What Is Child Psychology?
Child psychology
is one of the many branches
of psychology and one of the most frequently studied specialty areas. This
particular branch focuses on the mind and behavior of children from prenatal
development through adolescence. Child psychology deals not only with how
children grow physically, but with their mental, emotional and social
development as well.
Historically,
children were often viewed simply as smaller versions of adults. When Jean
Piaget suggested that children actually think differently than
adults, Albert Einstein proclaimed that the discovery was "so simple that
only a genius could have thought of it."
Today,
psychologists recognize that child psychology is unique and complex, but many
differ in terms of the unique perspective they take when approaching
development. Experts also differ in their responses to some of the bigger
questions in child psychology, such as whether early experiences matter
more than later ones or whether nature or nurture plays a greater role in
certain aspects of development.
The Different
Contexts of Child Psychology
When you think of
development,
what comes to mind? If you are like most people, you probably think about the
internal factors that influence how a child grows, such as genetics and
personal characteristics. However, development involves much more than the
influences that arise from within an individual. Environmental factors such as
social relationships and the culture in which we live also play essential
roles.
Some of the major
contexts that we need to consider in our analysis of child psychology include:
The Social
Context: Relationships with peers and adults have an effect on
how children think, learn and develop. Families, schools and peer groups all
make up an important part of the social context.
The Cultural
Context: The culture a child lives in contributes a set of
values, customs, shared assumptions and ways of living that influence
development throughout the lifespan. Culture may play a role in how children
relate to their parents, the type of education they receive and the type of
child care that is provided.
The Socioeconomic
Context: Social class can also play a major role in child
development. Socioeconomic status (often abbreviated as SES), is based upon a
number of different factors including how much education people have, how much
money they earn, the job they hold and where they live. Children raised in
households with a high socioeconomic status tend to have greater access to
opportunities, while those from households with lower socioeconomic status may
have less access to such things as health care, quality nutrition and
education. Such factors can have a major impact on child psychology.
Remember, all
three of these contexts are constantly interacting. While a child may have
fewer opportunities due to a low socioeconomic status, enriching social
relationships and strong cultural ties may help correct this imbalance.
Topics Within
Child Psychology
Child psychology
encompasses a wide range of topics, from the genetic influences on behavior to
the social pressures on development. The following are just some of the major
subjects that are essential to the study of child psychology:
Social Growth
Language
Gender Roles
Sexual
Development
Final Thoughts
Understanding
what makes kids tick is an enormous task, so the study of child psychology is
both wide and deep. The ultimate goal of this field is to study the many
influences that combine and interact to help make kids who they are and to use
that information to improve parenting, education, child care and psychotherapy
other other areas focused on benefiting children. By having a solid
understanding how children grow, think and behave, parents and professionals
working with children can be better prepared to help the kids in their care.
Source : http://psychology.about.com/od/developmentalpsychology/a/child-psychology.htm
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