AP Psychology
Advanced Placement Psychology studying behavior and mental processes.
Advanced Topics
Developmental Psychology
Growing Up, Psych Style
Developmental psychology looks at how we change from infancy to old age. It explores physical, cognitive, and social changes.
Stages of Development
- Infancy and Childhood: Learning to walk, talk, and interact.
- Adolescence: Figuring out identity and independence.
- Adulthood: Managing relationships, careers, and aging.
Key Theories
- Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development: Children think differently at each age.
- Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development: Each stage has its own challenges, like trust or identity.
Why It Matters
Understanding development helps teachers, parents, and even employers support people at different life stages.
Examples
A child learns to share toys as part of social development.
A teenager questions who they are, searching for their identity.
In a Nutshell
Developmental psychology studies how people change and grow throughout life.