Description: Think back to when you were in elementary school. What did you do during recess? Did you ever think of recess as an important component of your educational day or just as a cherished break away from the demands of the classroom? From a developmental psychological perspective how should we look at, think about… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Development of the Self
Is Tech Dangerous or Should We Be Asking Different Questions?
Description: Here is a research-based claim you may have heard about recently. Jean Twenge, based on data she drew from several huge population (big sample) surveys, suggests that 5 or more hours of daily involvement with social media is having negative impacts on teenagers these days. Now, rather than thinking about whether you agree or… Read more »
FOMO versus JOMO: Things to think about right NOW!
Description: You have probably heard about FOMO or the fear of missing out which is often discussed as a serious hazard of involvement in social media. The idea is that postings on social media sites (like Instagram) are typically created and posted with the purpose of showing that the poster is having a great time,… Read more »
Life Purpose and Goal Setting: Just Do It!
Description: I have posted a number of times on a related cluster of topics including: Identity Development, Life Planning, and Emerging Adulthood (you can search these terms on this site to see the posts). The topics in this cluster reflect the developmental task or moment that is at play through that life phase — figuring… Read more »
Psychology and Socialization: The Individual and (versus) the Social
Description: Psychology has a recurrent problem. Well, perhaps, it may be better to say that western (North American) Psychology, despite its commitment to empiricism and scientific objectivity, is a product of its culture. Try this thought on for size: Western Psychology strongly prefers to see the individual (singular person) as its unit of analysis. One… Read more »
Clarifying Your Future: Development and Living on Purpose
Description: If you are currently in high school, college or university, or any other post-secondary educational/training setting you undoubtably regularly spend time wondering what the job market will look like when you complete your education and wonder what potential employers will want to see in you when you engage with them in search of employment…. Read more »
Reflect on Your Current Development (By Considering Current Advice to Parents)
Description: We have had personal electronics for like ever, right? Weeeellll, the answer is yes ONLY if you were born in 1995 or later and if you were you are probably in college or university now or just starting to figure out your career path in the work world. As members of iGen (i for… Read more »
Developmental Resolutions and Getting Jobs That May or May Not Exist Yet
Description: I am writing this post on New Years Eve Eve (Dec 30) and thought it might be timely to link back to a series of posts I put up last year at this time. New Year’s often involves resolutions, stated intentions to do something differently and better than before. The previous posts linked in… Read more »
If all of your friends jumped off a bridge….. Groups, Conformity and Social Norms
Description: Do you remember a time when you and your friends did something a bit ill-advised or a bit sketchy and when your parents asked why you went along you said, “because all my friends were doing it”? And, of course, one or the other or both of your parents said …. what? …. “if… Read more »
Have to Remember Names in Psyc Class? No, but Yes, Remember Eleanor Maccoby
Description: I am often asked in my Introductory Psychology classes, just before exams, “do we have to memorize the names of the you talked about in class?” My answer to that question is not No but rather “I will not ask you any questions on the exam where the answer is a Psychologist’s name.” It… Read more »
Books for Success!
