Back to the Future

Human development is the scientific study processes of change and stability. Developmental Psychology is the study of a wide variety of theoretical areas, biological, social, emotion and cognitive processes (2012). It is the scientific approach which explains how children to adults change over time (2012). Most changes happen in our development during our childhood so this is why a significant portion of theories have been focused on this area of our lifespan (2012). Cognitive development is the construction of thought processes, including remembering, problem solving and decision making from childhood through adolescence to adulthood. How we perceive, think and gain understanding of our world through genetic and learned factors is also cognitive development. It is believed that determining parenting styles influences a child's development. Child rearing as defined by Belsky, Robins and Gamble (1984) "enables the developing person to acquire the capacities required for dealing effectively with the ecological niches that she or he will inhabit during childhood, adolescence and adulthood" (p. 251). Although parents may differ in how they choose to control or socialize their child/children it is the primary role of a parent to nurture. Just like nature vs. nurture there are too many variables and combinations of cognitive, social, and emotional aspects of human development that can prepare an infant for adulthood.

As an infant my cognitive development truly tested my parent's nerves. Through many conversations with my parents I have learned over the years that I was a very determined child. One story that I recall them often talking about to this day and one that I often tell people about is, I wanted some cookies that were on the table and both my parents told me no but I kept trying to climb onto the table to get to the cookies, finally one of them moved the cookies on top of the refrigerator out of my reach or so they thought. After a few minutes they realized I was no longer in the room with them and that I had stopped crying they found me back in the kitchen and to their surprise they found me on top of the refrigerator with cookies in my hand, apparently I had moved a chair to the stove, then climbed on top of it, I then stacked the sugar and flour containers on top of each other, next I then climbed on top of the refrigerator and opened the package of cookies. My mother called to my father asking him to come to the kitchen