Human Development Flashcards
Development is multidimensional
Development consists of biological, cognitive, and socioemotional dimensions and they all have subgroups
Development is lifelong
No age period Dominates development
Development is multidirectional
Growth and decline characterize development. Some dimensions or components of a dimension may expand and others shrink as an individual develops.
Example- older adult becoming wiser, but has less speed with processing information
Development is plastic
Plasticity is the potential for change. Older adults can reverse or reduce cognitive decline.
Example- boy with seizures that has the left side of his brain removed, but he is normal because the right side takes over
Development is contextual
contextual – relating to or depending on
Responding or acting within the context of your biological makeup, physical environment, and cognitive processes. Historical, cultural, social context.
There are Three types of influences that are exerted by context.
Three types of influences that are exerted by context
1) normative age graded influences
2) normative history graded influences
3) non-normative life experiences or events
Normative age graded influences
Similar for people in a particular age group
Example – puberty, menopause, 50-year-old needing bifocals or reading glasses
Normative history graded influences
Common to people of a particular generation.
Example – World War I, 9/11, okc bombing
Biological process
Involves changes in our physical nature
Example – Genes, development of brain, height and weight gain, motor skills change, hormonal changes, cardiovascular decline
Cognitive process
Involves changes in thought, intelligence, and language
Example – learning to talk, infant watching mobile, memory, imagination, abstract thinking
Socioemotional process
Involves changes in relationships with others. changes in emotion and personality
Example- smile, aggression, assertiveness, joy, affection.
Chronological age
number of years that has elapsed since birth. Age
Example- 4,8,12,21,etc
Biological Age
persons age in terms of biological health. Function capacities of vital organs.
Example- heart, brain, and lungs.
psychological age
individuals adaptive capacities compared to others of the same chronological age.
Example- mature teen, childish adults, flexible elderly.
Social Age
refers to social roles and expectations related to ones age
Example- Role of the mother is the same no matter at what age. 18 or 30.
Non-normative life events
Unusual occurrences that have a major impact.
Example- Death of parent when a child is young, teen pregnancy, traumatic accident.
Developmental Issues
Stability and Change
Nature and Nurture
Continuity and Discontinuity
Stability and Change
Stability- the result of heredity and early experiences.
Change- takes more of the optimistic approach.
Nature and Nurture
Nature- biological
Nurture- environmental
Continuity and Discontinuity
Continuity- gradual and cumulative change.
Example- puberty is a gradual change.
Discontinuity- Distinct stages.
Example- child only thinking about themselves to thinking about others and the world. The metamorphosis of a butterfly.
Freuds psychosexual stages
Oral Anal Phallic Latency Genital
oral stage
Birth-18months
Believed that the infants pleasure focuses on the mouth
Anal stage
18months-3yrs
Believed child’s pleasure focuses on the anus.
(potty training- children are obsessed with feces)
Phallic Stage
3-6yrs.
Child focuses on genitals
