Chapter 1
Studying a
Child’s World
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prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
Early Approaches to Child
Development
 Child development
 Scientific study of processes of change and stability in
children from conception through adolescence.
 Early approaches
 Baby biographies – First recorded in 1787.
 Darwin’s journal - 1877
 Development
 Scientific respectability
 30 more in next three decades
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prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
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Developmental Psychology:
A Science
 Early 20c
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Infant survival
Protecting children
Adolescence
Understanding influences on children
Establishment of research institutes
Emergence of child psychology as a true science
Gesell’s studies on stages in motor development
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prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
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Domains of Development
 Physical development:
 Growth of body and brain
 Cognitive development:
 Pattern of change in mental abilities
 Psychosocial development:
 Pattern of change in emotions, personality, and social
relationships
 BioPsychoSocial Development
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prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
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Periods of Development
Prenatal period
Conception to Birth
Infancy/Toddler
0 – 3 years
Early childhood
3 – 5/6
Middle and late
childhood
5/6 – 11/12
Adolescence
11/12 – 20
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prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
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Influences on Development
 What makes each child unique?
 Primary challenges in developmental psychology:
 Identify the universal influences on development.
 Apply influences to the understanding of individual
differences in developmental trajectories.
 Heredity
 Environment
 Socialization
 Maturation
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prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
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Contexts of Development
 Family
 Nuclear vs. Extended
 Culture and Race/Ethnicity
 Socioeconomic Status (SES)
 Historical Context
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prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
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Normative vs Non-Normative
Influences
 Normative Influences
 Similar way for most people in a group.
 Age-graded
 History-graded
 Cohort
 Non-normative Influences
 Unusual event that happens to a particular person.
 Typical event that happens at an unusual time of life
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prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
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Timing of Influences
 Biologically Controlled
 Imprinting
 Critical period
 Sensitive periods
 Plasticity
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prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
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An Emerging Consensus
 All domains of development are interrelated.
 Normal development includes a wide range of individual
differences.
 Children help shape their development and influence others’
responses to them.
 Historical and cultural contexts strongly influence development.
 Early experience is important, but children can be remarkably
resilient.
 Development in childhood affects development throughout the
life span.
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prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
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