Developmental PsychologyDevelopmental PsychologyPsychology 117Psychology 117

Sue A. KelleySue A. Kelley

WebpageWebpage http://http://www.lycoming.edu/~kelleywww.lycoming.edu/~kelley//

develop.htmdevelop.htm Chapter objectivesChapter objectives Powerpoint slidesPowerpoint slides

Index cardsIndex cards NameName MajorMajor Phone numberPhone number EmailEmail What you hope to learn in this What you hope to learn in this

course/why are you taking this course/why are you taking this course?course?

What is Developmental What is Developmental Psychology?Psychology?

the study of systematic continuities the study of systematic continuities and changes in humans that occur and changes in humans that occur from the time of conception to the from the time of conception to the time of deathtime of death

systematic means that the systematic means that the continuities and changes are orderly, continuities and changes are orderly, they follow a pattern they follow a pattern

developmental psychology covers developmental psychology covers the lifespan the lifespan

I would like you to identify I would like you to identify assumptions about children assumptions about children that lie behind the following that lie behind the following practices:practices:– Having ratings on movies or Having ratings on movies or

television programs (G, PG, PG-television programs (G, PG, PG-13, NC-17, R)13, NC-17, R)

– Having age-segregated Having age-segregated classroomsclassrooms

Historical FoundationsHistorical Foundations Child in Premodern TimesChild in Premodern Times

– Active infanticide prior to 4Active infanticide prior to 4thth century century A.D.A.D.

– Seen as possessions, no rightsSeen as possessions, no rights Medieval TimesMedieval Times

– 66thth to 15 to 15thth centuries centuries– Childhood separate phase of life, but Childhood separate phase of life, but

few distinctionsfew distinctions– Miniature, already formed - Miniature, already formed -

preformationismpreformationism

ALTICHIERO da Zevio (The Execution of Saint George) 1330-1390

BARNABA DA MODENA (Virgin and Child) 1392-1412

GADDI, Taddeo (Madonna and Child) 1300-1366

Historical FoundationsHistorical Foundations Medieval (con’t)Medieval (con’t)

– Church defended innocence of Church defended innocence of childrenchildren

– Parents to provide spiritual trainingParents to provide spiritual training– Fragility in medical literatureFragility in medical literature– Some laws protected childrenSome laws protected children– Implications?Implications?

Historical FoundationsHistorical Foundations ReformationReformation

– Religious movement Religious movement revised image revised image of childhoodof childhood

– Original sin (Hobbes)Original sin (Hobbes)– Protected but also reformedProtected but also reformed– Implications?Implications?

Historical FoundationsHistorical Foundations The EnlightenmentThe Enlightenment

– 1717thth century, more humane century, more humane

Historical FoundationsHistorical Foundations John LockeJohn Locke

– Tabula rasaTabula rasa– Shaped by Shaped by

experiencesexperiences– Praise, no Praise, no

punishmentpunishment

Historical FoundationsHistorical Foundations Jean Jacques Jean Jacques

RousseauRousseau– Noble savages; Noble savages;

innate purityinnate purity– Natural endowment Natural endowment

of right and wrongof right and wrong– Society often corruptsSociety often corrupts– Implications?Implications?

Historical FoundationsHistorical Foundations DarwinDarwin

– Mid 19Mid 19thth century century– Natural selectionNatural selection– Survival of the Survival of the

fittestfittest– Science of child Science of child

study was bornstudy was born– One of the first One of the first

“baby “baby biographies”biographies”

Study of the ChildStudy of the Child Scientific study of children evolved Scientific study of children evolved

quickly during early part of 20quickly during early part of 20thth centurycentury

Began with baby biographiesBegan with baby biographies– DarwinDarwin– PiagetPiaget– Different people studied different aspectsDifferent people studied different aspects– Biased observationsBiased observations– Case studiesCase studies– Step in right direction though…thus Step in right direction though…thus

began the scientific study of childrenbegan the scientific study of children

Historical FoundationsHistorical Foundations 2020thth century century

– Early, belief was that infants had little Early, belief was that infants had little sensory capabilitysensory capability

– Countered in 1960sCountered in 1960s– Implications?Implications?– Recognition of adolescence as a distinct Recognition of adolescence as a distinct

phase of lifephase of life Leaving childhood, not yet entering adult Leaving childhood, not yet entering adult

responsibilityresponsibility After WWII, postponing marriage for After WWII, postponing marriage for

educationeducation