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Notes
Developmental Psychology (University of South Africa)
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Chapter 1: The study of human development
Theme 1: Issues in human development
Issues in human development
Nature vs nurture:
The degree to which genetic or hereditary influences (nature) and experiential or
environmental influences (nurture) determine the kind of person you are
Development is shaped by both. They are mutually interactive influences
Big aspects is trying to understand how heredity and environment both determine
development
Continuity and discontinuity in development:
The continuous view is that once a person heads down a particular developmental
path (such as friendliness, the person tends to stay on that path throughout life)
The discontinuous view is that development is not always continuous. People can
change from one developmental path to another and perhaps several times in their
lives
The continuity – discontinuity issue concerns whether a particular developmental
phenomenon represents a smooth progression throughout the life span (continuity)
or a series of abrupt shifts (discontinuity)
There are examples of developmental changes that represent continuities and others
that are discontinuities
Eg Continuity: Face may look nearly identical on successive days (continuity) but
change dramatically in photos taken years apart (discontinuity)
Universal and context-specific development:
Concerns whether there is one path of development or several
Some theorists argue that although there seem to be differences in development
there is one fundamental developmental process for everyone
o Differences in development are simply variations on the same fundamental
process
The alternative view is that differences among people are not simply variations on a
theme
Downloaded by Vincent Cosmas ()
, lOMoARcPSD|32110785
o Human development is inextricably intertwined with the context within which
it occurs
o A persons development is a product of complex interaction with the
environment and that interaction is not fundamentally the same in all
environments
o Each environment has its own set of unique procedures that shape
development
The result is a blend
These issues can be looked at in terms of personality development or any
development. A blend of everything
4 Basic forces in human development – Biopsychosocial model
1. Biological forces
a. Includes all genetic and health related factors that affect development
2. Psychological forces
a. Include all internal perceptual, cognitive, emotional and personality factors
that affect development
3. Sociocultural forces
a. Includes interpersonal, societal, cultural and ethnic factors that affect
development
4. Life-cycle forces
a. That reflect differences in how the same event affects people of different ages
*Each person is a unique combination of these forces
* A useful way to organise the biological, psychological and sociocultural forces on human
development is with the biopsychosocial framework. It emphasises that each force interacts
with the others to make up development
Biopsychosocial model in detail:
Biological forces: Genetics and health
Examples include: prenatal development brain maturation, puberty and physical
ageing
Downloaded by Vincent Cosmas ()
, lOMoARcPSD|32110785
Genetic code, but not only genetic
Also includes the effects of such things as diet and exercise
The force can be viewed as providing the raw material necessary and as setting the
boundary conditions for development
Psychological forces: Known by our behaviour
Most common way to describe the characteristics of a person
Eg) intelligence, kindness, loyal etc
The internal cognitive, emotional, personality, perceptual and related factors that
help to define us as individuals and that influence behaviour
Socio-cultural forces: Race, ethnicity and culture
To understand development we need to know how people and their environments
interact and mutually influence each other
We need to view an individuals development as part of a much larger system in
which any individual part influences all other aspects of the system
Includes an individuals parents, children, siblings, extended family, friends etc
Includes institutions such as schools, media, workplace etc
Society as well
These institutions fit together to form a persons culture (knowledge, attitudes and
behaviour associated with a group of people)
Culture can link to a country (SA culture), to a point in time (1990’s)
Provides understanding of the influence a person has
Life-cycle forces: Timing is everything
Age, financial situation, social support systems
How do the forces interact?
They all work intertwined
Biological forces were influenced by the social forces
No aspect of human development can be fully understood by examining the forces in
isolation
Must be considered in interaction
Combining the four developmental forces gives a view of human development that
covers the life span which appreciates the unique aspects of each phase of life
Downloaded by Vincent Cosmas ()
Notes
Developmental Psychology (University of South Africa)
Scan to open on Studocu
Studocu is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university
Downloaded by Vincent Cosmas ()
, lOMoARcPSD|32110785
Chapter 1: The study of human development
Theme 1: Issues in human development
Issues in human development
Nature vs nurture:
The degree to which genetic or hereditary influences (nature) and experiential or
environmental influences (nurture) determine the kind of person you are
Development is shaped by both. They are mutually interactive influences
Big aspects is trying to understand how heredity and environment both determine
development
Continuity and discontinuity in development:
The continuous view is that once a person heads down a particular developmental
path (such as friendliness, the person tends to stay on that path throughout life)
The discontinuous view is that development is not always continuous. People can
change from one developmental path to another and perhaps several times in their
lives
The continuity – discontinuity issue concerns whether a particular developmental
phenomenon represents a smooth progression throughout the life span (continuity)
or a series of abrupt shifts (discontinuity)
There are examples of developmental changes that represent continuities and others
that are discontinuities
Eg Continuity: Face may look nearly identical on successive days (continuity) but
change dramatically in photos taken years apart (discontinuity)
Universal and context-specific development:
Concerns whether there is one path of development or several
Some theorists argue that although there seem to be differences in development
there is one fundamental developmental process for everyone
o Differences in development are simply variations on the same fundamental
process
The alternative view is that differences among people are not simply variations on a
theme
Downloaded by Vincent Cosmas ()
, lOMoARcPSD|32110785
o Human development is inextricably intertwined with the context within which
it occurs
o A persons development is a product of complex interaction with the
environment and that interaction is not fundamentally the same in all
environments
o Each environment has its own set of unique procedures that shape
development
The result is a blend
These issues can be looked at in terms of personality development or any
development. A blend of everything
4 Basic forces in human development – Biopsychosocial model
1. Biological forces
a. Includes all genetic and health related factors that affect development
2. Psychological forces
a. Include all internal perceptual, cognitive, emotional and personality factors
that affect development
3. Sociocultural forces
a. Includes interpersonal, societal, cultural and ethnic factors that affect
development
4. Life-cycle forces
a. That reflect differences in how the same event affects people of different ages
*Each person is a unique combination of these forces
* A useful way to organise the biological, psychological and sociocultural forces on human
development is with the biopsychosocial framework. It emphasises that each force interacts
with the others to make up development
Biopsychosocial model in detail:
Biological forces: Genetics and health
Examples include: prenatal development brain maturation, puberty and physical
ageing
Downloaded by Vincent Cosmas ()
, lOMoARcPSD|32110785
Genetic code, but not only genetic
Also includes the effects of such things as diet and exercise
The force can be viewed as providing the raw material necessary and as setting the
boundary conditions for development
Psychological forces: Known by our behaviour
Most common way to describe the characteristics of a person
Eg) intelligence, kindness, loyal etc
The internal cognitive, emotional, personality, perceptual and related factors that
help to define us as individuals and that influence behaviour
Socio-cultural forces: Race, ethnicity and culture
To understand development we need to know how people and their environments
interact and mutually influence each other
We need to view an individuals development as part of a much larger system in
which any individual part influences all other aspects of the system
Includes an individuals parents, children, siblings, extended family, friends etc
Includes institutions such as schools, media, workplace etc
Society as well
These institutions fit together to form a persons culture (knowledge, attitudes and
behaviour associated with a group of people)
Culture can link to a country (SA culture), to a point in time (1990’s)
Provides understanding of the influence a person has
Life-cycle forces: Timing is everything
Age, financial situation, social support systems
How do the forces interact?
They all work intertwined
Biological forces were influenced by the social forces
No aspect of human development can be fully understood by examining the forces in
isolation
Must be considered in interaction
Combining the four developmental forces gives a view of human development that
covers the life span which appreciates the unique aspects of each phase of life
Downloaded by Vincent Cosmas ()
