Overview
Developmental Psychology studies how we grow. We aren’t born as mini-adults; our minds go through distinct stages of evolution from birth to death.
Core Idea
The core idea is stages. Just as a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, a child’s mind fundamentally changes structure.
- Piaget: Cognitive stages (learning to think).
- Erikson: Psychosocial stages (learning to relate).
Formal Definition
The study of physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the lifespan.
Intuition
- Object Permanence: Peek-a-boo is fun for babies because they literally think you ceased to exist when you hid your face. They haven’t learned that things exist when unseen.
- Theory of Mind: Around age 4, kids realize other people have different thoughts than they do. (The Sally-Anne Test).
Examples
- Attachment Theory (Bowlby): How you bond with your mom determines how you bond with romantic partners later. (Secure vs. Anxious vs. Avoidant).
- Marshmallow Test: Testing delayed gratification in kids. (Predicts future success… mostly).
- Adolescence: The brain rewires itself, causing risk-taking and emotional volatility.
Common Misconceptions
- Misconception: Development stops at 18.
- Correction: We continue to develop through adulthood (Midlife Crisis, Aging). Neuroplasticity persists.
- Misconception: It’s all parenting.
- Correction: Genetics plays a huge role (Nature vs. Nurture).
Related Concepts
- Education: Tailoring teaching to developmental stages.
- Language Acquisition: How kids learn to speak.
- Gerontology: The study of aging.
Applications
- Parenting: Understanding what is “normal” behavior.
- Law: Juvenile justice (kids shouldn’t be tried as adults because their brains aren’t finished).
Criticism and Limitations
- WEIRD Bias: Most studies are on Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic kids. Development might look different in other cultures.
Further Reading
- The Scientist in the Crib by Gopnik et al.
- Childhood and Society by Erik Erikson