Portage Learning PSY 101 — Modules 1–8 Exam
Review | Verified Questions & Answers (Complete
Module Pack)
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
,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.
,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 is important to be aware of these theoretical leanings. In
, addition, and this is particularly the case with the first controversy, researchers
spend a significant amount of time teasing out the relative contributions of the
various sides as they seek to understand specific topics in human
development.
Review | Verified Questions & Answers (Complete
Module Pack)
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
,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.
,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 is important to be aware of these theoretical leanings. In
, addition, and this is particularly the case with the first controversy, researchers
spend a significant amount of time teasing out the relative contributions of the
various sides as they seek to understand specific topics in human
development.
