"Developmental psychology is the scientific study of how and why humans grow, change, and adapt across the course of their lives."
Study of how behavior and mental processes change over the lifespan.
Nature vs. Nurture: This topic explores the extent to which our genetic makeup and environment influence human development and individual differences.
Prenatal Development: Examines the stages of growth and development of a fetus from conception to birth, including physical and cognitive development.
Attachment Theory: This theory examines the emotional bond between infants and caregivers, and how it affects later social and emotional development.
Cognitive Development: This topic covers how children learn, think, and process information as they grow and develop.
Social Development: Focuses on how children learn to interact with others, form relationships, and understand social norms and expectations.
Language Development: How children acquire language, the stages of language development, and how language influences cognitive development.
Theory of Mind: The ability to understand the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs of others, and how it develops during childhood.
Morality and Moral Development: Examines how children develop a sense of right and wrong and ethical principles, and how it shapes their behavior and decision-making.
Adolescent Development: Explores the physical, cognitive, and social changes that occur during adolescence.
Aging and Development: Focuses on the cognitive, social, and physical changes that occur during aging and how they impact development.
Emotional Development: How children learn to identify, express, and regulate emotions, and how it affects their social and cognitive development.
Neuropsychology: The relationship between the brain and behavior, including how the brain develops and changes throughout the lifespan.
Developmental Disorders: Examines various disorders that can impact development, such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia.
Gender Development: Looks at how children learn about gender roles, how gender identity develops, and how it affects social and cognitive development.
Parenting Styles: Examines different approaches to parenting, how they influence children's development, and the impact on parent-child relationships.
Cognitive Development: Cognitive Development focuses on how individuals develop and acquire knowledge, ability, and behavior as they age.
Social Development: Social Development involves studying how individuals interact with their society and how societal norms and values shape individuals' behavior.
Emotional Development: Emotional Development explores how individuals express, perceive, and understand emotions throughout their lives.
Physical Development: Physical Development examines how individuals' bodies develop and change over time.
Personality Development: Personality Development investigates how individuals develop their unique personalities, including traits, values, and beliefs.
Cross-Cultural Development: Cross-Cultural Development compares how individuals from different cultures experience developmental milestones.
Language Development: Language Development examines how individuals acquire language and how language affects their cognitive and social development.
Moral Development: Moral Development looks at how individuals develop right and wrong values and principles.
Gender Development: Gender Development investigates how individuals acquire gender identity and how gender influences their social, cognitive, and emotional development.
Developmental Disabilities: Developmental Disabilities looks at how individuals with various developmental disabilities experience development, including intellectual disabilities and autism.
"The field has expanded to include adolescence, adult development, aging, and the entire lifespan."
"Developmental psychologists aim to explain how thinking, feeling, and behaviors change throughout life."
"The three major dimensions are physical development, cognitive development, and social-emotional development."
"Within these three dimensions are a broad range of topics including motor skills, executive functions, moral understanding, language acquisition, social change, personality, emotional development, self-concept, and identity formation."
"Developmental psychology examines the influences of nature and nurture on the process of human development, as well as processes of change in context across time."
"Many researchers are interested in the interactions among personal characteristics, the individual's behavior, and environmental factors."
"Ongoing debates in regards to developmental psychology include biological essentialism vs. neuroplasticity and stages of development vs. dynamic systems of development."
"At the moment, researchers are working to understand how transitioning through stages of life and biological factors may impact our behaviors and development."
"Developmental psychology involves a range of fields, such as educational psychology, child psychopathology, forensic developmental psychology, child development, cognitive psychology, ecological psychology, and cultural psychology."
"Influential developmental psychologists from the 20th century include Urie Bronfenbrenner, Erik Erikson, Sigmund Freud, Anna Freud, Jean Piaget, Barbara Rogoff, Esther Thelen, and Lev Vygotsky."