Relationship between Developmental Psychology and Lifespan Development

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INITIAL RESPONSE 2
Relationship between Developmental Psychology and Lifespan Development
Both development psychology and lifespan development focus on explaining how people
grow and change throughout their life. They both perceive development as a process that can be
analyzed through three distinct developmental aspects including psychosocial, cognitive, and
physical development. Development psychologists use various theories to help understand how
development is a lifelong process. For instance, Sigmund Freud, in his psychosexual
development theory, contends that development assumes five psychosexual stages, including
genital, latency, phallic, anal, and oral (Arnett, 2012). The theory further contends that the focus
of a person is on erogenous zones, including genitals, anus, and mouth. These zones often result
in developmental conflicts, and a stable personality is realized if a person manages to resolve
these conflicts.
However, Sigmund ideas were later modified by Eric Erikson who developed the theory
of psychosocial development. The theory posits that people develop their sense of self through
successful completion of social responsibilities, as well as, via social interactions. Jean Piaget
also developed the theory of cognitive development that illustrates how various stages transform
the thinking and reasoning of children (Arnett, 2012). Ideally, development psychology and
lifespan development focus on the changes that people go through from birth to death. The use of
theories support these changes.
How Children’s Behavior Was Studied Historically
Historically, development psychologists relied on laboratory experiments to study
children’s development and behaviors. Scientists believed that the laboratory setting provided
them with an opportunity to isolate and control experimental factors (Arnett, 2012). However,
researchers during this era failed to understand that children development and behavior could not