Chapter 1The Study of Human Development

Human DevelopmentWhat is it?The study of how people change & how they remain they sameRecurring IssuesNature versus Nurture (Environment or genes?)Continuity versus Discontinuity (Development as a smooth progression or as abrupt shifts?)Universal versus Context-Specific Development (One path of development or several?)

Basic ForcesBiological

Psychological

Sociocultural

Life-cycle

Developmental TheoriesPsychodynamicMain idea: personality develops through sequence of stagesFreuds Theory Stages of Psychosexual DevelopmentEriksons Theory Stages of Psychosocial DevelopmentLearningMain idea: environment controls behavior; learn through modeling and observingSkinner BehaviorismBandura Social Learning Theory

Theories ContinuedCognitive-DevelopmentalMain idea: thinking develops in sequence of stagesPiaget 4 Stages of Cognitive DevelopmentKohlberg Theory of Moral ReasoningEcologicalMain idea: adaptation is optimal when ability & demands are in balanceLawton & Nahemow Competence-Environmental Press TheoryLife SpanMain idea: development is multiply determinedRiley Life-Span Perspective

Doing Developmental ResearchMeasurementGeneral DesignsCorrelational StudiesExperimental StudiesDesigns for studying developmentLongitudinal StudiesCross-Sectional Studies

Developmental Research ContinuedConducting Research Ethically

Communicating Research Results