Child psychology can be defined as the study of the psychological processes of children but more specifically, how these processes are different from adults, how they develop from birth to the end of adolescence, and how and why they differ for each individual. This branch of psychology deals with how children grow up not only mentally but, physically, emotionally, and their social development. Jean Piaget, a Swiss psychologist, suggested that children think differently than adults unlike how historically children were viewed as smaller versions of adults. “Piaget helped demonstrate that childhood is a unique and important period of human development.” (Cherry, 2019, 16) This began Modern Child Psychology with Piaget as the founder. The development of intelligence tests and establishing of many child guidance clinics aided in further defining child psychology. In addition to Piaget, Sigmund Freud, Melanie Klein, and Anna Freud dealt with child psychology but from the psychoanalytic point of view. (Brittanica, 2019)
The thought process of children, how they interact and respond emotionally to those around them, make friends, understand emotions, and their own developing personalities, temperaments, and skills are all many aspects in which child psychologists attempt to make sense of a developing child. Assessing and treating children and adolescents, helping to cope with stresses in their lives to create a happier and healthier environment for them. (Psychologist license, 2016) Expert's responses differ in many of the bigger controversial questions in child psychology. Whether early experiences shape us more than later ones or whether nature or nurture play greater roles in our development. Experts focus on the factors which would lead to psychological problems during childhood; self-esteem, school, parenting, and social pressures, are all enormous factors psychologists look at when helping kids develop and thrive in a healthy and appropriate way.
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There are many environmental factors that play an essential role in our development. Social relationships and the culture in which we are brought up in have a great influence on how we develop. Social, cultural and socioeconomic is some of the major contexts that are considered in the analysis of child psychology. Relationships with peers and adults have an effect on children’s thought processes, and how they learn and develop. Families, peers, and school are key factors of the social context. Culture effect and influences the development of children throughout their lifespan. Values, customs, and shared assumptions are just some examples of how cultural influencers. The type of education a child receives, the type of childcare provided, and how children relate to their parents could be due to their culture and beliefs. Brings on the question, do cultural factors influence how we develop? Socioeconomic status numerous factors including access to education, salaries earned a person's job, and where you live. Social class plays a role in the development of children. Households with high socioeconomic status tend to have greater opportunities contrary to households with lower socioeconomic status may have less access to essential things for life like health care, and education. (Cherry, 2019) Such factors and environments impact children greatly psychologically and physically.
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