History of Developmental Psychology

I. Introduction    A. Why study developmental psychology?B. What is development?

II. Human development in historical perspectiveA. Childhood in Medieval TimesB. Childhood in the Reformation

III. Philosophies of the EnlightenmentA. John Locke (1632-1704) and the British

EmpiricistsB. John-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)

IV. Scientific roots of developmentA. Charles Darwin’s (1809-1882) evolutionary theory B. G. Stanley Hall’s (1846-1924) recapitulationist

theory C. Lewis Terman and Arnold Gesell D. Mid-20th century theories

Development and the Developmental Sciences

What is development?• Development involves the systematic

changes that occur in individuals between the moment of conception and the moment of death.

What is the science of development?• Developmental science versus

developmental sciences• Interdisciplinary nature of the study of

development

Child Development in Historical Perspective

Childhood in Medieval Times (6th - 15th centuries)

• The view of children• The contradictory nature of childhood

Childhood in the Reformation (16th – century)

• The influence of the Puritans• The idea of “original sin”

Philosophical roots of human development

John Locke and the British Empiricists

• Rejected concept of innate ideas

• Mind of infant as a Tabula Rasa

• Knowledge gained through experiences

• Two important conceptual points• Idea of continuous development• Importance of “nurture”

Philosophical roots of human development

John-Jacques Rousseau

• Child born with innate ideas and knowledge that unfolds naturally with age• Development proceeds through series

of stages guided by inborn timetable • Innate knowledge includes principles of

justice, fairness, conscience • Child as a “noble savage” • Important conceptual ideas

• Concept of stages• Idea of “maturation”

Scientific roots of human development

Charles Darwin

• Natural selection • Environment where animal exists

places demands on animal• Thus, natural environment “selects”

organism for survival• Survival of the fittest

• Organisms possessing characteristics that fit the requirements of the environment will survive

Scientific roots of human development

G. Stanley Hall

• Adopted at “nature” viewpoint, translating Darwinian principles into human development

• Proposed the Recapitulationist theory, in which life cycle changes are a repetition of evolutionary changes

• Students of Hall• Lewis Terman• Arnold Gesell