Mind and behavior are intertwined and so are the behavior and development wreathed together to build a character that strives to paint an image of oneself. Humans are complex organisms and each one is completely different than the other. It is here, that the science of psychology gives us a methodology to understand the mind and thus understand humans.
Psychology is a discipline that deals with human behavior and mental processes. It explains a wide array of factors involved in what we human beings do. In other words, it is a scientific study that envelops various fields, among which the relationship between behavior and development is put under the spotlight in developmental psychology.
Development is the pattern of progressive, orderly, and predictable changes that begin at conception and continue throughout our lives. These changes involve growth and decline; moreover, they are immensely influenced by a teamplay of biological, cognitive, and socio-emotional processes. Circumstances or contexts are responded to uniquely, People keep on changing along with changing contexts and this phenomenon is where psychology and development cross paths.
The study of developmental psychology is indispensable for comprehending how humans learn, mature, and acclimate. Furthermore, Psychology gives a microscopic analysis of possibilities and spheres for the assessment of human development.
There have been several research and studies put forth by eminent psychologists whose works have explored various aspects of behavior and development eventually, decoding and deciphering them. For example, B.F. Skinner’s reinforcement theory is remarkably used in all walks of life to bring a positive manifestation of behavior which is prime to personality development. His approach to operant conditioning emphasizes that voluntary behavior is influenced by its consequences; rewarded behaviors are more likely to reoccur than punished ones like a teacher uses a sticker chart system to reward the child.
Next, Ivan P. Pavlov’s discovery of classical conditioning suggests that involuntary behavior could be manipulated into a habit by exposure to certain stimuli illustrated by a dog who starts to salivate (involuntarily) when he rang a bell.
According to the father of developmental psychology, Jean Piaget, cognitive development is aimed at the intellectual development of humans; which claims that people zealously construct their knowledge of the world established on the interactions between their ideas and experiences. Each new experience creates fresh advancements in the mind and brain, therefore leading to the growth of psychological and behavioral aspects. Our pages of history offer numerous such examples of Hitler’s inhumane acts against Jews completely transformed the latter’s behavior and development. The mass exodus of Israelites from Egypt was also, one grim reality of such environmental and sociocultural effects.
Furthermore, Lev Vygotsky’s theory concentrates on the role of culture in the cognitive development of children and agrees with Piaget on ‘development in stages.’ For instance, victims of apartheid present in society can affect the working of the mind.
Nonetheless, all these factors point to the fact that psychology as an umbrella science, comprises numerous fields that assist in delving deep to decipher the complex mind. Psychologists embark on this journey loaded with all the seafaring skills to assist you in difficult times. If you are at a crossroads, always resort to help.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Britannica. Richard M. Lerner, Jerome Kagan, Marc H. Bornstein. 18th August 2023.(https://www.britannica.com/topic/human-behavior)
2. B. F. Skinner’s Life, Theories, and Influence on Psychology. Kendra Cherry. 12th March 2023. (https://www.verywellmind.com/b-f-skinner-biography-1904-1990-2795543)
3. Developmental Psychology 101: Theories, Stages, & Research. Saima Latif. 5th August 2021. (https://positivepsychology.com/developmental-psychology-stages/#google_vignette)
4. Jean Piaget And His Theory & Stages Of Cognitive Development. Saul Mcleod. 27th July 2023. (https://www.simplypsychology.org/piaget.html)
5. National Council of Educational Research and Training. Psychology Textbook for Class XI. India. 2022.
6. Santrock, John. Lifespan Development. New York: McGraw-Hill. 2002.
7. The Evolution of Classical Conditioning. Angelica Bottaro. 31st March 2022.(https://www.verywellhealth.com/classical-conditioning-5218361)
8. Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory Of Cognitive Development. Saul Mcleod. 26th July 2023.(https://www.simplypsychology.org/vygotsky.html)