Abstract
This paper attempts to address the topic of developmental psychology, also known as human development. This scientific area of study within the field of psychology focuses on the study of the gradual psychological changes that take place in human beings as they mature. The paper discusses how, historically, this subject area dealt primarily with the psychological development in infants and children, and later expanded its focus to other periods of psychological and physical change, such as adolescence and aging.

Outline:
Introduction
History
Categorization by Age and Stage in the Lifecycle
Some Important Theories
Stage Theory
Incremental/Continuous Theories
Social Contextualism
Ecological Systems Theory
Methods Adopted in the Field
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The thoughts of the Soviet researcher Lev Vygotsky are gradually gaining more popularity in the field of American psychology. In the field of developmental psychology, in specific, his ground-breaking work relating to the significance of social interactions and the so-called "zone of proximal development" is now recognized. Vygotsy based his theory on three premises namely: (a) humans are associated with the physical world and each other by processes of cultural mediation that utilize both psychological and technical tools of the surrounding culture, (b) cultural mediation and, therefore, human psychological functions go through uninterrupted and lifelong alterations, and (c) human psychological functions arise from practical activity in specific contexts. Thus cultural groups have a significant impact on cognition and its development and cognition is a dynamic activity in which the individual both shapes and is shaped by the environmental surroundings. (The Vygotsky Project)"

Tags:developmental, Psychology, Human Development, Piaget, Infancy, Childhood

Abstract
The field of developmental psychology has made great strides by studying children's behavior. This information laid a solid foundation and structure and opened the door to numerous questions about evolving human development. This paper explains that as times change, however, new tools and methodology will have to be devised to keep abreast of changes in human makeup, societal and global alterations, and new technologies.

From the Paper
"The science of developmental psychology began over one hundred years ago, yet the field remains in its infancy. There is still much to learn about behavior and mental processes. Also, since human societies continually evolve and become more multifaceted, it is more difficult to define consistencies. Complexity broadens further as development psychologists work hand-in-hand with anthropologists, biologists, sociologists and other scientists for additional information. Despite these challenges, developmental psychologists have provided a significant amount of valuable information on the basic nature of human beings, the stages of development that are consistent from one individual to the next, the causes of certain behaviors, the nature versus nurture conflict, universality and specificity of actions. However, the world is undergoing a major transformation, becoming increasingly multicultural and technologically sophisticated. Social science and science disciplines are either being modified or created anew to gain knowledge on the changes occurring. To continue their important contributions to the study of human behavior, developmental psychologists will need to expand their focus as well. In fact, this is already being evidenced in the emphasis on lifespan studies as well as the integration of developmental psychology with newer fields such as neuropsychology."

Tags:cognitive, human, structure, neurology

Abstract
This paper examines the concepts behind evolutionary psychology, which posit that all human behavior is dictated by completely biological process which have all been developed over time to assure the propagation of the species. In particular, it looks at the impact of Darwin's theory of natural selection as the basis of its perspective. The paper also explores man's need for religion and how this fits into an evolutionary philosophy. Additionally, the paper considers the biological components of the conflicting behaviors of selfishness and altruism. Various scholars and their seminal works in this field are cited. The paper concludes by stating that evolutionary psychology sees a strict mathematics that governs all of our emotions and behaviors.

From the Paper
"Another more altruistic propensity is the concept of cooperation. To this and other related group behavior, such as restraint in competition, EP has theorized that genetic familial kinship and reciprocity are key evolutionary factor (Axelrod, 1984; Whitehouse, 2001) as possible favorable genetic motivations. Family kinship theory ensures that not only your direct but also your indirect lineage survives and reciprocity allows for a give and take that is beneficial to the long term survival of both. There are examples in nature of this type of relationship evolving in disparate species..."

Tags:Darwin's theory of natural selection, natural selection, selfish gene

Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that Jean Piaget is best known for his work in the area of developmental psychology. The writer looks at Piaget's theories regarding the developmental stages of human beings. The writer discusses that each of these stages was intended to explain the cognitive and behavioral development of individuals and have been used consistently throughout the educational realm as a method of understanding how children basically learn.

From the Paper
"Piaget believed that all people have the ability of assimilation, or the capacity to translate certain actions into previously learned schemas. When assimilation is not possible for the individual then the person learns to adapt and create new processes, known as adaptation. These concepts Piaget transferred into the developmental stages of human beings. The stages include the sensorimotor stage, the preoperational stage, the concrete operations stage and the formal operations stage. Each of these stages was intended to explain the cognitive ..."

Tags:psychology

Abstract
The paper explains how Kathleen Stassen Berger, in her book "The Developing Person Through the Life Span", considers how each stage leads to the next and how biological and sociological causes affect the psychological development of any individual. The writer considers events from her own life in light of Berger's theories in order to determine the ways in which her own personal development has been a result of a string of causes and effects throughout the stages of her life. The writer looks at her infancy and preschool years, school years and adolescence and finally, adulthood.

