PSY 302 Chapter : Introduction to Developmental Psychology
15 Dec 2011
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Document Summary
Systematic continuities and changes in the individual that occur between conception and death. A developmentalist refers to any scholar who seeks to understand development - regardless of discipline. Learning behaviouristic; permanent change in behaviour, results from experience or practice. The three major goals of the developmental sciences are to describe, explain and to optimize development. To adequately describe development, it is necessary to focus on typical patterns of change (normative development) and on individual variations in patterns of change (ideographic development) Developmentalists seek to understand the important ways that developing humans resemble each other and how they are likely to differ throughout life. Approach to psychology is more holistic (holistic approach) Developmentalists hope to optimize development by applying what they have learned in attempts to help people develop in positive directions. Some basic observations about the character of development. Some conclusions developmentalists have drawn about the character of development.
