Study GuideDevelopmental Psychology–Introduction toDevelopmental Psychology1.Issues in Developmental PsychologyDevelopmental psychology looks at how people grow and change across their entire lives. Two of themost discussed questions in this field arecontinuity vs. discontinuityandnature vs. nurture. Let’sbreak these ideas down in a clear and student-friendly way.1.1Continuity vs. Discontinuity: How Does Development Happen?This debate focuses onhow development unfolds over time.The Continuity ViewSupporters of thecontinuityapproach believe that development happensgradually and smoothly.According to this view, change is ongoing, with no sudden jumps or clear-cut stages. Skills, abilities,and behaviors slowly build on earlier ones, much like a steady upward slope.The Discontinuity ViewThose who supportdiscontinuitysee development as happening indistinct stages. Each stage hasspecific characteristics, and people must complete certain tasks or challenges before moving on tothe next stage. In this view, development looks more like climbing steps rather than walking up aramp.Examples of Stage Theories•Sigmund Freudproposed apsychosexual stage theory, suggesting that children movethrough a series of stages—oral, anal, phallic, and latency—before reaching mature adultsexuality in thegenital stage. Each stage focuses on a different area of pleasure anddevelopment.•Erik Eriksonalso believed in stages, but he emphasizedsocial and emotionaldevelopmentacross the lifespan.•Jean Piagetdescribedstages of cognitive development, explaining how children’s thinkingabilities change as they grow.•Daniel Levinsonoutlinedstages of adult development, focusing on major life transitionsfrom aboutage 17 through 65 and beyond.These theories are often summarized in tables that show the key stages and the main tasks orchallenges at each point in life.Preview Mode
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