Child psychology

Child psychology is one of the many branches of psychology and one of the most frequently studied specialty areas. This particular branch focuses on the mind and behavior of children from prenatal development through adolescence. Child psychology deals not only with how children grow physically, but with their mental, emotional and social development as well.

Historically, children were often viewed simply as smaller versions of adults. When Jean Piaget suggested that children actually think differently than adults, Albert Einstein proclaimed that the discovery was "so simple that only a genius could have thought of it."

Today, psychologists recognize that child psychology is unique and complex, but many differ in terms of the unique perspective they take when approaching development. Experts also differ in their responses to some of the bigger questions in child psychology, such as whether early experiences matter more than later ones or whether nature or nurture plays a greater role in certain aspects of development.

The Different Contexts of Child Psychology

When you think of development, what comes to mind? If you are like most people, you probably think about the internal factors that influence how a child grows, such as genetics and personal characteristics. However, development involves much more than the influences that arise from within an individual. Environmental factors such as social relationships and the culture in which we live also play essential roles.

Some of the major contexts that we need to consider in our analysis of child psychology include:

• The Social Context: Relationships with peers and adults have an effect on how children think, learn and develop. Families, schools and peer groups all make up an important part of the social context.
• The Cultural Context: The culture a child lives in contributes a set of values, customs, shared assumptions and ways of living that influence development throughout the lifespan. Culture may play a role in how children relate to their parents, the type of education they receive and the type of child care that is provided.
• The Socioeconomic Context: Social class can also play a major role in child development. Socioeconomic status (often abbreviated as SES), is based upon a number of different factors including how much education people have, how much money they earn, the job they hold and where they live. Children raised in households with a high socioeconomic status tend to have greater access to opportunities, while those from households with lower socioeconomic status may have less access to such things as health care, quality nutrition and education. Such factors can have a major impact on child psychology.

Remember, all three of these contexts are constantly interacting. While a child may have fewer opportunities due to a low socioeconomic status, enriching social relationships and strong cultural ties may help correct this imbalance.

Mummy, do you respect me? Respect the kid

So, everything is Ok with friends. Now you should learn, whether the same with adults.
- All system of parental rules (and interdictions!) should be precise and clear for the child. Identical offences entail identical punishments and on the contrary – progress of the kid is never unnoticed.
- Respect personal space of the child. Some families, for example, practice knocking at the door - but, at least, try not to interrupt suddenly children’s games and work.
- Listen and hear! Listen, and then briefly retell history, having finished “Have I correctly understood you?” The kid will understand that you have really listened to him or her.
- Let the child make a choice always whenever possible: juice, sweets, clothes, books and toys.
- Consult with the kid! But only when you can really follow to his or her advice. Otherwise it will be hypocrisy.
- Respect child’s opinion.
- Never punish the kid without understanding the situations and determination of real guilt degree.
- Learn to distinguish, when you kid lies, and when … dreams. The lie, as a rule, has rather pragmatic character and is said with the purpose to avoid punishment or to receive something. Fancies are something opposite. As a rule, they are “indistinct” and colorful

Mummy, do you respect me? Self-esteem

Self-esteem is the best that adults can present to the child. How to explain the kid, what is this and how to learn to respect him- or herself?
Harmonize self-estimation
It is very important for the kid, not less than for the adult person, that self-estimation was adequate, that is allowed to plan effectively the activity, comparing with the opportunities and requirements of outward things.
Certainly, kid’s self-estimation can vary influenced by different circumstances. But parents can help the child to form an adequate self-estimation:
- Sincere acceptance of the kid with all his or her features and habits
- Attention to feelings of the child and to events, important for him or her
- Generosity for the deserved praises

What Is Psychology?

One of the most common questions asked by students new to the study of psychology is "What is psychology?" Misperceptions created by popular media as well as the diverse careers paths of those holding psychology degrees have contributed this confusion.

Psychology is both an applied and academic field that studies the human mind and behavior. Research in psychology seeks to understand and explain thought, emotion, and behavior. Applications of psychology include mental health treatment, performance enhancement, self-help, ergonomics, and many other areas affecting health and daily life.

Answer:

Early Psychology

Psychology evolved out of both philosophy and biology. Such discussions of the two subjects date as far back as the early Greek thinkers such as Aristotle and Socrates. The word psychology is derived from the Greek word psyche, meaning 'soul' or 'mind.'

A Separate Science

The field and study of psychology was truly born when Wilhelm Wundt established the first psychology lab in Leipzig, Germany. Wundt's research utilized a school of thought known as structuralism, which involved describing the structures that compose the mind. This perspective relied heavily on the analysis of sensations and feelings through the use of introspection, a highly subjective process. Wundt believed that properly trained individuals would be able to accurately identify the mental processes that accompanied feelings, sensations, and thoughts.

