1. History of Developmental Psychology with Leading Slide

Overview of Lifespan Development

• Explores the key historical figures, societal influences, and contributors from Iowa in the development of Lifespan Development as a field of study.

Key Historical Figures

• Charles Darwin (1809-1882)

• G. Stanley Hall (1844-1923)

• Lewis Terman (1877-1956)

• Arnold Gessell (1880-1961)

  • These figures contributed significantly to the understanding of development across the lifespan.

Significant Societal Influences

• The field has been shaped by various societal factors, including:

  • Medicine: Therapeutic practices and understanding of psychological development.

  • Law: Legal frameworks around child welfare and development rights.

  • Research: Academic inquiry into development processes and outcomes.

Emergence of Research Institutes

• In the 1930s and 1940s, significant research institutes were established at universities like Iowa, Minnesota, Columbia, Berkeley, and Yale.

  • This marked a pivotal transition of child psychology into a respected science with trained professionals.

Key Contributors from Iowa

• Cora Bussey Hillis (1858-1924)

  • Known for founding the Iowa Child Welfare Research Station (ICWRS).

  • Inspired by agricultural research stations, she worked for twenty years to establish ICWRS.

  • Engaged with five university presidents on two campuses in the early 1900s, including President Thomas H. Macbride and Carl Seashore.

  • Encountered legislative challenges, with bills seeking $25,000 support rejected in favor of a sheep barn approval.

  • Achieved approval for the station in Spring 1916 but tragically died in an automobile accident shortly thereafter.

• Dr. Beth Wellman (1895-1952)

  • Daughter of the founder of Wellman, Iowa.

  • Received her BA from Iowa State Teachers College.

  • Worked as a secretary to Dr. Bird T. Baldwin, the first director of ICWRS.

  • Engaged in research focusing on the physical measurement of children in preschool laboratories.

  • Became a research associate at Columbia and was offered positions at Yale but chose to return to Iowa.

  • Appointed as a professor of Child Psychology.

  • Her studies challenged the notion that IQ was solely genetic, emphasizing the importance of quality intellectual stimulation and social environments.

  • Her findings contributed to the establishment of critical programs like Head Start and Home Start.