly in nursing homes, hospitals, mental health clinics, and homeless shelters. Psychologists can use developmental theories to help individuals of all ages understand their stage of life and how they can be happier and more productive.

What is the continuity vs discontinuity argument?

The continuity vs. discontinuity argument is about the stages of life that children and adults go through. Psychologists who believe in continuity assert that normal development is a gradual and continual process. Children develop much in the same way as they grow taller.

What is the difference between nature and nurture?

Nurture. You have probably heard the nature vs. nurture debate. Some psychologists believe that nature, or genetics, primarily dictates a child's development, while other psychologists believe that nurture, or environmental factors, plays a larger role. The truth lies somewhere in between.

Is Nadirah a good counselor?

“Nadirah is a great counselor. I especially appreciate her discernment in knowing when to provide counsel and when to listen. She's been a great and extraordinarily key component to my overall psychological development and rehabilitation. I highly recommend Nadirah as a great therapist to prospective clients/patients.”

How to explain development?

When trying to explain development, it is important to consider the relative contribution of both nature and nurture. Developmental psychology seeks to answer two big questions about heredity and environment: 1 How much weight does each contribute? 2 How do nature and nurture interact?

Who are the three theorists of human development?

During the 1900s three key figures have dominated the field with their extensive theories of human development, namely Jean Piaget (1896-1980), Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934) and John Bowlby (1907-1990). Indeed, much of the current research continues to be influenced by these three theorists. Download this article as a PDF.

What is discontinuity in psychology?

These are called developmental stages-periods of life initiated by distinct transitions in physical or psychological functioning. Psychologists of the discontinuity view believe that people go through the same stages, in the same order, but not necessarily at the same rate.

What is discontinuity view?

The discontinuity view sees development as more abrupt-a succession of changes that produce different behaviors in different age-specific life periods called stages.

What is the course about?

The course Introduction to Developmental Psychology is an online class provided by The University of Queensland through edX. The skill level of the course is Introductory. It may be possible to receive a verified certification or use the course to prepare for a degree.

Degree & Cost

To obtain a verified certificate from edX / The University of Queensland you have to finish this course or the latest version of it, if there is a new edition. The class may be free of charge, but there could be some cost to receive a verified certificate (99.00 USD) or to access the learning materials.

What are the factors that contribute to ADHD?

In early life, in addition to genetic factors, maternal smoking, low birth weight, premature birth, maternal stress and psychosocial adversity are risk factors for ADHD.

Is pharmacotherapy effective for ADHD?

Pharmacotherapy provides a moderately effective treatment of ADHD symptoms in adults (Meszaros et al., 2009). However, adults with ADHD also struggle in many functional domains, including education, jobs, relationships, and home responsibilities.

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Summary

  • Developmental psychology is the scientific study of the age-related changes that occur over the course of the human lifespan. Although early developmental theorists were mainly concerned with children, the focus of this field has now expanded to include changes over the entire human lifespan from conception to death. Developmental psychologists study various domains of devel…
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Development

  • People undergo many physical, cognitive, social, intellectual, and emotional changes throughout life, and it is these changes that developmental psychologists study. Developmental psychology theories tend to explain development in terms of a progression through life stages.One such of these theories, Jean Piaget's theory of development, is considered to be the first stage theory, a…
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  • Research on human development has made major contributions to our understanding of the parenting approaches that lead to the most successful child outcomes. For example, psychologist Diana Baumrind suggested that there were some essential dimensions of parenting marked by discipline approaches, warmth, communication styles, and parental expectations. Today, resear…
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Definition

  • 2. Continuity vs discontinuity Is human development a gradual and continuous process in which individuals build on previously acquired knowledge and skills or is it a discontinuous process, involving a series of discrete stages in which new knowledge and behaviours emerge abruptly?
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Examples

  • Banduras social learning theory, which is a more recent contribution to the field, suggests that people learn by witnessing the actions of others. This was demonstrated with what are known as the Bobo doll experiments.\" Children who watched a person attack a blow-up doll were extremely likely to then attack the doll themselves without any incitement whatsoever. This theory, which a…
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Issues

  • There are several major issues have been at the core of developmental psychology since its emergence. These include issues relating to: 1. Nature vs nurture Are developmental changes the result of innate characteristics (nature) or environmental influences (nurture)?
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Goals

  • [showmyads] Developmental psychologists seek not only to describe the qualitative and quantitative changes that occur as humans grow and age, but also to explain the underlying mechanisms by which these changes occur. Both of these aims are fulfilled through scientific studies across various age and cultural groups. Such research has resulted in extensive data sh…
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  • Like other areas of psychology, the goals of developmental psychology are not only to describe how development occurs but also to explain, predict, and even control the course of development. By better understanding the many influences that contribute to normative development, psychologists can recommend strategies, approaches, and interventions that lead to better outc…
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Causes

  • Developmental psychology is concerned with the many factors that influence human development. The question of nature vs. nurture has long been an important one in the field of psychology. Most theorists agree that both biological and environmental factors influence how an individual develops, but there is still some disagreement over the contributions of each area. Gre…
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Influences

  • Several influential theorists have helped to shape the field of developmental psychology through their significant theoretical contributions. These include Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky, who both proposed valuable theories of cognitive development; Sigmund Freud, Erik Erikson and John B. Watson, who proposed detailed theories of personality development; and Lawrence Kohlberg, w…
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Prognosis

  • People undergo many physical, cognitive, social, intellectual, and emotional changes throughout life, and it is these changes that developmental psychologists study. Developmental psychology theories tend to explain development in terms of a progression through life stages.
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Models

  • One particularly important aspect of developmental psychology that has been widely researched is cognitive development, or how people learn. Behavioral theorists believe individuals are largely passive but are molded by environmental factors through operant and classical conditioning. Social learning theory, on the the other hand, explores the models that people imitate, suggestin…
See more on goodtherapy.org