From the Paper
"In her book "The Developing Person Through the Life Span," Kathleen Stassen Berger outlines the stages of growth from infancy to adulthood and discusses the psychological impacts of each stage. She shows how each stage leads to the next and considers how both biological and sociological effect the psychological development of any individual. Using a concept called the "butterfly effect", she shows how small and seemingly unimportant developments in any single stage can compound through successive stages to result in specific types of personality development. (The "butterfly effect" is borrowed from the concept in environmental science in which it is said that when a butterfly beats its wings in one part of the world, a storm can occur in another part of world. The interconnectedness of events is the key concept here.)"

Tags:butterfly, effect, biological, sociological, infancy, preschool, years, school, adolescence, adulthood

Abstract
The paper details a recent study undertaken with the goal of determining how and to what extent human children exhibit the same developmental characteristics as chimpanzees do when they are young. The paper outlines a number of similarities which emerge between the two groups and also unveils the methodology employed to arrive at these conclusions. Finally, the following paper ends by offering some shortcomings of the research conducted and where the authors hope further research will lead in the future.

Tags:chimps, children, similarities

Abstract
The paper details the effect of child development in a single-parent household and a two-parent home. It details the difference between the two on a socio and developmental levels - looking at emotions, aggressions and attachments as examples. It also looks at children of single-parent homes comparing those raised by only a father or only a mother.

From the Paper
"Different researches and many physiologists have written on the child development of broken or single parent homes such as an analysis of the 1986 NAEP data indicated that those children who had third graders living with one parent scored considerably lower than third graders living with both parents. Likewise, in 1987, analysis data from High School and Beyond, Ekstrom et al. discovered a significant correlation and child development effects caused by the single-parent homes and dropout. Moreover, children from such households seemed to experience unpleasant and bad health, education and emotional related effects than children brought up in two-parent family and in addition, children suffer all such kinds of problems due to the stress of family break-up."

Tags:broken, child, children, development, effect, home, homes, households, parent, parents, physiological, problems, single, two, vs

Abstract
This paper reports on a a brief study that set out to determine the accuracy of the proposition that absolute heterosexuality is a comparatively rare phenomenon and that most individuals maintain a certain capacity toward homosexual attraction. The results indicated that the proposition is not true but reflects the psychological phenomenon of projection and a specific logically flawed conclusion based on false assumptions in connection with anecdotal experiences of homosexual and bisexual individuals.

Outline:
Abstract
Introduction
Literature Review
Hypothesis
Method
Discussion

From the Paper
"Gay rights activists have frequently suggested that exclusive heterosexuality is not the natural state of human psychosexual identity. According to this view, human psychosexual identity and capacity for homosexual attraction exists on a wide spectrum between absolute heterosexuality on one polar end and absolute homosexuality on the opposite polar end, with the vast majority of individuals represented much closer to the middle than either end (Progressiveu 2008).
"Likewise, proponents of this position maintain that the apparent predominance of heterosexual identity in society is primarily a function of the socialization process rather than innate tendencies. Specifically, they point out that social norms strongly encourage heterosexual orientation and simultaneously promote anti-homosexual sentiments (Poole, et al 2007), thereby discouraging any deviation from the heterosexual social norm and associating it with shame and embarrassment (Progressiveu 2008). Finally, many gay rights activists have suggested that the large apparent prevalence of heterosexuality in
comparison to homosexual orientation evident in society is simply a function of the degree to which genuine sexual identity is shaped by subconscious sexual repression as a result of social pressure to conform to the heterosexual norm (Gerrig & Zimbardo 2005)."

Tags:identity, attraction, gay-rights

Abstract
The paper examines the effect of television on childhood behaviors and points out that more research is available on the negative effects of television than on the positive effects. The paper uses several studies to make this point, with a focus on two previous studies that critically examine a large body of literature.

From the Paper
"Hypothetically, children's behavior can be affected by television negatively or positively depending on programming and hours viewing. By the time children reach their eighteenth birthday they have seen approximately 200,000 acts of violence, including 40,000 murders, by watching an average viewing schedule (Robinson et. al. 2001, p.17). MediaWise.org reports that prominent medical groups warn that exposing children to media violence results in increased anti-social and aggressive behavior, less sensitivity to violence, and the perception violence is a..."

Tags:child, development, psychology

Abstract
Social Psychology focuses on the relationship between people and "the world" and the meaning that is derived from that interaction (Boeree, n.d., p. 1). Development psychology, on the other hand, focuses on the development of people throughout the lifespan. Developmental psychology is significant in understanding the various stages that indivdiuals evolve through in order to function within their daily lives. These stages, however, can be affected by environment and the person's ability to grasp accomplishments in each stage. As the person develops his or her relationship with society is eventually established, which is the focus of social psychology and the theories that are incorporated into this field of expertise.

From the Paper
Social Psychology and Development Psychology: An Examination of Theories Social Psychology focuses on the relationship between people and "the world" and the meaning that is derived from that interaction (Boeree, n.d., p. 1). Development psychology, on the other hand, focuses on the development of people throughout the lifespan. Developmental psychology is significant in understanding the various stages that indivdiuals evolve through in order to function within their daily lives. These stages, however, can be affected by environment and the person's ability to grasp accomplishments in each stage. As the person develops his or her

Tags:social, psych, edu