Retardation in psychology is a delay, a backwardness in development. Acceleration and retardation

Retardation in psychology is a term that has recently become widespread as an opposite to the expression "acceleration". In its meaning, it partially coincides with infantilism. Retardation (delay, delay) suggests that the lag in time can be recovered, whereas in many cases of infantilism, some of its signs persist in adults. In addition, there is a retardation of mental development, and in the case of infantilism, the intellect is not affected.

The meaning of the term "retardation"

By retardation we mean a persistent delay in general mental development due to various intellectual disabilities at the age of two to five years, that is, at a time when the child is just forming speech. In this case, as a rule, there is no progressive deterioration in cognitive functions. If mental disorders occur against the background of already formed speech and are of a progressive nature, then such developmental disorders are called dementia (dementia).

Acceleration

Retardation as an inverse acceleration of the concept implies a delay or a lag in development. Consequently, acceleration is the acceleration of growth and development rates in childhood and adolescence. Also here is a rapid increase in body volume of adults. To date, there are two types of acceleration: intra-group and epochal. The first is the acceleration of the rate of development of some children and adolescents in certain age groups. Epochal acceleration is the rapid physical development of modern children in comparison with previous generations.

Causes of Acceleration

To understand what retardation is, it is necessary to find out the reasons for the development of the opposite phenomenon, that is, to establish the biological mechanisms of acceleration. Conditionally the reasons for accelerated growth and development can be divided into three main groups:

1. Hypotheses of a physico-chemical nature. These include the theory of Koch, who believed that modern children are exposed to a stronger influence of ultraviolet rays, which are the stimulator of growth. But still more widespread, confirmed by many researchers, is the hypothesis of the impact of industrial waste on the growth of children.

2. Hypothesis of influencing the growth and development of the child social conditions , in particular, improving nutrition, health services and urban living conditions. According to the researchers, all of the above factors can also stimulate the physical development.

3. Hypothesis, according to which acceleration is the result of cyclic biological changes in heterosis and other phenomena. The effect of heterosis can be explained by the widespread migration of the modern population and the increase in the number of mixed marriages. The offspring at the same time with each generation is becoming more developed in physical terms.

It will be right to agree with all three hypotheses, as many authors consider the cause of acceleration the influence of a number of factors, while different circumstances are different at different times and in different places.

Retardation: causes and factors. Short review

Retardation in psychology is a slowed-down physical development and the formation of functional systems of the organism in childhood and adolescence. At this stage of the study of this phenomenon, scientists identify two main causes of retardation: hereditary factors and organic disorders, congenital or acquired in postnatal ontogenesis, as well as various social factors.

Hereditary retardants and social factor

Basically, by the time of the end of the growth processes, retardants do not lag behind this peer from this peer, they just reach average values one or two years later. If we take into account that retardation in psychology is a slowdown in growth and development, then for the full consideration of the problem it is necessary to determine the cause of this phenomenon. If the lag occurs as a result of the hereditary factor or after the transferred disease, then, as a rule, there is a temporary growth retardation, and after the final recovery the growth rates are accelerated, that is, the genetic program is realized in a shorter period.

A social factor can also have a negative impact on the growth and development of the child. And this is not so much low material income, as negative emotional microclimate in the family or in children's institutions. The fact is established that children who are brought up in boarding schools, in orphanages or in conditions of lack of attention on the part of parents, lag behind in development for one and a half to two years from their peers.

Cyclicity

Retardation in psychology is a little studied phenomenon, but its very existence confirms the theory of cyclic change of accelerating epochs. According to scientists, in the past five years there has been a slowdown in the acceleration and retardation of development. For what reasons this cycle is occurring, it is not known, but scientists attribute this to the following factors: with the change in climatic conditions on the planet, increased activity of the sun, with the quality of nutrition and so on. All causes can be conditionally divided into exogenous (negative environmental impact) and endogenous (acquired or congenital).

Retardation takes on special significance in determining whether a child is ready for school, since progress depends on his psychophysiological maturation and how relationships with one-year-olds will develop. Very often children with developmental delay are taught individually. It is also worth noting that retardation and acceleration can be harmonious and inharmonious. That is, each child has an individual growth and development rate.