Developmental

Psychology
(An Introduction)

Ms. Paula Manalo | 01/03/19

Lifespan Development
 Lifespan Development
 Growth
 Changes
 Birth to Death
 Development in:
◦ Cognitive
◦ Personality
◦ Moral
◦ Social
◦ Sexual & Reproduction
◦ Physiological
 5 Perspectives
1. Multidirectional
- change from multiple
directions of influence

- Butterfly Effect: One small action

or event set of a much larger chain
of major events
 5 Perspectives
2. Multicontextual
- many contexts that affect human
development
 Historical events
 Economic conditions
 Cultural traditions
 Race
 Gender
 Age
 Socioeconomic status
 5 Perspectives
3. Multicultural
• Influences
• Values
• Traditions
• living standards
 5 Perspectives
4.Multidisciplinary
• Sociology • History
• Psychology • Medicine
• Education • Anthropology
• Economics • Political Science
• Religion • Art/Theater/Music
/Cultural Studies
 5 Perspectives
5. Plasticity

Developmental changes occur

throughout the lifespan and can be
drastically altered at any point in
time.
 3 Developmental Domains
• Main areas of study that focus on
developmental changes

1. Biosocial
2. Cognitive
3. Psychosocial
 3 Developmental Domains
1. Biosocial Domain
- influence of social factors on
biological development
–Examples:
• Availability of milk and bone
growth
• Nutrition and neurological
development
 3 Developmental Domains
2. Cognitive Domain:
- thought processes
- perceptual abilities
- language  behavior and
development
• Examples
–Schemas
 3 Developmental Domains
3. Psychosocial Domain
- interpersonal relationships
– Examples:
• Personality studies
• Relationships with family and
friends
• Relationships with society as
a whole
Factors Affecting Development
 Internal Factors: unique to the individual
◦ Genetics
◦ Physical maturation
◦ Cognition
 External Factors: outside of the
individual
◦ Socioeconomic status
◦ Availability of resources
◦ Social influences
 Prenatal Development
Zygote - fertilized Egg
 Prenatal Development
Stages of Fertilized Egg
1. Blastula
2. Gastrula
3. Embryo

https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eqIbY81y-DM/UX43jh546mI/AAAAAAAAAFk/7iId8s-YlQA/s1600/blastula.jpg
Pregnancy
 Newborn Capacities
• Not a great deal of control over muscles
• Movements of their eyes, mouth
• More reflexive movements take place as
months pass
• By 5 Months: Extensive visual experience
before crawling and reaching for objects
– Responds to sounds, but sucking
response lessened when other new
sounds are introduced
Responding to the Environment
 Habituation: Decreased response to
repeated stimuli
 Dishabituation: A Stimulus change that
produces an increase in a previously
habituated response
http://www.psychology4a.com/behaviourism-phobias.html

 Research Example: The Case of Little

Albert
 Learning Theories:
◦ Classical Conditioning, Operant Conditioning,
Social Learning Theory
 Ecological Approach
• Urie Bronfenbrenner
• development occurs as a result of
interactions with the environment
• Based on ecological models of
ecosystems
– Human development occurs as we try to
survive the ecosystem of our world
– Each context that impacts development
has its own level in the model
Ecological Approach
Sigmund Freud’s Psychosexual
Stages of Development
Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial
Stages of Development
Jean Piaget’s Stages of
Cognitive Development

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