Study Notes on Developmental Psychology and Behavioral Psychology

Developmental Psychology

• Scientific study of development across the lifespan.
• Focus on physical maturation and changes in cognitive skills, moral reasoning, social behavior, etc.
• Early focus on changes leading to adulthood (e.g., Piaget's work).
• Key concept: Object permanence - understanding that objects exist even when hidden.
• Piaget found young children lack object permanence; age of acquisition is debated.

Lifespan Considerations

• Increased interest in development later in life due to demographic changes.
• 40 million people aged 65+ in the U.S. (2010); projected to rise to 90 million by 2050.

Behavioral Psychology

• Focus on learning and behaviorism; key figures include Pavlov, Watson, Thorndike, Skinner.
• Learning viewed as behavior change influenced by experience through classical or operant conditioning.
• Behavior modification techniques applied for mental health issues.