DEFINITIONDevelopmental psychologyis thescientificstudy of changes that occur inhumanbeings over the course of their life. Originally concerned withinfantsandchildren, the field has expanded to include adolescence,adult development,aging, and the entire lifespan. This field examines change across a broad range of topics includingmotor skillsand other psycho-physiological processes; cognitive development involving areas such asproblem solving,moral understanding, and conceptual understanding;language acquisition; social, personality, and emotional development; and self-concept andidentity formation.Developmental psychology examines issues such as the extent of development through gradual accumulation ofknowledgeversus stage-like developmentand the extent to which children are born with innate mental structures, versus learning throughexperience. Many researchers are interested in the interaction between personal characteristics, the individual's behavior, and environmental factors includingsocial context, and their impact on development; others take a more narrowly-focused approach.Developmental psychology informs several applied fields, including:educational psychology,child psychopathology, andforensic developmental psychology. Developmental psychology complements several other basic research fields inpsychologyincludingsocial psychology,cognitive psychology,ecological psychology, andcomparative psychology.

PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENTGrowth : Refers to an increase in some quantity over time. The quantity can be ; Physical (e.g., growth in height )Development: Development is systematic and orderly change, organisms experience as they live and either gain or lose abilities.1.Continuity Growth and Development is a continues process from conception to death. In the early years of life, development consists of changes that lead the child to maturity not only of body size and functioning, but also of behaviour. Even after maturity has been attained, development does not end. Changes continue which lead to the period of life known as senescence or old age. These changes continue until death ends the life cycle.2.Sequentiality Every species, whether animal or human, follows a pattern of development peculiar to it. This pattern in general is the same for all individuals. Social and behavioural scientists increasingly have come to see development as a relationship between organism and environment in a transaction or collaboration. Individuals work with and affect their environment, and in turn the environment works with and affects them*All children follow a development pattern with one stage leading to the next.Ex - Infants stand before they walk; draw circles before they make squares

3. Generality to Specificity Development proceeds from general to specific. In all areas of development, general activities always precedes specific activityFor example: The fetus moves its whole body but incapable of making specific responses -Infants wave their arms randomly. They can make such specific responses as reaching out for an object near them.4. Differentiality The tempo of development is not even. Individuals differ in the rate of growth and development. Boys and girls have different development rates. Each part of the body has its own particular rate of growth. Development does not occur at an even pace. There are periods of great intensity and equilibrium and there are periods of imbalance. Development achieves a plateau and this may occur at any level or between levels.5. Development proceeds from the head downward This principle describes the direction of growth and development. The head region starts growth at first, following by which other organs starts developing. The child gains control of the head first, then the arms and then the legs. Infants develop control of the head and face movements at first two months. In next few months they are able to lift themselves up by using their arms. Next gain control over leg and able to crawl, stand, walk, run, jump, climb, day by day.6. Development proceeds from the centre of the body outward The directional sequence of development during both prenatal and postnatal stages may either be (i) from head to foot, or (ii) from the central axis to the extremities of the body. The spinal cord develops before outer parts of the body. The childs arms develops before the hands, the hands and feet develops before the fingers and toes. Fingers and toe muscles are the last to develop in physical development.7. Development depends on maturation and learning Maturation refers to the sequential characteristic of biological growth and development. The biological changes occur in sequential order and give children new abilities. Changes in the brain and nervous system account largely for maturation. And help children to improve in thinking and motor skills. Children must mature to a, certain point before they can progress to new skills.8. Development proceeds from the simple to more complex Children use their cognitive and language skills to reason and solve problems. Children at first are able hold the big things by using both arms, In the next part able to hold things in a single hand, then only able to pick small objects like peas, cereals etc. Children when able to hold pencil, first starts draw circles then squares then only letters after that the words.9. Growth is a personal matter Each child grows in his own personal manner. He/she should be permitted to grow at his/her own rate. If we expects too much, he/she may does even less than he/she is able to do.10. Growth comes from within One or surrounding environment can encourage or can hinder the energy of a child, but the drive force that pushes a child to grow is carried inside him Parent or teacher job is to clear the track, guide the child with loving acceptance and then relax and enjoy.11. Growth has certain characteristics common at particular stages12. Growth is gradual and orderly but uneven

PRINCIPLES OF HEREDITY1. Segregation and dominance2. Independent assortment3. Linkage and crossing over4. Sex determination5. Sex linkage6. Interaction of genes

STAGES OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT1. Infancy from birth to 18th months Physical changes- Bones are still soft and flexible Learns to sit, to crawl, to stand and to sit. Mental changes- Gets what it need by crying, can recognize parents and siblings2. Early childhood 18th month to 3 years Physical changes- Learns to walk and to talk, arms and legs get longer Mental changes- Learns to use the toilet Social changes- Not ready to share or to play interactively with others3. Childhood 3 to 6 years Physical changes- Begins to lose milk teeth Mental changes- Learns to behave while in a group Social changes- Learns to play interactively and to make friends Emotional changes- Physical contact becomes less frequent4. Late childhood Physical changes- Appetite increases, Process of sexual maturity begins Mental changes- Acquires high-level thinking skills Emotional changes- Self-centeredness lessens, Choose friends of the same sex5. Adolescence- The period of gradual change from childhood to adulthood the time of life between childhood and adulthood. Physical changes- Rapid physical growth, Body starts to look more like an adult Mental changes- Begins to question oneself, Starts to enjoy participating in adult conversation Emotional changes- Feeling very quickly from being happy to being lonely, Sees people as having needs like his. Social changes- Friends views become more important6. Adulthood- Period from the twenties onward Physical changes A slow weakening of the five senses a slow loss of calcium in the bones Bones become brittle Stiffening of the joints and weakening of the muscles

PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIESCognitive TheoriesCognitive theories of psychology are focused on internal states, such as motivation, problem solving, decision-making, thinking, and attention.Developmental TheoriesTheories of development provide a framework for thinking about human growth, development, and learning. If you have ever wondered about what motivates human thought and behavior, understanding these theories can provide useful insight into individuals and society.Humanist TheoriesHumanistic psychology theories began to grow in popularity during the 1950s. While earlier theories often focused on abnormal behavior and psychological problems, humanist theories instead emphasized the basic goodness of human beings. Some of the major humanist theorists include Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow.Personality TheoriesAlmost everyday we describe and assess the personalities of the people around us. Whether we realize it or not, these daily musings on how and why people behave as they do are similar to what personality psychologists do. Personality psychology looks at the patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behavior that make a person unique. Some of the best known theories in psychology are devoted to the subject of personality.Social Psychology TheoriesSocial psychology is focused on helping us understand and explain social behavior. Social theories are generally centered on specific social phenomena, including group behavior, prosocial behavior, social influence, love and much more.Learning TheoriesLearning theories focus on how people learning and acquire new knowledge. This is an interdisciplinary topic of interest that often draws upon information from psychology, education, instructional design, and other areas.

PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT

SUBMITTED BY:ARIANNE P. CALDONABEED SPED III