Scribd
Upload
4 views11 pages

Overview of Developmental Psychology

Developmental psychology examines changes throughout the lifespan, focusing on themes such as nature vs. nurture, continuity vs. stages, and stability vs. change. It employs longitudinal studies, which track the same individuals over time, and cross-sectional studies, which compare different age groups at a single point in time. These methodologies help researchers understand the impact of experiences and relationships on development and well-being.

Uploaded by

tali.lehrer
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
4 views11 pages

Overview of Developmental Psychology

Developmental psychology examines changes throughout the lifespan, focusing on themes such as nature vs. nurture, continuity vs. stages, and stability vs. change. It employs longitudinal studies, which track the same individuals over time, and cross-sectional studies, which compare different age groups at a single point in time. These methodologies help researchers understand the impact of experiences and relationships on development and well-being.

Uploaded by

tali.lehrer
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

INTRO TO

DEVELOPMENTAL
PSYCHOLOGY
Developmental
Psychology
Study of changes
across the lifespan
1.
Major Themes
Nature v. Nurture
How is our development influenced by our heredity (nature) and by our experience
(nurture)?

Continuity v. Stages
Is developmental change gradual and continuous or does it proceed through a sequence
of separate stages?

Stability v. Change
Do we grow into older versions of our early selves or do we become new persons?
2.
Types of studies
Longitudinal Cross-sectional

Retests the same Compares different


people over time. groups of people at
same point in time.
on r
se al o
al
A researcher wants to know how social
ss- din media use affects sleep quality. They
cti gather 500 teenagers, 500 adults, and
Cro gitu

500 seniors. On a single Tuesday in


October, every participant completes a
n

survey about how many hours they


Lo

spent on TikTok that day and how many


hours they slept that night. The
researcher then compares the sleep data
across the three different age groups.
Why?
on r
se al o
al
In 1938, researchers began tracking 268
ss- din male Harvard students. Every few years
cti for the next 80 years, researchers
Cro gitu

interviewed the men, looked at their


medical records, and talked to their
n

families to see how their early life


Lo

experiences and relationships influenced


their health and happiness as they aged
into their 90s.

Why?
on r
se al o
al
To see if reading habits improve
ss- din vocabulary, a school psychologist gives a
cti standardized vocabulary test to all 5th
Cro gitu

graders and all 12th graders in a school


district during the same week. They find
n

that the 12th graders have significantly


Lo

higher scores and conclude that seven


years of schooling increases vocabulary.

Why?
on r
se al o
al
A documentary film crew visits a group
ss- din of fourteen 7-year-old children from
cti various backgrounds in England. They
Cro gitu

return to interview those same fourteen


people every seven years (at ages 14,
n

21, 28, etc.) to see how their


Lo

personalities, career goals, and social


class have shifted or stayed the same.

Why?
Longitudinal Cross-sectional

Like taking a photo of the Like taking a photo of


same person on their everyone at a birthday
birthday every year for 20 party to see how they look
years to see how they grow. right now.

You might also like