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4: Developmental Psychology

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    391904

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    • 4.1: Cognitive Development in Childhood
      This module examines what cognitive development is, major theories about how it occurs, the roles of nature and nurture, whether it is continuous or discontinuous, and how research in the area is being used to improve education.
    • 4.2: Social and Personality Development in Childhood
      Childhood social and personality development emerges through the interaction of social influences, biological maturation, and the child’s representations of the social world and the self. This interaction is illustrated in a discussion of the influence of significant relationships, the development of social understanding, the growth of personality, and the development of social and emotional competence in childhood.
    • 4.3: Neurodiversity
      This page explores neurodiversity, highlighting ADHD and autism as natural variations rather than disorders. It delves into ADHD characteristics, emphasizing hyperactivity, impulsivity, executive function impairments, and treatment options including medication and therapy. The discussion extends to autism, detailing symptomatology, the spectrum concept, and the need for tailored mental health support.
    • 4.4: Adolescent Development
      Adolescence is a period that begins with puberty and ends with the transition to adulthood (approximately ages 10-20). Physical changes associated with puberty are triggered by hormones. Cognitive changes include improvements in complex and abstract thought, as well as development that happens at different rates in distinct parts of the brain & increases adolescents’ propensity for risky behavior because increases in sensation-seeking and reward motivation precede increases in cognitive control.
    • 4.5: Aging
      Traditionally, research on aging described only the lives of people over age 65 and the very old. Contemporary theories and research recognize that biogenetic and psychological processes of aging are complex and lifelong. We consider contemporary questions about cognitive aging and changes in personality, self-related beliefs, social relationships, and subjective well-being. These four aspects of psychosocial aging are related to health and longevity.

    This page titled 4: Developmental Psychology was last modified on Thu, 30 Jul 2026 05:55:56 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by NOBA (The Noba Project) .