Developmental Psychology

Developmental psychology studies the relationship between human growth pattern and corresponding behavioral changes. This branch of psychology serves as a resource for other branches of psychology such as social psychology, educational psychology, comparative psychology and developmental forensics. Some of the main proponents of developmental psychology include Jean Piaget, Erik Erikson, B. F. Skinner, Urie Bronfenbrenner , Lawrence Kohlberg and John Watson.

Some of the basic concerns of this branch of psychology include discussion on the qualitative distinction between adults and children, questions on nature of human maturity cycle, identity formation, heredity and environment argument etc. developmental psychology is preoccupied with the nature vs nurture argument.

Research Methods

Developmental psychology does not hesitate to incorporate the research methods that are used by other branches of psychology. Though it uses the research methods of other branches, it is conscious about the need for exclusive methods of psychology to study the behavior of children.


Developmental Stages

According to the Erik Erikson psychosocial development consists of eight developmental stages. He analyzed how the factors such as psychosocial crisis, central task, ego quality and developmental task varied according to developmental stages. He divided human life into several stages.

The first stage is infancy – in this stage the individual undergoes the psychosocial crisis of Trust Vs Mistrust. Where as in the second stage which is younger years the psychosocial crisis is Autonomy vs. Shame and doubt. Followed by younger years is the early childhood with the psychosocial crisis of Initiative vs. Guilt. Middle childhood tries to cope with Industry vs. Inferiority. Early adolescence suffers Identity vs. Alienation. Individual Identity vs. Identity confusion is the curse of later adolescence. In the early adulthood the individual tries to find balance between Intimacy vs. Isolation. As the life grows to turn out to be full in the later adulthood life is characterized by Integrity vs. Despair. Finally with old age tries to combat Immortality vs. Extinction.