Imagine a child of one and half years of age playing with his toys, this child would not interact with other children except may be scream if one of the child takes his toy. At this age the child does not have the capacity to take into consideration others point of view, but as he grows up to be six or seven, he will engage in group play and understand different people’s perspective and progressively as he enters into his teens he would feel the need to develop positive human relation-ships (Hetherington et al, 2006). The intriguing question is what accounts for this progressive and steady evolution of the child’s ability to perceive and describe complex relationships and learn new things efficiently? The quest for its answer and research into the area has lead to the inception of the field of developmental psychology (Papers4you.com, 2006).
Developmental psychology is the scientific study of progressive psychological changes that transpire in human beings as they age (Margaret & Butterworth, 2002). Child development is its rapidly emerging sub-field of study, which seeks to account for the gradual evolution of the Childs’s cognitive, social and other capacities, first by describing changes in the child’s observed behaviours and then by uncovering the process and strategies that underlie these changes (Hetherington et al, 2006, p4). Although field has seen rapid developments recently, it’s relatively young with the first theories coming up just a century ago.
Proposing one of the first theories on the children’s emotional development was none other than the legendary Charles Darwin, who based most of his work on his son’s earliest emotional expressions. Alfred Binet was another individual who pioneered in the filed by studying children’s learning and methods of assessing intelligence (Hetherington et al, 2006). Moreover, the field of cognition i.e. the way the human mind acquires, remembers and learns to use knowledge forms an integral part of the field and has a wide range of implications. From devising teaching methods in schools to big organisations employing it to create a learning environment for its employees the field has had a far reaching effect.
The nature of the subject is such that it has seen a flurry of theories, one contradicting the other, especially in the area of Cognitive development (Papers4you.com, 2006). There have been several different approaches to cognitive development like Jean Piaget’s theory, which emphasizes developmental changes in the organisation or structure of children’s thinking process or the Lev Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory of cognitive development, which attributes the advancement in the child’s thinking and learning to his/her interaction with the social world (Hetherington et al, 2006).
The field has limitless implications especially in improving children’s functioning and opportunities for development in important areas of their lives, especially in relationships with their family, friends, peers and personal development. There is no doubt that child psychology is a field on the move.
References Hetherington, E. et al. (2006). ‘Child Psychology: A contemporary viewpoint’. 6th ed. McGraw-Hill, London.
Margaret, H & Butterworth, G. (2002). ‘Developmental Psychology: Student’s handbook’. Psychology Press, Hove.
Papers For You (2006) "P/PS/67. Disclosure of sexual abuse in children", Available from http://www.coursework4you.co.uk/sprtpsy5.htm [20/06/2006]
Papers For You (2006) "S/PS/50. This essay critically discusses the assertion that the principles of transactional models of development help us to understand the causes of disturbing behaviour in young children", Available from Papers4you.com [19/06/2006]
is the treatment of children with psychological disorders using the most up-to-date studies and knowledge. Preparation for a position in Child Psychology includes training in evaluation processes and/or accumulation of data in clinical settings in support or supervision of licensed social workers. Training includes dealing with issues children face in emotional development, drug and/or alcohol use and family problems. Although there are many spectrums of Child Psychology, the general focus is on childhood development.
Education
The area of interest within a career of Child Psychology determines the level of education needed and the setting in which a child psychologist may be employed. Bachelor's Degree
A bachelor's degree in Child Psychology provides the education and training for various entry level positions in the workforce. Behavior analyst, case workers, counselor aide/assistant, and drug/substance abuse counselor are some of the better known positions one may find appealing. Interesting, but highly overlooked, positions one may attain with a bachelor's degree in this field are probation or parole officer for juvenile offenders, corrections officer, residential youth counselor, group home coordinator, or mental retardation unit manager.
Master's and PhD Degree
To specialize and treat children you must have either a master's or doctorate degree in . Having a master's (Education Specialist in some states) degree qualifies the holder to counsel children within a school setting and through government agencies, such as children and family services. A PhD is needed for a private therapeutic practice, consultation with child study teams for student learning disability evaluations, evaluations of patients in hospitals, juvenile and family court systems, and to supervise and direct counselors.
Salary and Employment Outlook
Government agencies predict the necessity for Child Psychologists will increase at above average rates for the next five to six years. With government requirements and standards regarding the well being of children changing frequently as well as mental health awareness growing fast, the need for child psychologists will greatly increase. Starting salaries for someone entering the career path with a bachelor's degree usually ranges from $22,000 to $32,000 depending on the position and its requirements. Once finishing graduate school, people usually start with a salary of $45,000 - $55,000, again determined by the career and job description. If one attains a doctorate degree, their salary could reach three figures after obtaining experience, especially if they open their own practice.
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