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Goals of child psychology
- Describe (changes typically occurring from conception to
18)
- Explain (what causes these changes)
- Predict (based on past and present characteristics)
- Improve (well-being and positive changes)
Different views of children
Ancient Cultures: child property of parents
Middle Ages: child is miniature adult
17th Century: influence of John Locke (tabula rosa)
20th Century: no rights, convention on rights of child, current
state of children in SA
Developmental Stages
1. Prenatal stage (subdivided into the germinal, embryonic,
and fetal periods)
2. Neonatal stage (first 2-4 weeks of life)
3. Early childhood (2-6)
4. Middle childhood (six to puberty)
5. Adolescence (puberty to adulthood)
• Legal definition of a child is a person under the age of
18
• Some characteristics + skills are obvious, which means
there are certain boundaries between stages may be
clearly drawn and accepted.
Domains of Development
1. Physical Development: entails changes such a body weight
and height. Motor Development and body moving is crucial.
2. Cognitive Development : how we acquire information about
world by means of senses and how we process this
information. Intelligence is a subdivision.
3. Personality Development: unique to specific individual
and their self-concept/ identity that they have.
, 4. Social Development: develop of individuals interactions
and relationships with people. It also refers to the
influence of society.
- Moral development involves the individuals views
concerning what is right and wrong.
- Religion and spirituality are usually learned in social
contexts.
Issues in Child Development
1. Nature VS nurture: nature refers to biological
determinants such as genetic, neurological and hormonal
factors where nurture refers to social + physical
environments. Heredity sets the limits and environments
determines extent of developing between these limits.
2. Continuity VS Discontinuity: past and present behaviour
is best predictor of future behaviour. human future
behaviour cannot be predicted.
3. Passive VS Active Involvement: do children play an active
role in their development because of the mercy and
influence of their environments. Children cognitively +
emotionally interpret and process experiences that play a
significant role in their lives.
4. Universality VS Cultural Context: universality and
cultural context that develops a child. An important
cultural context is the role of parental practices in the
socialisation of their children.
Theories of Development
o a theory summarises and explains the presently known
facts and give them meaning.
o Aims to predict future behaviour
o Stimulates new research
The following theoretical perspectives are discussed:
o Biological
o Psychodynamic
o Learning theory
o Cognitive developmental
o Contextual
o The Africa
1. The Biological Perspective
• Maturational Theory
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