Understanding wider issues in developmental psychology can help you to better understand research methods and theories that current debates relate to. Any science subject is surrounded by discussion, it is the way of the scientific method and engaging other researchers in questioning how phenomenon in the world works. Here, we will explore current issues and debates in developmental psychology. Show
Issues on Human Development MeaningWhat we mean by current issues on human development is the topic of the unanswered questions and debates revolving around developmental research. These debates have been present for decades and do not currently have any clear answers. Research can be influenced by the perspective taken by the psychologists, such as looking at more biological aspects of an issue compared to cognitive or social factors. These can reflect the side of the debate that researchers land on, for example, in the nature vs nurture debate, a psychologist conducting research from a biological perspective may argue that it is our genetics and our nature that drives human behaviour. However, a social psychologist will most likely believe that it is the nurture we receive from our environment and the people around us that influence how we develop. Many researchers also believe development to be due to a mix of both nature and nurture, again finding no clear resolution to the debate.
Broad Issues and Debates in Developmental PsychologyThere are a few big debates centred on developmental psychology, on which people of different research backgrounds and perspectives agree to disagree on. Issues on human development: Stability vs ChangeThe debate around stability vs change is focused on personality traits. A psychologist arguing from a stability perspective believes that personality traits are the same throughout a person's entire life, from infancy through to adulthood. Other researchers agree with an opposing belief, that personality traits can change throughout a person's life and are heavily influenced by their social interactions. For example, increasing confidence in social skills and settings from experience and with age. Issues on human development: Continuity vs DiscontinuityThis debate surrounds the occurrence of change that children and adults experience. Do people experience change in a smooth progression over time or in a series of staggered steps, pausing and then growing again at intervals? The answer depends on which psychological perspective you agree with. Many psychological theories suggest that learning and cognitive development occur in distinct stages, only passing on from one step to the next with age and experience and rarely regressing backwards. Theories such as Piaget's theory of cognitive development support discontinuity. Issues on human development: Nature vs NurtureAs previously mentioned, the nature vs nurture debate is a large debate in developmental psychology. Some believe that human thought and behaviour are innate and a result of our genetics. Others believe at birth our mind is a blank slate that gets filled with knowledge by experience from our environment as we grow. The current perspective on this debate is that human behaviour is the result of a mix of both our nature and nurture. Our genes can influence how we interact with the world and vice versa, our environment can trigger something in our genetic code that can result in new or abnormal behaviour. Current Issues in Child Development Example: Moral DevelopmentMorals are distinguished beliefs of what is right and wrong, and morality is behaving in 'good' or 'bad' ways that match these moral beliefs. These can be different between cultures and individuals. Moral development is an example of a debate in developmental psychology due to its links with cognitive and social aspects of developmental stages. Moral development is defined as: The change in understanding of morals and right or wrong behaviours displayed as children grow into adulthood. There are several theories of moral development, a few of which we will look at now are good examples of viewing development in stages (think of support for discontinuity). However, these theories are still vastly different and also show how psychological theories themselves can change over time with input and research from others.
Piaget's Theory of Moral Development (1932)This theory suggests morals develop in 2 main stages:
Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development (1958)This theory of moral development also progresses in stages with age. Kohlberg's theory includes 3 levels, each with its own 2 stages:
Damon: On Developing a Moral Self (1999)Damon did not suggest stages of moral development but argued that moral development is a combination of factors from an individual's nature and nurture. Babies are suggested to be born with the ability to feel empathy, and then these babies grow into children who observe and overhear their caregiver's ideas on right and wrong behaviour - so moral development is a mix of nature and nurture. Moral development is just one example of a complex issue and debate in developmental psychology. Do you think children develop morals as part of their cognitive growth and the society they keep? Or is morality something we are born with? Issues and Debates in Developmental Psychology - Key takeaways
What are the 3 main issues of developmental psychology?Developmental psychologists aim to explain how thinking, feeling, and behaviors change throughout life. This field examines change across three major dimensions, which are physical development, cognitive development, and social emotional development.
What are the major issues involved in the process of development in psychology?Here are some of the basic questions within the realm of developmental psychology and what many psychologists today believe about these issues.. Nature vs. Nurture.. Early Experience vs. Later Experience.. Continuity vs. Discontinuity.. Abnormal Behavior vs. Differences.. What are the 3 main aspects of development?Physical, social, emotional and cognitive development.
What are the three stages of developmental psychology?From the moment we are born until the moment we die, we continue to develop. As discussed at the beginning of this chapter, developmental psychologists often divide our development into three areas: physical development, cognitive development, and psychosocial development.
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