Video Transcript: Lesson 2 Section 1

Why is it that children can be so different from the adults they grow up to be? Why do many teenagers go through a rebellious stage? Why is it that girls seem to mature more quickly than boys? These are some of the questions addressed in the field of developmental psychology. Developmental Psychology is the scientific study of how and why human beings change over the course of their life. This science explores our changes in thought, attitude, motivations, values, and behavior from childhood through adult. As teachers, pastors or influencers in the lives of youth, our goal is to facilitate their godly character transformation. But in order to do that, we need to first understand how young people develop. Fortunately, we can have a pretty good idea what they're thinking and feeling at every age. Many developmental psychologists have studied this, and we can learn from their work. This lesson will introduce the various stages of human lifespan and development. You will learn what factors are shaping the lives of young people, and how a healthy person is expected to grow and change. The concepts we will explore are based on what is normal for most people. But remember, the youth you serve might not follow these stages perfectly. Some people fail to overcome the challenges life presents trauma at a young age, family problems, or the presence of a learning disability are just a few things that would affect a child's healthy development. There are many reasons why a young person might have problems in their life that manifest in their relationships and spiritual walk. Humans are complex creatures, then we cannot understand one another perfectly. But it is our job to try and more importantly, to care. Let's learn what we can about the developmental theories that impact and adolescence faith development.