Portage Learning / PSY 101 / Module 1 - 8 exam
review
1
Module 1 exam review
What Is Lifespan Development?
A note before we begin:
This course has external links to informational websites and videos.
The information on these pages is part of the course and will be
incorporated into the exams. Make sure to follow each link and read
the material or watch the video as specified in the course material.
Lifespan Development
Throughout the human life span, numerous changes occur. These
changes have physical, social, cognitive, and emotional dimensions.
Lifespan development studies these changes from conception to
death by investigating major periods of development.
These major periods include:
• prenatal development
• infancy and toddlerhood
• early childhood
• middle childhood
• adolescence
• early adulthood
• middle adulthood
• late adulthood
, Portage Learning / PSY 101 / Module 1 - 8 exam
review
2
1. Lifelong
In studying these major periods, experts in lifespan development note
some distinctive features of human development. First,
development is lifelong.
Early research and theory in human development primarily focused on
children. However, developmental science increasingly emphasizes
the major changes that occur throughout adolescence and
adulthood, showing that it is important to consider development (or
change) at each period.
2. Multidirectional
Secondly, development is multidirectional. In the paragraph above,
development is loosely defined as change. However, change can be
good or bad. It can even be both, simultaneously. Thus, at every
period, an individual might be improving in some ways and falling
behind in others. We even have terms for these different aspects of
change.
For example, aging, or the process of becoming old, is something that
everyone faces if they live long enough. There is a surprising
amount of mystery in science regarding what precisely triggers
aging. We would typically use this term for adults. While children
technically are getting older as well, we wouldn’t use the term
“aging” to refer to a child.
Aging is somewhat different from growth, which implies physical
change (such as growing taller).
Maturation, on the other hand, can be physical, emotional, and/or
cognitive. Maturation has to do with something becoming more
developed and more advanced. For example, our brains don’t grow
in size across the lifespan, but they do mature (due to physical
changes occurring within the brain) across childhood, adolescence,
and early adulthood. In everyday conversation, we may speak of
someone becoming more mature; this type of improvement in
emotional regulation is a good example of emotional maturation.
Multidirectional development can be seen in adults who are aging and
facing some physical declines but are becoming more emotionally
mature at the same time.
,Portage Learning / PSY 101 / Module 1 - 8 exam
review
3
3. Multidisciplinary
Thirdly, the study of development is multidisciplinary. You might be
taking this course because of your training in the health sciences,
social sciences, or education. Each of these professional fields has a
major stake in understanding human development. In addition, each
of these fields is influenced by major contributions from
professionals in the remaining fields.
4. Multidimensional
Finally, development is multidimensional. As stated earlier, we
experience changes in the following dimensions: biological, social,
emotional, and cognitive. In addition, moral development is an
important area of consideration.
In summary, development is multidimensional, multidisciplinary,
multidirectional, and lifelong.
Theoretical Perspectives in
Lifespan Development
A. Controversies in Lifespan Development
While few students are thrilled at the prospect of studying
psychological theory, it is extremely important to understand what
directs knowledge in the field. In addition, theoretical perspectives
are always significant portions of outcome tests (for example, CLEP,
N-CLEX) in development!
Watch the video below as you study the material in this module.
We will begin with a few controversies in the field. While these
controversies are by no means solved, most experts acknowledge
the importance of considering both sides. Why is it relevant to
discuss these controversies? One reason is because various
professionals may lean toward one or the other perspective, and it
, Portage Learning / PSY 101 / Module 1 - 8 exam
review
4
is important to be aware of these theoretical leanings. In
review
1
Module 1 exam review
What Is Lifespan Development?
A note before we begin:
This course has external links to informational websites and videos.
The information on these pages is part of the course and will be
incorporated into the exams. Make sure to follow each link and read
the material or watch the video as specified in the course material.
Lifespan Development
Throughout the human life span, numerous changes occur. These
changes have physical, social, cognitive, and emotional dimensions.
Lifespan development studies these changes from conception to
death by investigating major periods of development.
These major periods include:
• prenatal development
• infancy and toddlerhood
• early childhood
• middle childhood
• adolescence
• early adulthood
• middle adulthood
• late adulthood
, Portage Learning / PSY 101 / Module 1 - 8 exam
review
2
1. Lifelong
In studying these major periods, experts in lifespan development note
some distinctive features of human development. First,
development is lifelong.
Early research and theory in human development primarily focused on
children. However, developmental science increasingly emphasizes
the major changes that occur throughout adolescence and
adulthood, showing that it is important to consider development (or
change) at each period.
2. Multidirectional
Secondly, development is multidirectional. In the paragraph above,
development is loosely defined as change. However, change can be
good or bad. It can even be both, simultaneously. Thus, at every
period, an individual might be improving in some ways and falling
behind in others. We even have terms for these different aspects of
change.
For example, aging, or the process of becoming old, is something that
everyone faces if they live long enough. There is a surprising
amount of mystery in science regarding what precisely triggers
aging. We would typically use this term for adults. While children
technically are getting older as well, we wouldn’t use the term
“aging” to refer to a child.
Aging is somewhat different from growth, which implies physical
change (such as growing taller).
Maturation, on the other hand, can be physical, emotional, and/or
cognitive. Maturation has to do with something becoming more
developed and more advanced. For example, our brains don’t grow
in size across the lifespan, but they do mature (due to physical
changes occurring within the brain) across childhood, adolescence,
and early adulthood. In everyday conversation, we may speak of
someone becoming more mature; this type of improvement in
emotional regulation is a good example of emotional maturation.
Multidirectional development can be seen in adults who are aging and
facing some physical declines but are becoming more emotionally
mature at the same time.
,Portage Learning / PSY 101 / Module 1 - 8 exam
review
3
3. Multidisciplinary
Thirdly, the study of development is multidisciplinary. You might be
taking this course because of your training in the health sciences,
social sciences, or education. Each of these professional fields has a
major stake in understanding human development. In addition, each
of these fields is influenced by major contributions from
professionals in the remaining fields.
4. Multidimensional
Finally, development is multidimensional. As stated earlier, we
experience changes in the following dimensions: biological, social,
emotional, and cognitive. In addition, moral development is an
important area of consideration.
In summary, development is multidimensional, multidisciplinary,
multidirectional, and lifelong.
Theoretical Perspectives in
Lifespan Development
A. Controversies in Lifespan Development
While few students are thrilled at the prospect of studying
psychological theory, it is extremely important to understand what
directs knowledge in the field. In addition, theoretical perspectives
are always significant portions of outcome tests (for example, CLEP,
N-CLEX) in development!
Watch the video below as you study the material in this module.
We will begin with a few controversies in the field. While these
controversies are by no means solved, most experts acknowledge
the importance of considering both sides. Why is it relevant to
discuss these controversies? One reason is because various
professionals may lean toward one or the other perspective, and it
, Portage Learning / PSY 101 / Module 1 - 8 exam
review
4
is important to be aware of these theoretical leanings. In
