Issues in Developmental Psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Issues in Developmental Psychology - Essay Example Every person is doing one's own duty in one's own station for which one is best suited to do by Nature. There are others like John Locke who considers that a person is like a tabula rasa or a blank slate when someone is born. What is expounded here suggests that a man's personality can be molded into any desired and aspired for direction and shape through modern means of education. Empty mind, however, is the devil's workshop! Similarly, early influences on human mind have a more lasting and prolonged effect in one's life. Most of the psychologists, including Sigmund Freud, believe that experiences of an early age cause deep imprints upon the concerned human mind. Experiences are more efficacious way of shaping up of a man's than merely the classroom lessons. How and at what pace change from birth to life is taking place These changes are merely quantitative or they are qualitative as well Children at certain stage of development show more of specific skills than others. Why is it like this To grasp these aspects of human growth and development, it is necessary to go into the Freudian psycho-sexual, Erik Erickson's psycho-social, Pavlov's classical conditioning, D. F. Skinner's operant conditioning and Piaget's cognitive stages of development theories related to psychologists through different experiments and experiences. According to developmental guidel... For modern psychologists, falling behind a normal yardstick of growth may at times be due to individual differences of personality and not due to any abnormalcy on the part of the concerned person. All above mentioned issues are mutually interrelated. They are to be understood in a balanced way. Freud's psycho-analytic approach to human growth depending on psycho-sexual stages, Erickson's lifespan theory of development in stages, Pavlov's environment and mutual interaction aspect, Skinner's operant conditioning impact and Piaget's focus on development of mental processes, skills and abilities are all to be known before delving deep into the developmental psychology. Analyses and Opinion This article on "Issues in Developmental Psychology" pin points major concerns in this field. As such, the concise nature of this article maybe appreciated. Mainly four issues raised are related to apparent questions about importance of a child as a person. What is more significant - inherent nature, acquired education, social environment or learned skills -- in bringing about a change in one's personality Answers to such questions are indicated to be found in different approaches to child growth and development. This is, indeed, a thought provoking article for those who are seriously inclined to find relevant answers to problems faced by them in their routine life of dedicated teachers and parents. The main weakness of this article lies in its attempt to keep away from finding answers to highlighted issues. It seems Wagner does not want to impose her own answers upon readers and practitioners of education and knowledge. She is just putting before us a few available options. An apparent difference is