Developmental Psychology
We all change constantly throughout our lives. We develop biologically, we learn new things and have new experiences, we are given different responsibilities and challenges. All these things are continuously shaping the people that we are. Developmental psychology is the study of these changes over time. It often looks at children (where the development is fastest), but not always! We can study the development of people's behavior at any stage of their lives.
You should be able to:
• describe and evaluate the developmental approach in psychology
• describe and evaluate the Psychodynamic perspective (Freud) and the Behaviourist perspective (Bandura)
• describe and evaluate the various methodologies used to study developmental psychology
• describe and evaluate the various issues and debates appropriate to developmental psychology
• describe the developmental core studies in relation to methodology, approaches and perspectives, and issues and debates
• evaluate the developmental core studies in relation to methodology, approaches and perspectives, and issues and debates
• describe and evaluate the developmental approach in psychology
• describe and evaluate the Psychodynamic perspective (Freud) and the Behaviourist perspective (Bandura)
• describe and evaluate the various methodologies used to study developmental psychology
• describe and evaluate the various issues and debates appropriate to developmental psychology
• describe the developmental core studies in relation to methodology, approaches and perspectives, and issues and debates
• evaluate the developmental core studies in relation to methodology, approaches and perspectives, and issues and debates
The Developmental perspectives - Behaviourist and Psychodynamic approaches
There are two key areas in addition to the studies that you need to know. These are two perspectives (ways of looking at Psychology), which are used by two of the studies covered. Freud's study introduces you to the Psychodynamic perspective, and Bandura's uses the Behaviourist perspective. Both are introduced below.
The Psychodynamic perspectiveFreud's theory is based on the idea that we are not aware of the causes of most of our behaviour, as they come from unconscious motivations. Behaviour can be explained by looking at the conflicts going on within it.
Freud argued that our unconscious desires may often be upsetting or disturbing to us, so they are changed into symbolic representations which we can think about more comfortably. These disguised symbols may come our in our dreams, or in slips of the tongue. Freud divided the mind up into three parts, which are constantly struggling for control over us (this is why he called our minds "dynamic"), the id, ego and superego. One good example of this internal conflict in the mind is the Oedipus complex, which is the subject for Freud's study. Another key part of Freud's theory are the five psychosexual stages of development. Freud believed that sexuality was a key component of children's development, and that we developed in stages as our sexual energy shifted around the body. The Oedipus complex occurs in the phallic stage, the third stage in development. |
The Behaviourist perspectiveObviously you love Psychology (who doesn't?) Well if you loved Psychology in the year 1930 you probably fell into one of two very distinct groups. You would either have been a Freudian, or a Behaviourist.
Behaviourism is the idea that all behaviour is the result of our environmental surroundings. On other words, the things that happened in the environment leading up to the behaviour are what caused it. The environment provides a stimulus, and our behaviour is a response to that stimulus. A simple example might be picking up a hot pan, and then dropping it immediately. The heat of the pan is the stimulus, and dropping it was the response. There are two ways in which a stimulus could lead to a response, and these are the two types of learning in behaviourism:
Bandura's Social Learning Theory is a development of operant conditioning, which states that as well as learning through our own punishments and reinforcements, we can also learn through observing other people's behaviour (and the outcomes of it). |
Evaluating an approach, using studies as evidence
A common question in Paper 1 is to evaluate the approach, using the studies you have covered as an example. E.g...
Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the developmental psychology approach using one of the studies listed below as an example. [10]
A very common mistake here is for students to simply evaluate the study itself (e.g. saying the strengths and weaknesses of the Langlois study). This does not answer the question. You need to use the studies as examples, in order to evaluate THE APPROACH!
Using the PEE structure can be very helpful here. For example:
P - Make a point about a strength or weakness of the approach (e.g. see the ones given below)
E - Give and example from one of the four studies you have covered, which helps to illustrate your point.
E - Explain why this is a good/bad thing for the approach.
Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the developmental psychology approach using one of the studies listed below as an example. [10]
- Freud
- Nelson
- Langlois
A very common mistake here is for students to simply evaluate the study itself (e.g. saying the strengths and weaknesses of the Langlois study). This does not answer the question. You need to use the studies as examples, in order to evaluate THE APPROACH!
Using the PEE structure can be very helpful here. For example:
P - Make a point about a strength or weakness of the approach (e.g. see the ones given below)
E - Give and example from one of the four studies you have covered, which helps to illustrate your point.
E - Explain why this is a good/bad thing for the approach.
Know your studies - Key details dustbin game...
Strengths of the developmental approach
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Weaknesses of the developmental approach
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RevisionRepetitions quiz
Save the file below and use it to revise all the key details of the developmental studies
Can you answer the questions in the document, using clear PEE points and examples from the studies to illustrate your points?
Test your knowledgeWith this quizlet
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ExtensionYale University have made their 'Introduction to Psychology' lectures available on YouTube. For a much greater depth of introdution to the topic, see professor Paul Bloom's talks on Freud and Behaviourism. Also, the complete course materials are available here.
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