lOMoARcPSD|11700591
Developmental Area
A significant proportion of theories within this discipline focus upon development during childhood, as this is the period
during an individual’s lifespan when the most common change occurs. Developmental psychologists study a wide
range of theoretical areas, such as biological, social, emotion and cognitive processes. There are clearly identifiable
systematic changes that occur in an individual’s behaviour from conception to death.
1. Principles and Concepts:
1. Theories focus on development, particularly in childhood
2. Covers a range of theoretical areas such as biological, social, emotional and cognitive
3. Believes there are clear and identifiable changes that occur during the lifetime
4. Changes during our lifetime occur due to both nature and nurture
2. Research to Illustrate the Area:
Bandura (transmission of aggression) - Shows the way in which children’s behaviour can be influenced by the
behaviour of role models. It shows how impressionable children are and if they witness aggression as a child then
they can develop to become an aggressive individual.
Chaney (Funhaler) - Illustrates a way in which children’s behaviour can be influenced by external factors, in this case
positive and negative reinforcements. Shows how children can be influenced by both social and emotional factors and
how this can change their behaviour.
Kohlberg (stages of moral development) - Investigates how moral thinking develops as a person gets older. Mainly
focuses on development, and how this can change through social and emotional factors, and how this changes during
our lifetime.
Lee (evaluations of lying and truth telling) - Suggests how the develop of moral thinking is unaffected by culture which
shows it supports the nature side of the debate, as moral thinking is not affected by where you grew up so is down to
your biology.
Casey (delay of gratification) - Suggests how children who are low delayers as children will remain low delayers as
adults, and the fact that children who struggle to delay are most likely unable to delay when they are adults as you
develop throughout life.
Freud (Little Hans) - Looked at emotional development and showed that a child’s early experiences will shape their
personality later in life. He believed that all children pass through a number of psychosexual stages and this therefore
alters the speed of which they develop.
3. Strengths and Weaknesses of the Area:
Strengths Weaknesses
Useful Ethical issues involved
Adds evidence to nature/nurture debate Susceptible to demand characteristics
Strong theories Low ecological validity
Practical applications Rigid stages of development
Shows development over time Too deterministic
Longitudinal information Social desirability bias
Scientific evidence Participants are children
Developmental Area
A significant proportion of theories within this discipline focus upon development during childhood, as this is the period
during an individual’s lifespan when the most common change occurs. Developmental psychologists study a wide
range of theoretical areas, such as biological, social, emotion and cognitive processes. There are clearly identifiable
systematic changes that occur in an individual’s behaviour from conception to death.
1. Principles and Concepts:
1. Theories focus on development, particularly in childhood
2. Covers a range of theoretical areas such as biological, social, emotional and cognitive
3. Believes there are clear and identifiable changes that occur during the lifetime
4. Changes during our lifetime occur due to both nature and nurture
2. Research to Illustrate the Area:
Bandura (transmission of aggression) - Shows the way in which children’s behaviour can be influenced by the
behaviour of role models. It shows how impressionable children are and if they witness aggression as a child then
they can develop to become an aggressive individual.
Chaney (Funhaler) - Illustrates a way in which children’s behaviour can be influenced by external factors, in this case
positive and negative reinforcements. Shows how children can be influenced by both social and emotional factors and
how this can change their behaviour.
Kohlberg (stages of moral development) - Investigates how moral thinking develops as a person gets older. Mainly
focuses on development, and how this can change through social and emotional factors, and how this changes during
our lifetime.
Lee (evaluations of lying and truth telling) - Suggests how the develop of moral thinking is unaffected by culture which
shows it supports the nature side of the debate, as moral thinking is not affected by where you grew up so is down to
your biology.
Casey (delay of gratification) - Suggests how children who are low delayers as children will remain low delayers as
adults, and the fact that children who struggle to delay are most likely unable to delay when they are adults as you
develop throughout life.
Freud (Little Hans) - Looked at emotional development and showed that a child’s early experiences will shape their
personality later in life. He believed that all children pass through a number of psychosexual stages and this therefore
alters the speed of which they develop.
3. Strengths and Weaknesses of the Area:
Strengths Weaknesses
Useful Ethical issues involved
Adds evidence to nature/nurture debate Susceptible to demand characteristics
Strong theories Low ecological validity
Practical applications Rigid stages of development
Shows development over time Too deterministic
Longitudinal information Social desirability bias
Scientific evidence Participants are children
