Essay
essay development psychology
- Module
- Developmental Psychology
- Institution
- The University Of Liverpool (UoL)
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Change is inevitable. As humans, we constantly grow throughout our lifespans,from conception to death. Psychologists strive to understand and explain how
and why people change throughout life. While many of these changes are
normal and expected, they can still pose challenges that people sometimes
need extra assistance to manage.
The principles of normative development helps professionals to spot potential
problems and provide early intervention for better outcomes. Developmental
psychologists can work with people of all ages to address roadblocks and
support growth, although some choose to specialize in a specific age group
such as childhood, adulthood, or old age.
What Is Developmental Psychology?
Developmental psychology is the branch of psychology that focuses on how
people grow and change over the course of a lifetime. Those who specialize in
this field are not just concerned with the physical changes that occur as people
grow; they also look at the social, emotional, and cognitive development that
occurs throughout life.
Some of the many issues developmental psychologists assist with include:
• Cognitive development during childhood and throughout life
• Developmental challenges and learning disabilities
• Emotional development
• Language acquisition
• Moral reasoning
• Motor skill development
• Personality development
• Self-awareness and self-concept
• Social and cultural influences on child development
These professionals spend a great deal of time investigating and observing
how these processes occur under normal circumstances, but they are also
interested in learning about things that can disrupt developmental processes.
By better understanding how and why people change and grow, developmental
psychologists help people live up to their full potential. Understanding the
course of normal human development and recognizing potential problems
early on can prevent difficulties with depression, low self-esteem, frustration,
and low achievement in school.
, Developmental Psychology Theories
Developmental psychologists often utilize a number of theories to think about
different aspects of human development. For example, a psychologist
assessing intellectual development in a child might consider Piaget's theory of
cognitive development, which outlined the key stages that children go through
as they learn.
A psychologist working with a child might also want to consider how the
child's relationships with caregivers influences his or her behaviors, and so
turn to Bowlby's theory of attachment.
Psychologists are also interested in looking at how social relationships
influence the development of both children and adults. Erikson's theory of
psychosocial development and Vygotsky's theory of sociocultural development
are two popular theoretical frameworks that address the social influences on
the developmental process.
Each approach tends to stress different aspects of development such as mental,
social, or parental influences on how children grow and progress.
When to See a Developmental Psychologist
While development tends to follow a fairly predictable pattern, there are times
when things might go off course. Parents often focus on what are known as
developmental milestones, which represent abilities that most children tend to
display by a certain point in development. These typically focus on one of four
different areas: physical, cognitive, social/emotional, and communication.
For example, walking is one physical milestone that most children achieve
sometime between the ages of 9 and 15 months. If a child is not walking or
attempting to walk by 16 to 18 months, parents might consider consulting with
their family physician to determine if a developmental issue might be present.
While all children develop at different rates, when a child fails to meet certain
milestones by a certain age, there may be cause for concern. By being aware of
these milestones, parents can seek assistance, and healthcare professionals
can offer interventions that can help kids overcome developmental delays.
These professionals often evaluate children to determine if a developmental
delay might be present, or they might work with elderly patients who are
facing health concerns associated with old age such as cognitive declines,
physical struggles, emotional difficulties, or degenerative brain disorders.
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