My current research interests are spread across my three main interest
areas in psychology—education, development, and behavior. The three
areas are related in that all involve learning (learning, development, and
the observable manifestation of the two). Naturally, Educational
Psychology involves information about how people learn, behave, and how
wone could teach accordingly based on the phenomena of how humans
learn. Behavior, on the other hand is the result of learning and
development, in that one learns how to behave, and those behaviors not
necessarily learned are intrinsic to the human genome and development
(i.e. how to move one’s arms, then to do so to achieve a goal; how to
walk, then that running is less time-consuming than walking, etc.).
Development, to clarify, inherently sets the course for the former two as
development not only includes the natural unfolding of the human
genome allowing people to “do” and “be” based off of maturation (ergo,
development). Development dictates what people are ready and become
capable of doing based off maturity. The qualifier is that not all things one
is capable of doing appears, as a requisite for ability and behavior is
learning (among other things). In this sense, all three concepts are
related, integrated, and make up a conceptual framework of
interdependent, continuously flowing and fueling subjects. I came to
search for PhD programs in Psychology with my interest in learning and
development at the forefront (my previous major being Educational
Psychology), but based on the APA’s Educational Psychology subdivision’s
emphasis of the educational system, rather than just education in its
essence of learning and all of its facets, I decided not to select Educational
Psychology for this assignment. On that note, behavior analysis is too
specific for my current research interests, despite my passion for the
subject and application of its use in the educational and teaching field (as
a long-time special education teacher and mom). My immediate research
interest upon entering the PhD program in Psychology with Liberty
University was learning and education of young children, with noted,
although not necessarily singular, significance in behavior. Now that I
confront this intent, I realize that the learning of young children is
essentially integrated and distinguished in Developmental Psychology. For
this reason, I will choose the APA subdivision of Developmental
Psychology for this assignment.
5555555The subdivision of Developmental Psychology includes a list of over
80 different journals for the related to the category of Developmental
Psychology itself, as it includes related journals of related topics. The
other research topics being explored and discussed include
developmental psychological areas such as cognitive development,
cognition and instruction, learning and instruction, among many others
(American Psychological Association, 2022). For the sake of aligning most
closely to the general area of Developmental Psychology, I investigated
the specific journal titled “Developmental Psychology”. The way that this
journal’s current issue is arranged is in a way that displays a variety of
sub-topics are included, including “Parents’ Communication with Infants
and Children”, Early Childhood Disruptive Behaviors, Pre-Kindergarten
Programs”, etc. This way the journal includes a wide variety of topics,
ensuring it is diverse. Each issue contains different themes and not always
the same set of themes, as these themes were not pre-determined into
general areas like that of the APA’s subdivisions.
5555555For the recent issues of the Developmental Psychology journal, it was
difficult to pin down a current “trend”. Themes investigated did not seem
“trendy” as themes from the earlier studies in Developmental Psychology
are still being researched today, such as parents’ interaction and effects
on child development, social, cognitive, and self-awareness development,
genetic and environmental effects on development, etc. If anything, I
would point out the notable focus on institutions and educational systems
on the person (i.e. the school system, preschool, school-related groups
and figures, etc.). I can also only assume that the template to include
literal environmental factors (i.e.. the ozone), is an area that had arisen
within the last 50 years or so as climate change and the effects of the
behaviors and products of man have become more studied and focused
on. I appreciated the allegiance of being true to the subject and field of
Developmental Psychology, regarding studies on the relation between
intelligence and behavior (i.e., crystallized intelligence like math skills and
adaptive behavior, self-regulation, and attachment theory). I have noticed
a global trend regarding the obsession and fixation of sexuality, gender,
and self-centeredness, especially so rooted in anti-empiricism, which is
repugnantly contradictory to the word of God. Genesis 1:27 states, “So
God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created
them; male and female He created them” (NIV, 1984). This epidemic of
falsehood, evil, and blasphemy, however, is a painstaking shortcoming of
the APA’s secularization from God and truth. I hope our work as Christian
psychologists and researchers can bring the world closer to knowing and
accepting truth.
5
References
American Psychological Association. (2022).5Developmental Psychology
Resources. https://www.apadivisions.org. Retrieved March 22, 2022, from
https://www.apadivisions.org/division-7/about/resources
American Psychological Association. (2022, March).5Developmental
Psychology. APA PsycNet. Retrieved March 23, 2022, from
https://psycnet.apa.org/PsycARTICLES/journal/dev/58/3
The Holy Bible, New International Version: Containing the Old Testament
and the New Testament.5(1984). International Bible Society. (Original work
published 1973)
