Physical development. Why should a psychologist study physical development?
It has been known for centuries that not only biological factors can influence the
psychological development and well-being of a person, but psychological factors
also can have a significant effect on the physical development and health of an
individual. Therefore, it is important that psychologists should be well acquainted
with the relevant physical aspects of child development. In the chapters to come,
we shall describe the pertinent facets such as genetics, physical changes in a
child's body, the brain, motor development (movement), hormones, and nutrition.
• Cognitive development. Cognition refers to how we acquire information about the
world by means of our senses, how we process and interpret such information, and
how we store, retrieve, and use this knowledge to direct our behaviour. Therefore,
cognitive development refers to how children come to know and understand their
world and includes perception, learning, memory, thinking, decision-making,
imagination, creativity, language, and intelligence.
• Personality development. Personality is one of the most comprehensive terms
in psychology. Many definitions of personality exist, the content of which is usually
determined by the specific paradigm (viewpoint) of the author or theorist. However,
most psychologists will agree with the viewpoint that personality is the totality of
a person's enduring (lasting) pattern of both inherent and acquired psychological,
social, moral, and physical characteristics (Holzman, 2021; Plug et al., 2009).
Several important aspects of personality will receive attention in this book, such as
temperament, personality traits, the self, the self-concept, self-esteem, identity, and
emotional experience and expression.
• Social development. Social development involves the development of the individual's
abilities (e.g., interpersonal skills), attitudes, relationships, and behaviour that enable
them to interact with others and to function as members of society (APA, 2020). It also
refers to the influence of society and significant other persons on an individual. Social
development includes aspects such as the development of attachment between a
caregiver and a child, the expansion of a person's interpersonal relationships, the
modelling of behaviour and the development of relationships between the sexes. It
also involves moral development (distinguishing between right and wrong), religion,
and spirituality.
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Simplified Overview of Key Developmental Areas in Psychology
Physical Development: Psychologists study physical development because both biological and psychological factors impact a person's growth and health. Understanding aspects like genetics, physical changes, brain development, motor skills, hormones, and nutrition is essential for psychologists working with children.
Cognitive Development: Cognitive development examines how children gather and understand information about the world through their senses. This area includes studying perception, learning, memory, thinking, decision-making, creativity, language, and intelligence, all of which shape a child's understanding of their environment.
Personality Development: Personality encompasses a person's stable patterns of psychological and physical traits and characteristics. It is defined differently by various theorists, but generally includes aspects like temperament, personality traits, self-concept, self-esteem, identity, and emotional experiences. These elements are critical in understanding individual differences.
Social Development: Social development focuses on how individuals develop skills, attitudes, relationships, and behaviors that allow them to interact with others and integrate into society. It involves attachments with caregivers, expanding social relationships, learning appropriate behaviors, and understanding moral values, religion, and spirituality.
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