Eed-511:

Child and
Adolescent Growth and
Development

Prepared by: Angelica April P. Mallorca

Developmental psychology is a
scientific approach which aims to
explain growth, change and
consistency though the lifespan.
Developmental
psychology looks
at how thinking,
feeling, and
behavior change
throughout a
person’s life.
Issues on Development

Nature ty VS Continuity VS
VS il i
Nurtur Stab e Discontinuity
e Ch a n g
Does behaviour results from
genetic or environment?
 Nature Nurture
Our genetics determine The impact of the environment,
which involves the process of
our behaviour.
How do Our
nature and nurture interact?
learning through experiences.
personality traits and
abilities are in “nature”.

How much weight does each contribute?

Some philosophers such as
Plato and Descartes suggested
that certain things are inborn,
or that they occur naturally
regardless of environmental
influences.
John Locke argued for the
concept of tabula rasa—a
belief that the mind is a
blank slate at birth, with
experience determining our
knowledge.
There are two effective ways to study nature-nurture.

Twin studies: Identical twins have the same

genotype, and fraternal twins have an average of
50% of their genes in common.

Adoption studies: Similarities with the biological

family support nature, while similarities with the
adoptive family support nurture.
 Nature Nurture

Today, most psychologists believe

that it is an interaction between these
two forces that causes development.
Does change occur smoothly over
time or through a series of pre
determined change?
 Continuity Discontinuity
Normative The discontinuity view
development is sees development as
typically viewed as a more abrupt-a
continual and succession of changes
cumulative process. that produce different
The continuity view behaviours in different
says that change is age-specific life
gradual. periods called stages.
Quantitative Changes Qualitative Changes
changes involve
dealing with
differences in how
epigenesis, or
much (or how many)
of something exists. emergence.
“Gappiness” “Emergence”
The older a child The children pass
through critical
gets the more
stages in
skills they develop.
development.
Discontinuity
Does personality completely
develops in childhood or it
changes throughout the
lifespan?
 Stability Change
Personality or
temperament that a Personality and
child has at birth will temperament can
remain through out change as a child
the that child’s develops at different
development. stages.
Personality Personality is
develops in the modified through
first 5 years of a interaction.
child.
 Genetics Environment
Nature Nurture
Gradual Change Stages
Continuity Discontinuity

Young = Old Young = Old

Stability Change