Chapter 2: Module 5

Psychological Development
Psychological Development
The development of human beings’
cognitive, emotional, intellectual, and
social capabilities and functioning over the
course of the life span, from infancy through
old age.
It is the subject matter of the discipline
known as developmental psychology. Child
psychology was the traditional focus of
research, but since the mid-20th century
much has been learned about infancy and
adulthood as well.
Development of the Newborn
to Infancy
Development of the Newborn
to Infancy
Newborn features changes
in the first two weeks of life.
Their growth span are
impressive and astounding rate
over several months. They are
born with reflexes, these are
unlearned, involuntary
responses that occur
automatically in the presence of
certain stimulus.
The reflexes of infant used for his/her
survival are the following:
1.Sucking – a newborn built in reaction to automatic suck
an object place in its mouth.

2.Rooting Reflexes – it occurs when the infant cheek is

stroked or the side of the mouth is touched.

3.Moro Reflex – a neonatal starlet response that occurs in

reaction to a sudden noise or movement.

4.Grasping – a neonatal reflex that occurs when something

touches the infants’ palms and the infant respond by
grasping tightly.
 Developmental stages of
Newborn to Infancy
Motor – infants start to move independently in
his/her first year of life. Simple reflexes mature
into complex motor activity.
Motor movements can classified as:
Gross Motor Movement - it is a movement involving
large muscle activities such as walking and running.
Fine Motor Activities – are motor skills involved finely
turned movements such as finger dexterity.
 Developmental stages of
Newborn to Infancy
Sensory – sensory development such as vision and
other sense organ grows progressively through infancy.
Newborn visual ability is limited up until age of 2 years
old.
- A Baby will probably focus on your face,
particularly your eyes, during feedings. At age 1 month,
the baby will prefer to look at bold patterns in sharply
contrasting colors or black-and-white. By around age 2
months, the baby's eyes will become more coordinated,
allowing for tracking an object. Soon the baby will begin
to recognize familiar objects and people at a distance.
 Developmental stages of
Newborn to Infancy
Taste - taste buds begin forming early in
fetal development. It is known that
babies prefer sweet tastes over sour or
bitter tastes. Babies also show a strong
preference for breast milk and
breastfeeding, especially if they are
breastfed and then offered formula or a
bottle.
 Developmental stages of
Newborn to Infancy
Smell - The brain's olfactory (smell)
center forms very early in fetal
development. Studies have found that
newborns have a keen sense of smell.
Within the first few days they will show
a preference for the smell of their own
mother, especially to her breast milk.
Social and Personality Development in Childhood

Attachment is the positive emotional bond

that develops between a child and a particular
individual is the most important form of social
development that occurs during infancy.

John Bowlby in 1950s and 1960 introduced the

concept of attachment in infants. His research
convinced him that child’s failure to form a secure
attachment to one or more persons in early years is
related to inability to develop close personal
relationship in adulthood.
 Concept of attachment in infants by
John Bowlby are:
1. Secure Attachment – babies are classified as securely attached
when they seek to interact with their mothers when she returns.

2. Insecure Attachment – babies avoid interacting with mothers

during the reunion episodes.

3. Ambivalent – babies are classified ambivalent if they show

resistance to the mother during reunion.

