UNIT 2:

INTRODUCTION TO
DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
NAUSHAHRO FEROZE INSTITUTE OF
NURSING
CONCERNED TEACHER: DR. AMJAD ALI
 CONTENTS
• Define Developmental Psychology
• Define various stages of Development
• Describe Theories of Development ( Freud , Erickson Piaget )
• Describe Interaction Between Heredity and Environment
DEFINE DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

• Developmental Psychology is the scientific study of how and why

humans grow, change, and adapt across the course of there life span.
• Developmental psychologists use a variety of research methods,
including observational studies, experiments, and longitudinal
studies, to understand how humans develop and change throughout
their lives. The information they gather can be used to develop
interventions and programs that promote healthy development and
improve people’s lives.
DEFINE VARIOUS STAGES OF
DEVELOPMENT
There are different ways to categorize the stages of development,
but one common approach is to divide it into four broad stages:
• Infancy: This stage spans from birth to 2 years of age, during which
a child develops motor skills, language, and socialization. Infants
learn to roll over, sit up, crawl, walk, and manipulate objects. They
also develop communication skills, such as babbling, cooing, and
eventually speaking their first words. During this stage, they begin
to recognize familiar faces and develop a sense of trust with their
primary caregivers.
 STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT
• Childhood: Childhood begins at age 2 and ends at age 12.
During this stage, children continue to develop their physical,
cognitive, and social skills. They learn to run, jump, climb, and
play with others. They also acquire more advanced language
skills, reasoning abilities, and problem-solving skills. They begin
to form friendships, and their sense of self-identity emerges.
 STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT
• Adolescence: Adolescence starts at around age 12 and lasts until
around age 18. During this stage, young people go through
significant physical, emotional, and social changes. They
experience puberty, develop sexual and romantic attractions, and
become more independent from their families. They begin to form
their own identities, experiment with different roles and beliefs,
and explore their values and goals.
 STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT
• Adulthood: Adulthood starts around age 18 and
continues throughout the rest of one's life. During this
stage, people experience different life transitions,
such as starting a career, getting married, having
children, and retiring. They develop more complex
cognitive skills, such as critical thinking, creativity,
and wisdom. They also continue to navigate social
relationships and form new connections with others.
 THEORIES OF DEVELOPMENT
FREUD’S THEORY
• Sigmund Freud’s theory of development, also known as
psychosexual theory, suggests that personality develops through a
series of stages, each of which involves a different focus of the
libido (sexual energy). The theory posits that successful resolution
of the conflicts at each stage leads to a well-adjusted personality,
while unresolved conflicts may lead to fixations that can have
negative effects later in life. Here are the five stages of Freud’s
theory of development:
 POINT NO. 1
• Oral stage (birth to 18 months): During this stage, the infant’s
primary source of pleasure is the mouth. Infants learn to derive
pleasure from sucking, biting, and chewing. If the infant’s needs
are not met in a consistent and appropriate manner, it may lead to
oral fixation, resulting in issues like smoking, overeating, or nail-
biting.
 POINT NO. 2
• Anal stage (18 months to 3 years): During this stage, the child
learns to control their bowel movements and derive pleasure from
defecating. The child’s relationship with the caregivers during toilet
training can have lasting effects on personality. If the child’s
caregivers are too strict, it may result in an anal retentive
personality, which is overly organized and obsessed with
cleanliness, while a lax approach may lead to an anal expulsive
personality, which is messy and disorganized.
 POINT NO. 3
• Phallic stage (3 to 6 years): During this stage, the child becomes
aware of their gender identity and the differences between males
and females. The child experiences the Oedipus or Electra
complex, where they develop a sexual attraction towards the
opposite-sex parent and view the same-sex parent as a rival. If the
child resolves this conflict successfully, they develop a strong sense
of gender identity and morality.
 POINT NO. 4 & 5
Latency Stage (6-12 years): During this stage, sexual impulses are
repressed, and children focus on developing social and cognitive
skills.

