Developmental Psychology Archives - Page 10 of 14 - The Psychology Notes Headquarters

Werner’s Orthogenetic Principle: From Global to Integrated

How does a newborn’s whole-body flailing transform into the precise, coordinated movements of a skilled pianist? Why do children’s vague, diffuse emotions gradually crystallize into distinct feelings like joy, anger, and fear? The orthogenetic principle — formulated by Heinz Werner — provides a compelling answer: all development follows a universal pattern moving from global, undifferentiated states through differentiation to hierarchic...

The Macrosystem: Cultural Values, Policies & Trickle-Down Effects

Two children are born on the same day. One grows up in Norway; the other in the United States. Both have loving parents, decent schools, and similar family incomes. Yet by age one, the Norwegian child has spent months bonding with a parent at home on paid leave, while the American child is already in daycare because neither parent could...

Initiative vs Guilt: Erikson’s Stage 3 & Purpose Development

Initiative vs guilt is the third stage of Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development, occurring during the preschool years between ages 3 and 5. In Erikson stage 3, children begin to assert power and control over the world through directing play and other social interactions. Success leads to the virtue of purpose — the ability to envision and pursue goals...

Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt: Erikson’s Stage 2 & Toddler Independence

As infants grow into toddlers, they begin to assert their will, explore their environment, and develop a sense of self apart from their caregivers. According to Erik Erikson, this critical phase—typically occurring between 18 months and 3 years—marks the second stage of psychosocial development: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt.

Erikson vs Piaget: How Psychosocial and Cognitive Development Differ

Piaget vs Erikson is one of the most common comparisons in developmental psychology — and also one of the most misunderstood. The two theories are not competing explanations of the same thing; they are answering entirely different questions. Erikson asked how social relationships shape who we become across a lifetime. Piaget asked how children’s thinking changes as they grow. If...

Vygotsky’s Theory: ZPD, Scaffolding, Play & How Culture Shapes Learning

Vygotsky’s theory of cognitive development proposes that learning is fundamentally a social process — children build knowledge through interaction with others, guided by cultural tools and more knowledgeable partners. At its core, Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory argues that what a child can do with support today, they will do independently tomorrow. This idea is captured in three key concepts: the Zone...

Category: Developmental Psychology