4. Disorganized Attachment – babies who do not fit in any of the

former categories are clustered as disorganized because these
babies often show contradictory behaviors. Babies who are often
maltreated and raised by parents with mental health problems
fall into this category.
Cognitive Development in Childhood
Jean Piaget (1896-1980) – developed the theory
of cognitive development. He present children
with different cognitive problem and arrived at
the four stages:
Cognitive Development in Childhood
The Sensorimotor Stage
Ages: Birth to 2 Years
Major Characteristics and Developmental Changes:
•The infant knows the world through their movements
and sensations
•Children learn about the world through basic actions
such as sucking, grasping, looking, and listening
•Infants learn that things continue to exist even though
they cannot be seen (object permanence)
•They are separate beings from the people and objects
around them
•They realize that their actions can cause things to
happen in the world around them
Cognitive Development in Childhood
The Preoperational Stage
Ages: 2 to 7 Years
Major Characteristics and Developmental
Changes:
•Children begin to think symbolically and learn
to use words and pictures to represent objects.
•Children at this stage tend to be egocentric
and struggle to see things from the perspective
of others.
•While they are getting better with language
and thinking, they still tend to think about
things in very concrete terms.
 Cognitive Development in Childhood
The Concrete Operational Stage
Ages: 7 to 11 Years
Major Characteristics and Developmental Changes
•During this stage, children begin to thinking
logically about concrete events
•They begin to understand the concept of
conservation; that the amount of liquid in a short,
wide cup is equal to that in a tall, skinny glass, for
example
•Their thinking becomes more logical and
organized, but still very concrete
•Children begin using inductive logic, or reasoning
from specific information to a general principle
 Cognitive Development in Childhood
The Formal Operational Stage
Ages: 12 and Up
Major Characteristics and Developmental
Changes:
•At this stage, the adolescent or young adult begins
to think abstractly and reason about hypothetical
problems
•Abstract thought emerges
•Teens begin to think more about moral,
philosophical, ethical, social, and political issues
that require theoretical and abstract reasoning
•Begin to use deductive logic, or reasoning from a
general principle to specific information
Moral Development according to
Lawrence Kohlberg
 Erik Homburger Erikson
Theory of Development
Erik Erikson (1902–1994) was a stage theorist
who took Freud’s controversial theory of
psychosexual development and modified it as a
psychosocial theory. Erikson emphasized that the
ego makes positive contributions to development
by mastering attitudes, ideas, and skills at each
stage of development. This mastery helps
children grow into successful, contributing
members of society. During each of Erikson’s
eight stages, there is a psychological conflict that
must be successfully overcome in order for a
child to develop into a healthy, well-adjusted
adult.
 Adolescence Development
Adolescence is the period of transition
between childhood and adulthood. Children
who are entering adolescence are going
through many changes (physical, intellectual,
personality and social developmental).
Adolescence begins at puberty, which now
occurs earlier, on average, than in the past.
The end of adolescence is tied to social and
emotional factors and can be somewhat
ambiguous.
Physical Changes of Adolescence
There are three main physical changes that
come with adolescence:
•The growth spurt (an early sign of maturation);
•Primary sex characteristics (changes in the
organs directly related to reproduction);
•Secondary sex characteristics (bodily signs of
sexual maturity that do not directly involve
reproductive organs)
 The Intellectual Changes of
Adolescence
Adolescent thinking is on a higher level than
that of children. Children are only able to think
logically about the concrete, the here and now.
Adolescents move beyond these limits and can
think in terms of what might be true, rather than
just what they see is true. They are able to deal
with abstractions, test hypotheses and see infinite
possibilities. Yet adolescents still often display
egocentric behaviors and attitudes.
The Social and Emotional Changes
of Adolescence
Adolescents are also developing socially
and emotionally during this time. The most
important task of adolescence is the search
for identity. (This is often a lifelong voyage,
launched in adolescence.) Along with the
search for identity comes the struggle for
independence.
 Adulthood
Adulthood the period in the
human lifespan in which full
physical and intellectual
maturity have been attained.
It begins around 20 years
old and has three distinct
stages: early, middle, and
late. Each stage brings its Aging factors: As an individual progresses through
own set of rewards and adulthood, a variety of factors can affect the aging
process. This includes primary factors like decline of
challenges. cellular function and oxidative damage, and secondary
factors like an unhealthy lifestyle.
 Adulthood
Each stage brings its own set of rewards and challenges.
Physical Development
By the time we reach early adulthood (20 to
early 40s), our physical maturation is complete,
although our height and weight may increase slightly.
In young adulthood, our physical abilities are at their
peak, including muscle strength, reaction time,
sensory abilities, and cardiac functioning. Most
professional athletes are at the top of their game
during this stage. Many women have children in the
young adulthood years, so they may see additional
weight gain and breast changes.
 Adulthood
Each stage brings its own set of rewards and challenges.
Physical Development
Middle adulthood extends from the 40s to the
60s. Physical decline is gradual. The skin loses some
elasticity, and wrinkles are among the first signs of
aging. Visual acuity decreases during this time.
Women experience a gradual decline in fertility as
they approach the onset of menopause, the end of the
menstrual cycle, around 50 years old. Both men and
women tend to gain weight: in the abdominal area for
men and in the hips and thighs for women. Hair begins
to thin and turn gray.
 Adulthood
Each stage brings its own set of rewards and challenges.
Physical Development
Late adulthood is considered to extend
from the 60s on. This is the last stage of physical
change. The skin continues to lose elasticity,
reaction time slows further, and muscle strength
diminishes. Smell, taste, hearing, and vision, so
sharp in our twenties, decline significantly. The
brain may also no longer function at optimal
levels, leading to problems like memory loss,
dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease in later years.
 Adulthood
Each stage brings its own set of rewards and challenges.
Cognitive Development
We spend so many years in
adulthood (more than any other stage),
cognitive changes are numerous. In
fact, research suggests that adult
cognitive development is a complex,
ever changing process that may be
even more active than cognitive
development in infancy and early
childhood.
 Adulthood
Cognitive Development
Researchers have identified areas of both losses and
gains in cognition in older age. Cognitive ability and
intelligence are often measured using standardized
tests and validated measures.
The psychometric approach has identified two
categories of intelligence that show different rates
of change across the life span.
1. Fluid intelligence refers to information processing
abilities, such as logical reasoning, remembering
lists, spatial ability, and reaction time.
2. Crystallized intelligence encompasses abilities
that draw upon experience and knowledge.
Measures of crystallized intelligence include
vocabulary tests, solving number problems, and
understanding texts.
 Adulthood
Social Development
There are many theories about the
social and emotional aspects of aging.
Some aspects of healthy aging include
activities, social connectedness, and
the role of a person’s culture.
According to many theorists, including
George Vaillant (2002), who studied
and analyzed over 50 years of data, we
need to have and continue to find
meaning throughout our lives.
 Adulthood
Social Development
For those in early and middle adulthood,
meaning is found through work and family life
These areas relate to the tasks that Erikson
referred to as generativity versus intimacy. As
mentioned previously, adults tend to define
themselves by what they do—their careers.
Earnings peak during this time, yet job
satisfaction is more closely tied to work that
involves contact with other people, is
interesting, provides opportunities for
advancement, and allows some independence
than it is to salary. How might being unemployed
or being in a dead-end job challenge adult well-
being?
 Assignment #3:
Yellow Paper and Blue Ballpen
I. Enumerate and identify the stages
of Adolescence?
II. What are the fundamental changes
of Adolescence? Enumerate and
explain each.
III. What are the theories of
Intelligence? Enumerate and explain
each.
 Quiz #2:
Next Meeting….
Seatwork #2:
1 Whole
Yellow Paper
Explain the
Stages of
Psychosocial
Development
of Erik
Erickson