Psychosocial and Cognitive Development ch 9

Reflection on Adolescence and Adulthood

  • Discussion prompt: When should adolescence end and adulthood begin?

Chapter 9: Human Development

Erickson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development (Birth – 11 Years)

  • Erik Erikson: Psychodynamic theorist and developmental psychologist.
    • Proposed that personality is shaped through 8 psychosocial crises.

  1. Trust vs. Mistrust (Birth – 18 months)

    • Development of basic trust through responsive caregivers.
    • Mistrust arises from neglect and inconsistent caregiving.

  2. Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt (1.5 – 3 years)

    • Self-reliance vs. self-doubt depending on parenting style.

  3. Initiative vs. Guilt (3 – 5 years)

    • Children initiate activities; success leads to self-esteem, failure leads to guilt.

  4. Industry vs. Inferiority (6 – 11 years)

    • Focus on productivity and acceptance of evaluation; failure can lead to feelings of inferiority.

Erickson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development (Adolescence – Old Age)

  1. Identity vs. Identity Confusion (Adolescence)

    • Identity crisis leading to experimentation with roles; healthy identity fosters social contribution.

  2. Intimacy vs. Isolation (Late Adolescence - Early Adulthood)

    • Learning to share without losing oneself; previous identity development affects intimacy.

  3. Generativity vs. Stagnation (Middle Adulthood)

    • Contributions to the next generation and society; self-absorption leads to stagnation.

  4. Integrity vs. Despair (Late Adulthood)

    • Reflection on life leading to satisfaction or feelings of bitterness and missed opportunities.

Cognitive Development

  • Jean Piaget: Studied cognitive development in children.

    • Focused on stages, contrasting child cognition with adult cognition.

  • Cognitive Development Stages:

    1. Sensorimotor (Birth - 2 years)
    2. Preoperational (2 - 6/7 years)
    • Characterized by egocentrism, difficulty seeing other perspectives.
    1. Concrete Operational (7 - 11 years)
    2. Formal Operational (12 years - adulthood)

  • Egocentrism defined as a self-centered perspective; underestimation of children's competencies noted.

Lev Vygotsky and the Social Child

  • Emphasized the importance of social environment in cognitive growth.
    • Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD): Gap between current and potential knowledge—requires guidance for cognitive advancement.

Adolescence

  • Period from puberty (10-12 years) to physiological maturity (around 19 years).
    • Significant physical, cognitive, and social changes affecting self-image and self-esteem.

Adolescence: Physical Development

  • Puberty: Biological changes enabling reproduction; lasts 3-4 years.
    • Variations in onset; impacts on mental health noted for early bloomers.

Cognitive Development in Adolescence

  • Shift from concrete to abstract thinking; increased complexity in reasoning.
    • Imaginary Audience: Belief that others are focused on them.
    • Personal Fable: Sense of uniqueness and invulnerability.

Ethical & Moral Thinking

  • Improved reasoning abilities allow better moral judgments.
    • Development leads to moral dilemmas and ethical reasoning.

Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Reasoning

  • Moral development progresses through 6 stages classified into three levels:
    1. Preconventional: Focus on punishment and self-interest.
    2. Conventional: Laws and social order; emphasize approval from others.
    3. Postconventional: Universal ethical principles, putting morality above laws.

Psychosocial Development in Adolescents

  • Struggle for identity; influence of peers increases, leading to conflict with parental values.

Emerging Adulthood

  • Spanning ages 18-29; characterized by an extended transition to full adulthood in modern society.

Adulthood Stages

  1. Early Adulthood (20s - 30s)
  2. Middle Adulthood (40s - 65)
  3. Late Adulthood (66+)
    • Notable physical and cognitive decline with aging; variations among individuals.

Cognitive Development in Adulthood

  • Fluid Intelligence: Declines in middle and later adulthood; slower cognitive processing and reasoning.
  • Crystalized Intelligence: Remains stable, often increasing through accumulated experience and knowledge.

Conclusion

  • Comprehensive understanding of human development is critical for studying development across the lifespan.
  • Ensure to review associated chapters and materials for your upcoming exam on these topics.