Understanding Psychosocial Development: A Comprehensive Guide
Understanding Psychosocial Development
Fundamental Goals of Evolutionary Psychology
Evolutionary psychology aims to explain behavior by identifying the processes that cause changes over time. For example, it explores how a teenager develops their identity, moving from parental influence to self-discovery.
Influences on Psychological Development
Several factors shape psychological development:
- Species characteristics (human genome, maturational plan)
- Cultural characteristics (socialization plan, norms, lifestyles)
- Historical context (standards, social group characteristics)
- Individual characteristics (genotype, age, development contexts)
Psychomotor Development
Psychomotor development follows the cephalo-caudal principle, meaning control starts from the head and extends downwards. For instance, infants gain neck control before trunk control.
Attachment Formation
The critical period for attachment formation is around 6 months of age. Infants engage in behaviors like shaking rattles or touching mobiles to elicit responses from caregivers, demonstrating secondary circular reactions.
Cognitive Development in Adolescence
The onset of formal operational thinking in adolescence allows for hypothetical-deductive reasoning, understanding propositional logic, and manipulating mental constructs. This shift from the “real” to the “possible” explains behaviors like idealism and rebellion.
Evolutionary Psychology and Change
Evolutionary psychology distinguishes between normative changes affecting the entire species and idiosyncratic changes affecting individuals.
Factors Influencing Attachment
Attachment development is influenced by characteristics of the attachment figure, maternal deprivation, institutionalization, parenting quality, and child characteristics.
Reversible Thinking
Reversible thinking emerges around ages 5-6 during the preoperational stage, marking the beginning of concrete operations.
Adolescent Behavior
Behaviors like regressive attraction, emotional fusion, nonconformity, and rebellion in adolescence can be explained by the process of emotional detachment from the family.
Adolescent Egocentrism
The personal fable and imaginary audience are characteristic of adolescent egocentrism, where teenagers believe they are unique and the center of attention.
Components of Identity Diffusion
Identity diffusion involves struggles with intimacy, commitment to goals, work ethic, and a negative self-image.
Functional Age
Functional age considers biological, psychological, and social factors to assess an individual’s capacity for autonomy and independence.
Phases of Retirement
Retirement involves several phases: pre-retirement, honeymoon, disappointment, reorientation, and stability.
Treatment of Anorexia
The primary focus in anorexia treatment is weight restoration.
Obsessive Disorders
Obsessive disorders affect three areas: ideational (obsessive thoughts), behavioral (rituals), and emotional (anxiety and depression).
Somatoform vs. Psychosomatic Disorders
In psychosomatic disorders, a physical illness is present, while in somatoform disorders, the individual experiences physical symptoms without an underlying medical condition.
Anxiety Disorders
Anticipatory anxiety and avoidance behavior are central to anxiety disorders like phobias.
Agoraphobia and Social Phobia
Agoraphobia involves fear of situations that may cause panic or embarrassment, while social phobia involves fear of social situations and scrutiny.
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
Individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder exhibit traits like rigidity, orderliness, perfectionism, and a need for control.
Predisposing Factors for Mental Disorders
Several factors can predispose individuals to mental disorders, including childhood adversity, unresolved grief, work-related stress, parenthood challenges, and fatigue.