Chapter 1 Flashcards
Lifespan Development
Study of human behavioral change from conception to death that examines patterns of growth, change, and stability.
Development
Pattern of movement and change which allows for the potential for growth or decline of abilities in each stage.
Lifespan Developmental Science
- Describe people’s behavioral characteristics at different ages
- Identify how people are likely to respond to life’s experiences at different ages
- Formulate theories that explain how and why we see the typical characteristics and responses that we do
- Understand what factors contribute to developmental differences from one person to another
Reflective practice
- Emphasizes beliefs and knowledge as precursors to practice
- Use theory as a lens through which to consider problems, along with experience
- Problem solving depends on deep background knowledge in interaction with applications
- Begin by examining your beliefs
Lifespan Perspective views development as:
- Lifelong
- Multidimensional (biological, cognitive & socioemotional)
- Multidirectional
- Plastic
- Multidisciplinary
- Contextual
- Development is a process that involves growth, maintenance, and regulation of loss
- Development is constructed through biological, sociocultural, and individual factors working together.
Culture
Behavior patterns, beliefs, and all other products of a particular group of people that are passed on from generation to generation
Ethnicity
Cultural heritage, nationality, race, religion, and language
Socioeconomic Status
A person’s position within society based on occupational, educational, and economic characteristics
Gender
Characteristics of people as males and females
Mutlidimensional Development
- Development is the product of biological, cognitive, and socioemotional processes
- Biological: changes in an individual’s physical nature
- Cognitive: changes in thought, intelligence, and language
- Socioemotional: changes in relationships with other people, changes in emotions, and changes in personality
Developmental Period
- A time frame in person’s life that is characterized by certain features
- Prenatal period
- Infancy/toddlerhood
- Early childhood
- Middle and Late Childhood
- Adolescence
- Early Adulthood
- Middle Adulthood
- Late Adulthood
Prenatal period
- Conception to birth (9 months)
- Tremendous growth
Infancy
- Birth to 18-24 months
- Dependence upon adults
- Development of many psychological activities
Early Childhood
- End of infancy to 5-6 years
- Preschool years
- Self-sufficiency and increased play
Middle and late childhood
- 6-11 years
- Reading, writing, and arithmetic
- Focus on achievement and self-control
Adolescence
- Varying endpoints
- From 10-12 to 18-22 years
- Rapid physical changes
- Pursuit of independence and identity
Early adulthood
- Late teens to early 30’s
- Personal and economic independence
- Selecting a mate
Middle adulthood
- 40-60 years
- Social involvement and responsibility
- Assisting the next generation
Late adulthood
- 60’s -70’s to death
- Life review
- Adjustment to new social roles
- Longest development span
- “Youngest old” vs. “Oldest old”
Chronological age
*Number of years that have elapsed since birth
Biological age
*A person’s age in terms of biological health
Psychological age
*An individual’s adaptive capacities compared with those of other individuals of the same chronological age
Social age
*Social roles and expectations related to a person’s age
Classic Stage Theories
- Activities have similar qualities within stages but different qualities across stages. After long periods of stability, qualitative shifts in behavior seem to happen relatively quickly
- Imply periods of relative stability (within stages) and periods of rapid changes (between stages)
- Freud’s psychosexual stages of development
- Erikson’s psychosocial stages of development
- Piaget’s cognitive developmental stages of development