Developmental Psychology
Developmental Psychology is a branch of psychology that studies how humans grow and change throughout their life. It focuses on physical, emotional, cognitive, and social development, examining how people evolve from infancy through old age. The goal is to understand how and why we develop in certain ways, from how we learn language to how we form relationships and handle emotions.
Key Areas of Developmental Psychology:
- Cognitive Development: How thinking, problem-solving, and understanding evolve, as highlighted by Jean Piaget’s stages.
- Social and Emotional Development: How we form attachments, handle emotions, and interact with others (e.g., Erik Erikson’s psychosocial stages).
- Physical Development: Growth in body size, motor skills, and coordination.
- Moral Development: How we learn right from wrong, explored in Lawrence Kohlberg’s stages of moral development.
Example: Piaget’s Cognitive Development Stages
Sensorimotor Stage (0-2 years): Babies learn through interacting with their environment. For instance, a baby learns that shaking a rattle makes a sound.
Preoperational Stage (2-7 years): Children start using language to explore the world. They engage in pretend play, like a child using a stick as a sword.
Concrete Operational Stage (7-11 years): Logical thinking develops. For example, a child understands that pouring liquid from a tall glass to a wide bowl doesn’t change its volume.
Formal Operational Stage (12 years and up): Abstract thinking begins. Teenagers can solve complex problems like algebra or hypothetical situations.
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