AP Psychology: Developmental Timeline

AP PSYCHOLOGY: DEVELOPMENTAL TIMELINE

BY: MONICA TSUI

KOHLBERG'S CONVENTIONAL STAGE

ERIKSON'S STAGE THREE- INDUSTRY V. INFERIORITY

KOHLBERG'S PRECONVENTIONAL STAGE

KOHLER'S POSTCONVENTIONAL STAGE

PIAGET'S SENSORIMOTOR STAGE

At this age, my morals were determined by society and I began developing a conformist attitude to please others. Here is a photo of me in elementary school! During school hours, I adopted a friendly and approachable attitude to earn the respect of my teachers and classmates around me. I became extremely obedient in an attempt to win the approval of authority figures, such as my teachers and parents. Developing morals based on society's rigid rules is a hallmark of Kohlberg's conventional stage of moral development.

According to Kohler's postconventional stage in the stages of moral development, teenagers at this age develop a set of morals based on their own values and life experiences. Instead of viewing society's rules as concrete, young adults determine their own core values and ethics. Currently, one of my fundamental values is that to become a productive member of society, you must contribute back to the community. One way I adhere to this belief is by dedicating my free time to volunteering at my local hospital and animal shelter. Volunteering truly gives my life purpose and empowers me by allowing me to impact my community in a positive way.

During Kohlberg's preconventional stage, small children begin developing morals based on rewards and punishments. Good behaviors would be rewarded with positive reinforcements, such as toys or cookies. At this age, I was reprimanded for crying in preschool, causing me associate crying as wrong and immoral.

According to Erickson's psychosocial stage three industry versus inferiority, children begin maturing and assimilating information learned in school. Kids at this age also begin doing extracurriculars or activities that their peers are doing. At this age, I began oil painting as a hobby. On the right is a photo of my art school where I was enrolled in weekly art classes! As I began learning basics of painting and discovering my strengths and weaknesses as an artist, I began developing self-confidence in my abilities. I also experienced setbacks, where I struggled with mixing colors and portraying objects that occassionally made me feel inferior to others.

During Piaget's sensorimotor stage, infants learn basic motor skills, identify objects and people, and gather sensory information. In this stage, infants learn by interacting with the environment and mimicking the actions of people around them. Here is a photo of me at around 1 year old holding a celery stick. At this age, I would've began identifying different objects, such as different types of food.

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2015

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PIAGET'S CONCRETE OPERATIONAL STAGE

PIAGET'S PREOPERATIONAL STAGE

ERIKSON'S STAGE ONE- TRUST V. MISTRUST

ERIKSON'S STAGE FIVE- IDENTITY AND ROLE CONFUSION

ERIKSON'S STAGE SEVEN- GENERATIVITY V. STAGNATION

During the concrete operational stage, I began developing more logical thoughts and demonstrating advanced cognitive ability. I also started observing others to see acceptable social behavior. In this photo, I'm around 6-7 years old and about to start first grade!

According to Erikson's stage one of development,

infants begin trusting others and creating attachments with their primary caregivers. In this picture, I'm only a couple months old! During this stage, I began developing a close bond with my parents and started seeing them as a source of security and affection.

According to Erikson psychosocial stage seven generativity versus stagnation, adults begin specializing in different jobs and establishing their legacy through their work. Upon my graduation next year I hope to go to college and major in public health or biology. My ultimate goal is to go medical school and become a physician so I can dedicate my life to helping others. I hope that, through my profession, I can contribute something meaningful back to society.

In this photo, I'm around 3 years old and beginning to develop an understanding of the world around me! According to Piaget's stages of cognitive development, at this age, I would've developed a stronger grasp of language and started assimilating information to fit in existing schemas. I also started to mimic the words of people around me and form basic sentences.

During this vital stage of development, teenagers begin attempting to find their niche and develop a sense of identity. Adolescents may try out different roles and extracurriculars in order to discover their passions and interests. Here is a photo of me during my transition from middle school to high school! At this age, I tried a variety of activities in an attempt to discover myself. I remember trying out cheerleading, running club, and speech and debate during this period. After trying out these different 'roles', I was able to determine that my passion lies in volunteering, dancing, and succeeding in my academic pursuits!