Human Growth and Development Class
Notes 1-6 questions and answers
Definition of Human Growth and Development - answer The scientific study of processes of
change and stability throughout the human life span (conception to death). Based on idea that
every portion of the lifespan is influenced by earlier events and will in tunr affect later events.
Human development occurs through: - answer --Processes which are biologically programmed
--Interaction w/environment
--Aggression to Regression
Why study lifespan development? - answer --Provides organized account of development
-Demonstrates interconnections between earlier and later events.
-Explains mechanisms responsible for development
-Specifies biological, psychological and environmental factors that shape an individual's
development
What are the principles of lifespan development? - answer -Development is life-long
-Development involves both gain and loss (multidirectional)
-The relative influences of biology and culture shift over the lifespan
-Development involves a changing allocation of resources (selection).
-Development is modifiable (plasticity)
-Development is influenced by the historical and cultural context (embedded in history)
Lifespan development is interdisciplinary - answer It involves psychology, psychiatry, sociology,
anthropology, biology, genetics, family science, education, history, philosophy, and medicine.
What are the goals of the study of lifespan development? - answer -Describe behavior
, -Explain behavior
-Predict behavior
-Modify behavior (most difficult to accomplish)
Lifespan development is every evolving due to: - answer -Progress in understanding
-Building on previous knowledge
-Advances in technology
-Changes in cultural attitudes
Changes to lifespan development are: - answer -Quantitative: change in #, amt., freq.
-Qualitative: change in kind, structure, org.
What are the physical domains of development? - answer -Growth of body/brain and
change/stability in sensory capacities, motor skills and health.
What are the cognitive domains of development? - answer -Change/stability in mental abilities
(learning, attention, memory, language, thinking, reasoning and creativity)
What are the psychosocial (social-emotional) domains of development? - answer
-Change/stability in emotions, personality and social relationships.
What are the periods of the lifespan? - answer -A social construction (idea widely accepted by
members of society.
-8 periods accepted in Western Industrialized Societies
What are the 8 periods of the lifespan? - answer -Prenatal (conception to birth)
-Infant and Toddler (0-3)
-Early Childhood (3-6)
Notes 1-6 questions and answers
Definition of Human Growth and Development - answer The scientific study of processes of
change and stability throughout the human life span (conception to death). Based on idea that
every portion of the lifespan is influenced by earlier events and will in tunr affect later events.
Human development occurs through: - answer --Processes which are biologically programmed
--Interaction w/environment
--Aggression to Regression
Why study lifespan development? - answer --Provides organized account of development
-Demonstrates interconnections between earlier and later events.
-Explains mechanisms responsible for development
-Specifies biological, psychological and environmental factors that shape an individual's
development
What are the principles of lifespan development? - answer -Development is life-long
-Development involves both gain and loss (multidirectional)
-The relative influences of biology and culture shift over the lifespan
-Development involves a changing allocation of resources (selection).
-Development is modifiable (plasticity)
-Development is influenced by the historical and cultural context (embedded in history)
Lifespan development is interdisciplinary - answer It involves psychology, psychiatry, sociology,
anthropology, biology, genetics, family science, education, history, philosophy, and medicine.
What are the goals of the study of lifespan development? - answer -Describe behavior
, -Explain behavior
-Predict behavior
-Modify behavior (most difficult to accomplish)
Lifespan development is every evolving due to: - answer -Progress in understanding
-Building on previous knowledge
-Advances in technology
-Changes in cultural attitudes
Changes to lifespan development are: - answer -Quantitative: change in #, amt., freq.
-Qualitative: change in kind, structure, org.
What are the physical domains of development? - answer -Growth of body/brain and
change/stability in sensory capacities, motor skills and health.
What are the cognitive domains of development? - answer -Change/stability in mental abilities
(learning, attention, memory, language, thinking, reasoning and creativity)
What are the psychosocial (social-emotional) domains of development? - answer
-Change/stability in emotions, personality and social relationships.
What are the periods of the lifespan? - answer -A social construction (idea widely accepted by
members of society.
-8 periods accepted in Western Industrialized Societies
What are the 8 periods of the lifespan? - answer -Prenatal (conception to birth)
-Infant and Toddler (0-3)
-Early Childhood (3-6)
