PSYC 2500H Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Philosophical Perspectives, Naturalistic Observation
2 Feb 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Chapter 1: introduction to developmental psychology and its research strategies. What is development: development refers to systematic continuities and changes in individuals between the time of conception and death. What causes us to develop: maturation refers to the biological unfolding of an individual"s genetic plan. Learning refers to relatively permanent changes in feelings, thoughts, and behaviours as a result of experiences. Most developmental changes are the product of both maturation and learning. What goals do developmentalists pursue: three major goals are description, explanation, and optimization of development. In pursuing these goals developmentalists need to consider typical patterns of change (normative development) and individual variations (ideographic development). Some basic observations about the character of development: human development is a continual and cumulative process. Human development in historical perspective: childhood in premodern times. In the early days of recorded history children had few, if any, rights and their lives were not always valued.
