Development and Maturation
- Development means the growth people experience throughout their lives.
- It encapsulates social, cognitive, emotional, and physical growth.
- It is defined by milestones.
Example
- In infancy, crawling, talking, and walking are deemed as milestones.
- Puberty may be considered a developmental milestone for adolescents.
Common Mistake
- Development does not stop once someone is an adult, it actually continues until death.
- Our bodies are constantly changing, even though we have become adults.
Determinism
- Determinism is the belief that all behaviour is due to underlying factors.
- These factors can be biological or environmental.
- It is important to understand the influence of both biology and environment in human behaviour.
Example
- Someone who believes in biological determinism may attribute a diagnosis of depression to genetics or neurotransmitters.
- Someone else who believes in environmental determinism may attribute this diagnosis to their environment (upbringing, socioeconomic status, etc.)
Reflection
Self review
- When does development stop?
- Define determinism in the context of psychology.