Schools of Thought

Throughout psychology's history, a number of different schools of thought have thought have formed to explain human thought and behavior. These schools of thought often rise to dominance for a period of time. While these schools of thought are sometimes perceived as competing forces, each perspective has contributed to our understanding of psychology. The following are some of the major schools of thought in psychology.

• Structuralism
• Functionalism
• Psychoanalysis
• Behaviorism
• Humanism
• Cognitivism

Psychology Today

Today, psychologists prefer to use more objective scientific methods to understand, explain, and predict human behavior. Psychological studies are highly structured, beginning with a hypothesis that is then empirically tested. Psychology has two major areas of focus: academic psychology and applied psychology. Academic psychology focuses on the study of different sub-topics within psychology including personality psychology, social psychology, and developmental psychology.

These psychologists conduct basic research that seeks to expand our theoretical knowledge, while other researchers conduct applied research that seeks to solve everyday problems. Applied psychology focuses on the use of different psychological principles to solve real world problems. Examples of applied areas of psychology include forensic psychology, ergonomics, and industrial-organizational psychology. Many other psychologists work as therapists, helping people overcome mental, behavioral, and emotional disorders.

Psychology Research Methods

As psychology moved away from its philosophical roots, psychologists began to employ more and more scientific methods to study human behavior. Today, researchers employ a variety of scientific methods, including experiments, correlational studies, longitudinal studies, and others to test, explain, and predict behavior.

Areas of Psychology

Psychology is a broad and diverse field. A number of different subfields and specialty areas have emerged. The following are some of the major areas of research and application within psychology:

• Abnormal Psychology is the study of abnormal behavior and psychopathology. This specialty area is focused on research and treatment of a variety of mental disorders and is linked to psychotherapy and clinical psychology. Mental health professional typically utilize the Diagnosistic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) to diagnose mental disorders.
• Biological Psychology, also known as biopsychology, studies how biological processes influence the mind and behavior. This area is closely linked to neuroscience and utilizes tools such as MRI and PET scans to look at brain injury or brain abnormalities.
• Clinical Psychology is focused on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders.
• Cognitive Psychology is the study of human thought processes and cognitions. Cognitive psychologists study topics such as attention, memory, perception, decision-making, problem solving, and language acquisition.
• Comparative Psychology is the branch of psychology concerned with the study of animal behavior. The study of animal behavior can lead to a deeper and broader understanding of human psychology.
• Developmental Psychology is the branch of psychology that looks at human growth and development over the lifespan. Theories often focus on the development of cognitive abilities, morality, social functioning, identity, and other life areas.
• Forensic Psychology is an applied field focused on using psychological research and principles in the legal and criminal justice system.
• Industrial-Organizational Psychology is the area of psychology that uses psychological research to enhance work performance, select employee, improve product design, and enhance usability.
• Personality Psychology looks at the various elements that make up individual personalities. Well-known personality theories include Freud’s structural model of personality and the "Big Five" theory of personality.
• School Psychology is the branch of psychology that works within the educational system to help children with emotional, social, and academic issues.
• Social Psychology is a discipline that uses scientific methods to study social influence, social perception, and social interaction. Social psychology studies diverse subjects including group behavior, social perception, leadership, nonverbal behavior, conformity, aggression, and prejudice.

I LOVE YOU
Love (its verbal expression): the words I love you.

Many of us have difficulties with those three little words. Those who have been "toughened" in their childhoods or by life will often be unable to say, "I love you." Some of us will place a huge barrier between ourselves and those words, a barrier such as: "I can't say them until I know the other person is my life-mate." Thus we fail to acknowledge that we have a problem. The difficulty with saying the words "I love you" without any feeling attached (i.e., caring seems to be missing) is also prevalent, and is particularly confusing to children. For example, children know their silent or angry alcoholic dads don't care much. But their effusive moms, with their thousands of supposedly caring words, can cause a lifetime of confusion. The ability to say the words "I love you" with feeling is essential. The ability to appropriately express those words in a nonsexual context to men, women and children is a good indicator of emotional health.

Emotionally Healthy Adults (with respect to love):

1. are comfortable saying the words I love you to men, women and children in a feeling way.
2. are comfortable hugging men, women and children in a feeling way.
3. "get" (actually physically receive) the feeling of love when it is directed their way.
4. express their total lovingness (emotionally, physically, verbally and lustily) with a particular partner.
5. decide to love another and then do so.Few of us achieve all the above. Nevertheless, you will be much happier the closer you duplicate the above responses concerning love. Therefore, do you want to make it your personal long term goal to make some changes in how you feel, express and think about love? (I hope you do.)"