Developmental Psychology with regards to Child Psychology

Piaget’s Cognitive Developmental Theory

Jean Piaget proposed a stage theory of cognitive development with four distinct stages: Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, and Formal Operational.
Sensorimotor stage (birth - 2 years): The child learns about the world through physical interactions and movements. They develop object permanence, realising that objects still exist even when not visible.
Preoperational stage (2 - 7 years): The child begins to think symbolically, using language and imagination, but lacks logical reasoning. Egocentrism is a key characteristic during this stage.
Concrete operational stage (7 - 11 years): The child develops logical thought and understands conservation, but struggles with abstract concepts.
Formal operational stage (12+ years): The child develops abstract thinking and can consider hypothesises and possibilities.

Lev Vygotsky emphasised the role of social and cultural context in cognitive development.
He proposed the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD): the gap between what a learner can manage without assistance and what they can do with help from a more knowledgeable other.
Vygotsky believed language is a crucial tool for cognitive development, acting as a means of communication, self-guidance, and thought organisation.

Believe it or not, Theory of mind refers to the ability to understand and attribute mental states, emotions, desires, beliefs, and knowledge to oneself and others.
It develops in stages throughout early childhood, with children typically understanding that others can have different desires around 18 months, different beliefs by 3-4 years and understanding of false beliefs at 4-5 years.
Autistic children often struggle with theory of mind, understanding other people’s perspectives and emotions, which can impact their social interaction.

John Bowlby proposed that a secure attachment between child and caregiver in the early years is crucial for later emotional and social development.
Mary Ainsworth’s Strange Situation classification provided an experimental means to identify different attachment styles in children: secure, insecure-avoidant, and insecure-resistant.
Understanding attachment theories is crucial to studying child psychology because the nature of a child’s early attachments has profound, long-lasting effects on their overall development.