PSYC 2P12 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: The Foundations, Behaviorism, Black Slate
29 Sep 2016
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Document Summary
Developmental psychology is the scientific study of age-related changes in behaviour, thinking, emotion and personality. Before the scientific study of development, people turned to philosophers for answers about development. Philosophers offered many explanations for differences they observed in people of different ages. Interested if a person was good" or bad". Three ideas about the interaction of internal (e. g. intelligence) and external factors (family environment) were important in human development: original sin, blank slate, tabula rasa, innate goodness. Each person is born with the tendency towards evil, inherited from adam and eve. Saint augustine believed that all humans are born with a selfish and stubborn nature. He taught that we must seek forgiveness by leading a disciplined life. Parents help their children: to overcome an inborn tendency to act immorally, to combat sin, and seek salvation for their tainted souls. John locke (1632-1704) believed that the mind of a child is a black slate.
