Domains of Psychological

Development
Psychological
Physical
Development of the Child
Cognitive

Emotional & Social

Dr Galy Mohamadou
Division of Psychology (& Behavioural
Sciences)

Periods of Development Contexts of Development

Prenatal Conception to birth
Unique combinations of:

–Genetics
Infancy and Toddlerhood Birth to 2 years
–Environment
Early Childhood 2 to 6 years
Can result in different paths of
development
Middle Childhood 6 to 11 years

Adolescence 11 to 18 years

Emerging Adulthood 18 to 25 years

Nature and Nurture Freud’s Psychosexual Stages

Oral
Nature Nurture
Anal

Inborn,
Physical and
Phallic
biological givens social world
Latency

Based on genetic
Influence
Genital
inheritance biological &
psychological
development

1
 Piaget’s Stages of
Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages
Cognitive Development
Basic trust vs. mistrust Birth–1 year
Sensorimotor Birth–2 yrs

Preoperational 2–7 yrs

Autonomy vs. shame and doubt 1–3 years Concrete Operational 7–11 yrs

Initiative vs. guilt 3–6 years 11 yrs &

Formal Operational
older

Industry vs. inferiority 6–11 years

Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory Ecological Systems Theory

Structure of the Environment

Transmission of culture to a new

generation
– Beliefs, customs, skills

Social interaction necessary to learn
culture
– Cooperative dialogue with more
knowledgeable members of society

Indicators of Children’s
Health and Well-Being
Social Policy
Indicators
Planned set of actions

By a group, institution or governing
Childhood Poverty
body
Infant Death

To attain a social goal

Teen Pregnancy
Public Policy

– Laws and other government social policy
Education Spending
programs
Health Spending

2
 For the Future
Justification for child oriented policies:

Children are the future

Humanitarian grounds—children have

basic rights as human beings

Convention on the Rights of the Child