Developmental Psychology

Is the branch of psychology that studies intraindividual changes and interindividual

changes within these intraindividual changes.

Six Major objectives of Developmental Psychology;

1. To find out what are the common and characteristics age changes in appearance.
2. To find out when these changes occur.
3. To find out what causes them.
4. To find out how they influence behavior.
5. To find out whether they can or cannot be predicted.
6. To find out whether they are individual or universal.

Developmental Changes
A result of maturation and experience.
Develop implies qualitative changes.

Goal of Developmental changes

To enable people to adapt to the environment in which they live.
Sometimes called self-actualization.

Factors Influencing attitudes toward development Changes

1. Appearance
 Changes that improve one’s appearance are welcome and lead to favorable
attitudes while those that detract from one’s appearance are resisted and every
possible attempt is made camouflage them.
2. Behavior
 When behavior changes are disconcerting as during poverty and senescence,
they affect attitudes toward the changes unfavorably.
3. Cultural Stereotypes
 From mass media, people learn cultural stereotypes associated with different
ages.
4. Role Changes
 Attitudes toward people of different ages are greatly influence by the roles they
play.
5. Personal Experience
 Have a profound effect on an individual’s attitude toward developmental
changes.
Significant Facts about Development
1. Early Foundations are Critical
Attitudes, habits and patterns of behavior established during the early years.
2. Roles of Maturation and Learning in Development
Maturation individual inherits traits;
 Phylogenetic Functions – common to human race
 Ontogenetic Functions – specific to individual
3. Development follows a Definite and Predictable Pattern
Orderly patterns of physical, motor, speech and etc. The following is the law of
developmental direction:
 Cephalocaudal Law – from head to foot
 Proximodistal Law – from the central axis of the body to extremities.
4. All individuals are Different
Every person is indeed biologically and genetically different from every other.
5. Each Phase of Development has characteristic behavior
Equilibrium – when individuals adapt easily to environmental demands.
Disequilibrium – experience difficulties in adaption.
6. Each Phase of Development has Hazard
Associated with it certain developmental hazards whether physical,
psychological or environmental in origin.
7. Development is aided by stimulation
Most development occur as a result of maturation and environmental
experiences.
8. Development is affected by Cultural Changes
Individuals development is molded to conform to cultural standards and ideas
changes.
9. Social Expectations for every stage of Development
Two important development tasks;
 Purposed of Developmental tasks – guidelines
 Hazards of Developmental tasks – side effect

HAVIGHURT’S DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS DURING THE LIFE SPAN

Babyhood and Early Childhood
Late Childhood
Adolescence
Early Adulthood
Middle Age
Old Age
10. Traditional Beliefs about People of all Ages
These beliefs about physical and psychological characteristics affect the judgments
of others.
The Life Span
Refers to the amount of time that a person or animal actually lives.

Conditions of Influencing Longevity

1. Heredity – Longevity tends to run Family
2. Physical Characteristics – people of average size and body structure tend to live longer
than those who are under or overweight or two are very tall or very short.
3. General Physical condition – A good physical condition throughout life, but especially
during the growth years of childhood and adolescence.
4. Sex – Women, as a group, outlive men.
5. Geographic Location – People who live in urban and suburban areas tend to live longer
than those who live in rural areas as a result of better health and medical facilities.
6. Intelligence – Individuals with high intelligence and those with intellectual interest live
longer than the less intelligent.
7. Education - People who are better educated tend to live longer than those whose
education is limited.
8. Smoking and drinking – Non-smokers and non-drinkers tend to live longer than those
who smoke and drink excessively.
9. Marital status – those who are or have been married live longer than those who have
never been married.
10. Efficiency – those who are efficient tend to live longer than the inefficient because they
expend less energy in whatever they do.
11. Anxiety – The tendency to suffer from anxiety due to work, family, economic or other
problems leads to hypertension which shortens the life span.
12. Occupation – the kind of work of individual does effects the length of the life span.
13. Happiness – People who are reasonably happy and satisfied with the pattern of their
lives normally live longer than those who are dissatisfied and unhappy.

Subdivisions of the Life span

8 stages with the following labels and Basic Components
1. Infancy – Trust vs. Mistrust
2. Early Childhood – Autonomy vs. shame and Doubt
3. Preschool Age – Initiative vs. guilt
4. School age – Industry vs. inferiority
5. Adolescence – identity vs. identify conclusion
6. Young Adulthood – Intimacy vs. Isolation
7. Adulthood – Generativity vs. Stagnation
8. Senescence – Ego integrity vs. Despair.
Stages in the Life Span
Prenatal period – Conception to birth
Infancy – Birth to the end of the second week
Babyhood – end of the second week to end of the second year
Early Childhood – two to six years
Late Childhood – six to ten or twelve years
Puberty or Adolescence – ten or twelve to thirteen or fourteen years
Adolescence – thirteen or fourteen to eighteen years
Early Adulthood – eighteen to forty years
Middle age – forty to sixty years
Old age or Senescence – sixty years to death

Recent focus of Interest in the Life Span

Gerontology “geron” old man, “ology” the study of;
Geriatrics branch of medicine concerned with the diseases of old age.

Obstacles in Studying Life-Span Development

1. Representative Samples of Subjects
Securing representative samples of subjects of different age levels.
2. Establishing Rapport with Subjects
There is no guarantee that the data is accurate or comprehensive.
3. Methodology
Securing a satisfactory method.
4. Accuracy of Data Obtained
Ensuring that the data obtained from the studies will be accurate.
5. Ethical Aspects of Research
To recognize or refuse to participate in any research study.

Results of Obstacle in Studying Development

Resulted in a paucity of evidence about some areas of development.
Attempt to cope Obstacle;
Confidence – a reasonable period the productions clearly advance basic knowledge
of the historical development.

Happiness and Unhappiness During Life Span

Life Satisfaction – is the ability to enjoy one’s experience accompanied by a degree
of excitement.
Happiness- a state of well-being and contentment.
Significant Facts about Happiness
Essential of Happiness – They are acceptance, affection and achievement.
Relative Happiness – Happiness and satisfaction
Happiness varies at different times in the life span.
Happiness at one age does not guarantee happiness at other ages.
At every age there are sex differences in Happiness
At every age there are obstacles to happiness
Many factors influence Happiness
 Health
 Physical Attractiveness
 Degree of Autonomy
 International Opportunities
 Type of Work
 Work Status
 Living Conditions
 Material Possessions
 Balance Between Expectations
 Emotional Adjustment
 Attitude toward an age period
 Realism of Self-Concept
 Realism of Role Concepts

Importance of Happiness and Unhappiness

Occurs during the life span is that it affects people’s attitudes and, in turn, leaves
its mark on their personalities.