Lesson 01

DEFINITION AND NATURE OF DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

Developmental Psychology is one of the sub-fields of Psychology. It is an ontogenetic study of
human organism from conception to death. Developmental Psychology seeks understanding
and controls the basic processes and dynamics underlying human behavior at the various stages
of life. Its investigations encompass the growth and maturation of the individual organism, its
cognitive and emotional powers, as well as its personality structure.
Developmental Psychology, as a science of growth, deals with all the processes contributing to
becoming an infant, a child, an adolescent, and a mature adult.
According to Hurlock, "Developmental Psychology is the branch of psy chology that studies
intraindividual changes and interindividual changes within these intraindividual changes. Its
task is not only description but also explication of age-related changes in behaviour in terms of
antecedent consequent relationship."
Some developmental psychologists study developmental changes cover ing the life span from
conception to death. Others cover only a segment of the life span, childhood or old age.
Developmental Psychology is a scientific discipline that attempts: (I) to devise methods for
studying organisms as they evolve over time ( U ) to collect facts about individuals of different
ages, backgrounds and personalities and (iii) to construct a theoretical frame work that can
account for the observed behaviors as well as for the changes occurring throughout the life
cycle.