Psychology: Overall Texts

Alexander Street Video: 4:00
Curious Learners: Milestones in Brain Development and Cognitive Growth

Alexander Street Video: 11:00
The English-Romanian Adoptees Project was the first study to follow a cohort of children who had suffered periods of institutional deprivation through into adult life. To their surprise, researchers found that problems experienced by many of the Romanian adoptees were neurodevelopmental, suggesting that deprivation had affected brain development. The film, with guidance from lead researcher Professor Sonuga-Barke, provides a clear introduction to a study that is changing the way we think about deprivation and development.

(National Library of Medicine) When conceptualizing cognitive development, we cannot ignore the work of Jean Piaget... Piaget divided child development into four stages.

(American Psychological Association) Developmental psychologists focus on human growth and changes across the lifespan, including physical, cognitive, social, intellectual, perceptual, personality and emotional growth.

(Forbes) How much can your childhood upbringing really shape your personality as an adult? A lot, according to Erik Erikson, a prominent 1950s psychologist and professor at Harvard University and the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Erikson, who died in 1994, theorized that personality is developed through eight different life stages, later called Erik Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development.

(National Library of Medicine) Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development is a theory introduced in the 1950s by the psychologist and psychoanalyst Erik Erikson. It built upon Freud’s theory of psychosexual development by drawing parallels in childhood stages while expanding it to include the influence of social dynamics as well as the extension of psychosocial development into adulthood.

(National Library of Medicine) Freud's developmental theory on psychosexual development was among the first attempts to bring psychology under the same scientific structure and methodology of medicine. This unification was accomplished by first defining normative human sexual development.

(Forbes) Twentieth century psychologist Jean Piaget was a trailblazer in the understanding of children’s cognitive development. Unlike his predecessors, he believed children process information differently than adults and that intelligence is not inherent but acquired, adapting and expanding as children investigate the world around them.

(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) These links will help you learn more about your child’s development, positive parenting, safety, and health at each stage of your child’s life.

(University of Central Florida) Define Freud’s theory of psychosexual development; Describe the major tasks of child and adult psychosocial development according to Erikson

(Grand Canyon University) What is a developmental psychologist and what does a developmental psychologist do? This in-depth career guide offers an exploration of this exciting career path.

(Maryville University) What is human development, exactly? Human development is a branch of psychology with the goal of understanding people — how they develop, grow, and change throughout their lives. This discipline, which can help individuals better understand themselves and their relationships, is broad. As such, it can be used in various professional settings and career paths.