Republic of the Philippines CEBU NORMAL UNIVERSITY GRADUATE STUDIES Osmea Boulevard, Cebu City

GC 4012 Child and Adolescent Psychology

BRYAN A. FERNANDEZ MAEd GC Sat. 3:00 6:00 PM

MS. MESHEL B. BALIJON, RGC, MA Instructor

CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY

Meaning, Concepts and Approaches

Introduction

In the study of child and adolescent psychology, some concepts keep recurring. They appear more frequently. The basic concepts in child and adolescent development are concepts that help explain changes in childrens behavior that go with ageing. The great capacity of human beings to adapt to changes in their environment amazes every one of us. Human beings have immense capacity to change behavior to suit their purpose.

CHILD PSYCHOLOGY MENTAL PROCESS COGNITIVE LANGUAGE DEVT SOCIALIZATION DISTINCTION COGNITIVE EMOTION BEHAVIOR

ADOLESCENCE TRANSITION PERIOD PHYSICAL SOCIAL EMOTIONAL

CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY ISSUES STAGES INFLUENCES GROWTH MATURATION DEVELOPMENT

What is Child Psychology?

The study of children's mental processes, with a particular focus on cognitive and language development and socialization. Makes the distinction between cognitive, emotional and social aspects of behavior and development. However, this distinction is purely theoretical as the different aspects of behavior interact with each other. There are reciprocal and interactive relationships between cognition, emotion and behavior.

Aims
Child psychology aims to help parents, teachers and care workers ensure an environment favorable to children's emotional, cognitive and social development. Efforts to understand children are meant to maximize their development.

Adolescence

Adolescence is the transition period from childhood to adulthood, a period that brings sometimes tumultuous physical, social, and emotional changes. Adolescence begins with the onset of puberty and extends to adulthood, usually spanning the years between 12 and 20. Puberty is the period during which the reproductive system matures, a process characterized by a marked increase in sex hormones.

Child and Adolescent Psychology

Involves looking at the issues, stages and various influences that a child experiences throughout their development into functioning adults.

Two Main Areas of Child and Adolescent Psychology

1.

2.

The actual process of psychological development that the child goes through when growing up. The analysis and treatment of the various problems that a child may face throughout their development.

BASIC CONCEPTS

GROWTH
Increases

in magnitude of body parts, organs and

systems. Involves changes in size, height, gait, or number.

BASIC CONCEPTS

Maturation
of the childs biological potential. The timing and the sequence of the unfolding of these biological potentials are pre-wired genetically. Prepares the child to undertake and benefit from any specific activity. Whether or not the child actually understands that specific activity will, to a large extent, depend on exposure or experience.
Unfolding

BASIC CONCEPTS
Development
Progressive

sequence of changes in structure and organization of body systems. Involves changes in the ability of the organism to function at higher level. Usually, it involves a complex interaction between maturation and learning. Usually regarded as the product of growth, maturation and learning.

Principles of Human Development

Developmental Directions

states that development follows a predictable directions. Development continues in a predictable order until maturity is attained. Continuity implies that development does not get arrested or reversed unless something is biogenetically wrong. A characteristics sequence is followed by all children. The time of unset, and the rate of appearance of different aspects of human development vary enormously from one child to another.

Continuity and Sequence

Individual Differences

COMMON ISSUES OR HAZARDS OF DEVELOPMENT

Physical Psychological Environmental in origin

* All these inevitably involve adjustment problems.

Factors Influencing Attitudes towards Developmental Change

Appearance Behavior Cultural Stereotypes Cultural Values Role Changes Personal Experiences

Factors Influencing Attitudes towards Developmental Change

Appearance
Changes

that improve ones appearance are welcome and lead to favorable attitudes while those that detract from ones appearance are resisted and every possible attempt is made to camouflage them.

Factors Influencing Attitudes towards Developmental Change

Behavior
When

behavior changes are disconnecting, as during puberty, they affect attitudes toward the changes unfavorably. The reverse is true when changes are favorable.

Factors Influencing Attitudes towards Developmental Change

Cultural Stereotypes
From

mass media, people learn cultural stereotypes associated with different ages and they use these stereotypes to judge people of those ages.

Factors Influencing Attitudes towards Developmental Change

Role Changes
Attitudes

toward people of different ages are greatly influenced by the roles they play. When people change their roles to less favorable, social attitudes toward them are less sympathetic.

Factors Influencing Attitudes towards Developmental Change

Personal Experiences
This

have a profound effect on an individuals attitude toward developmental changes.

Conclusion

It is not sufficient that a developmental theory simply focuses on children. What is critical is that it describes psychological change or development over time (Miller, 2002). Human being is never static. From conception to death, change is constantly taking place in physical and psychological capacities.

References

Books

Hurlock, Elizabeth B. Developmental Psychology: A Life-Span Approach. Metro Manila. McGraw-Hill, Inc. 1982 Parke, Ross D., et. al. Child Psychology A Contemporary Viewpoint. Singapore. McGraw-Hill, Inc. 2009 Sprinthall, Norman A., et. al. Adolescent Psychology A Developmental View. New York. Newberry Award Records, Inc. 1988

References

Internet Sources
www.nou.edu.ng/noun/NOUN_OCL/pdf/EDUs

/PED%20121.PDF http://www.questia.com/library/psychology /child-and-adolescent-psychology/childpsychology