Lifespan Development Define - Answers physical, social, cognitive, and emotional changes throughout
human life
Factors of lifespan development - Answers 1. lifelong
2. multidirectional
3. multidisciplinary
4. multidimensional (biological, social, emotional, cognitive, moral)
Maturation: adults ____, while children ____ - Answers age, grow
Nature - Answers biological, genetic
people are BORN a specific way
Nurture - Answers environmental, learned/influenced by others
people change based on surroundings - raising, human environment, etc
Continuous development - Answers Various stages of development gradually flow into one another
Can be difficult to determine when one stage starts and another starts
Behaviorists
Discontinuous development - Answers Developmental stages are distinct
One stage definitely ends before another begins
Stage theorists
Sigmund Freud - Answers Psychosexual stages of development
Proposed the id, ego, superego are what develop one's personality
,Proposed 5 stages of development involving a conflict and fixation with an area of the body associated
with gratification/pleasure
Freud's 5 stages of development - Answers 1. Oral stage: birth-18 months: relief from anxiety through
oral gratification of needs
2. Anal stage: 18 months-3yoa: learning independence and control, with focus on the excretory function
3. Phallic stage: 3-5yoa: identification with parent of same sex; development of sexual identity; focus on
genital organs
4. Latency stage: 5 years-puberty: sexuality is repressed; focus is on relationships with same-sex peers
5. Genital stage: puberty-adulthood: libido is reawakened as genital organs mature; focus is on
relationships with members of the opposite sex
Major periods of lifespan development - Answers 1. prenatal development
2. infancy and toddlerhood
3. early childhood
4. middle childhood
5. adolescence
6. early adulthood
7. middle adulthood
8. late adulthood
Why is it important to study human development across lifespan? - Answers Development is lifelong.
Developmental science has shown that major developmental changes continue to occur during
adolescence and adulthood, so it is important to study the entire lifespan to develop the most accurate
theories.
Why is lifespan development multidirectional - Answers Lifespan development is multidirectional
because development can be good, bad, or both. Each developmental stage can come with
improvement and/or decline. For example, as children grow, they become more mature and develop
, important skills. However, while adults age, they might continue to experience emotional or cognitive
maturation, but can also experience physical decline as they get older.
Maturation - Answers can be physical, emotional, and/or cognitive
becoming more developed and advanced
Why is lifespan development multidisciplinary? Is there a reason why various disciplines study it? -
Answers The study of lifespan development is multidisciplinary because it uses theories from multiple
subdivisions of psychology. Various disciplines study it because it is necessary for professional fields,
including health sciences, social sciences, and education, to obtain a holistic view of an individual.
Why is lifespan development multidimensional - Answers because there are many ways a person can
develop and change, including biologically, socially, emotionally, and cognitively.
Define biological dimension of development - Answers Biological development is represented by the
physical changes on an individual's body as a result of aging and environmental factors.
Define social dimension of development - Answers Social development is marked by an individual's
improving social skills such as communication, behavior, and building relationships.
Define emotional dimension of development - Answers Emotional development involves an individual
better understanding and controlling his or her emotions
Define cognitive dimension of development - Answers Cognitive development is the increased ability to
think logically and creatively, understand concepts, and improve knowledge.
Which periods of development interest you most and why? Do you plan on working with a certain age
group? What would you like to learn about this specific period? - Answers The periods from adolescence
to middle adulthood interest me the most because this is when individuals explore and decide who they
want to be in this world. This is when they have to accept or reject their guardians' lifestyle and
upbringing and then develop their own path. I plan to work more with adults in a dermatology setting,
so i hope to learn more about the biological aging during this period.
Go through all 8 developmental periods and create 2-3 adjectives to describe each period. Why did you
choose these descriptions? Were some periods easier to describe than others? Why or why not? -
Answers 1. prenatal development:
- growing
- transforming
2. infancy and toddlerhood