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Themes & Methods in Developmental Psych

Module 3.1

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Explain three themes that have engaged develomental psychologists and two methods they typically use to study human development over time.

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What is Developmental Psych?

  • Developmental Psychology - the study of how people change physically, mentally, socially, emotionally throughout the lifespan
  • Basic question: What shapes the way we change over time?
  • At every age and stage of life, developmental psychologists investigate the influence of multiple factors on development, including:
    • Biological
    • Environmental
    • Social
    • Cultural
    • Behavioral factors

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Developmental Research Methods:

  • Cross-sectional - performance of people of different age groups is compared

  • Longitudinal - performance of one group of people is assessed repeatedly over time

  • Meta-Analysis – combining the findings of many independent studies

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DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY’S MAJOR ISSUES:�

How does our genetic inheritance interact with our experiences in development?

    • Study similarities caused by our shared biology
    • How do we learn ways of thinking or acting from those around us?
    • Biological, psychological & social forces interact

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DEVELOPMENT’S MAJOR ISSUES:�

Development means change –

change can be abrupt or gradual

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Types of Growth Patterns

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DEVELOPMENT’S MAJOR ISSUES:�Stability & Change�

  • What developmental traits remain stable over time, and which change?
    • Studies show our temperament (emotional reactivity & intensity) is stable over time.
    • As we grow older, our personality stabilizes.
    • Social Attitudes change with time
  • Stability give us an identity while Change allows give us hope to make ourselves better

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