• Genital Stage (12 years and up): The focus of pleasure is on the
genitals, and adolescents develop mature sexual relationships.
Freud also proposed that the experiences and conflicts during each
stage would shape personality and behavior in adulthood. In
particular, he believed that unresolved conflicts during the phallic
stage could lead to sexual and personality disorders.

• While Freud’s theory of development has been heavily criticized, it

remains a significant influence on the field of psychology and has
been used to guide research and clinical practice.
 ERICKSON’S THEORY OF DEVELOPMENT
• Erik Erikson was a prominent developmental psychologist who
proposed a theory of psychosocial development. His theory posits
that individuals go through eight stages of development
throughout their lifespan, each with a unique psychosocial crisis or
challenge that must be resolved in order to successfully progress
to the next stage. The eight stages of Erikson’s theory of
development are:
 POINT NO. 1 AND 2
• Trust vs. Mistrust (Infancy): The challenge at this stage is to
develop a sense of trust in caregivers and the world around them.
This is accomplished through consistent and reliable caregiving.

• Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (Toddlerhood): The challenge at

this stage is to develop a sense of independence and control over
one’s environment. This is accomplished through exploration and
appropriate limits set by caregivers.
POINT NO 3 AND 4

Initiative vs. Guilt (Preschool): The challenge at this stage is to

develop a sense of purpose and the ability to initiate activities. This
is accomplished through encouragement of exploration and play.

• Industry vs. Inferiority (School Age): The challenge at this stage is

to develop a sense of competence and accomplishment. This is
accomplished through encouragement of learning and mastery of
skills.
POINT NO. 5 AND 6
Identity vs. Role Confusion (Adolescence): The challenge at this stage
is to develop a sense of self-identity and a sense of belonging in
society. This is accomplished through exploration of different roles
and identities.

• Intimacy vs. Isolation (Young Adulthood): The challenge at this

stage is to develop intimate relationships with others. This is
accomplished through developing the ability to share oneself with
others.
POINT NO. 7 AND 8

Generativity vs. Stagnation (Middle Adulthood): The challenge at this

stage is to contribute to society and the next generation. This is
accomplished through work and raising a family.

• Ego Integrity vs. Despair (Late Adulthood): The challenge at this

stage is to look back on one’s life with a sense of satisfaction and
accomplishment. This is accomplished through reflection and
acceptance of one’s life experiences.
• Erikson believed that successful resolution of each stage leads to
healthy development and the ability to progress to the next stage,
while unresolved conflicts can lead to psychological difficulties and
an inability to progress.
 PIAGET’S THEORY OF DEVELOPMENT
• Jean Piaget was a Swiss developmental psychologist who proposed
a stage theory of cognitive development in the mid-20th century.
According to Piaget, cognitive development proceeds through a
series of stages, each marked by new and more complex patterns
of thinking.
POINT NO 1 AND 2
Sensorimotor Stage (birth to 2 years): During this stage, infants and
toddlers learn about the world through their senses and actions.
They develop object permanence, the understanding that objects
continue to exist even when they are not visible.

• Preoperational Stage (2 to 7 years): During this stage, children

begin to use language and symbols to represent objects and ideas.
They also develop an egocentric view of the world, where they
have difficulty seeing things from another person’s perspective.
 POINT NO 3 AND 4
Concrete Operational Stage (7 to 11 years): During this stage,
children develop the ability to think logically about concrete events
and objects. They begin to understand concepts such as
conservation, where the amount of a substance remains the same
even if its appearance changes.

• Formal Operational Stage (11 years and older): During this stage,
adolescents and adults develop the ability to think abstractly and
systematically. They can reason about hypothetical situations,
think logically about abstract concepts, and consider multiple
perspectives.
Piaget believed that development occurs through the process of
assimilation, where new experiences are incorporated into existing
schemas, and accommodation, where existing schemas are modified
or new schemas are created to accommodate new experiences. He
also believed that children actively construct their understanding of
the world through their interactions with it.

• While Piaget’s theory has received criticism over the years, it

remains a significant influence on our understanding of cognitive
development.
• Thank you