Theme 1: Understanding Life Span

Question 1

what is development

Answer 1

1. The pattern of the movement or change that begins at conception and continues through the lifespan
2. It includes growth and decline
3. Development can be positive or negative

Question 2

which 3 domains does development take place in

Answer 2

1. Biological/physical: growth of body & functioning of physiological systems (brain, physical aging)
2. Cognitive development: Changes and continuities in mental processes (perception, language, learning, memory, problem solving)
3. Psychosocial development: social interactions, Changes in personal and interpersonal development (motives, emotions, personality traits, social skills and relation-ships)

Question 3

Conception vs. Being born

Answer 3

conception is still in mums uterus and being born is when you’re out

• When you’re inside your mum its just as important, lots of changes that happen during that phase

Question 4

human dev involves

Answer 4

1. Changes:
   Can be gains, losses, or just differences from what we were like before.
2. Continuities:
   Ways in which we remain the same or continue to reflect our past selves.

Question 5

What is the science of life-span development

Answer 5

what changes and developments happen throughout your lifetime

Question 6

“gain–stability–loss” model

Answer 6

• positive change in capacity from infants to adolescence
• a line showing little change during early adulthood and middle age, and a steep decline of capacities in old age.

Question 7

why is the “gain–stability–loss” model true

Answer 7

• stereotyped view of the life span
• some truth in it (biological and physical development)
• Traditionally, biologists have defined growth as the physical changes that occur from conception to maturity.
• biologically mature and physically competent during the early part of the life span.
• Biological aging is the deterioration of organisms (including humans) that leads inevitably to their death.

Question 8

why the “gain–stability–loss” model is false

Answer 8

• development at any age involves both gains and losses.
• children gain many cognitive abilities as they get older but less flexible in their thinking, less open to considering unusual solutions, lose self-esteem
• aging does not equal loss = accumulated knowledge (more vocab & mental abilities)
• people don’t worsen or improve just change
• aging more than biological aging or decline (Physical, cognitive & psychosocial)

Question 9

what ages does most development happen

Answer 9

(emerging adulthood) 13-19 ( brain changes, maturing) from late adolescence to full adulthood

Question 10

what 4 things occur in emerging adulthood

Answer 10

explore their identities
* lead unstable lives filled with job changes, new relationships, and moves;
* self-focused: no obligations, focus on themselves, feel in between
* believe limitless possibilities ahead.

Question 11

what are the periods of human life span

Answer 11

1. Prenatal period: Conception to birth
2. Infancy : 0-2 (first month = neonatal or newborn period)
3. preschool: 2-5
4. Middle childhood: 6-10 (or puberty)
5. Adolescence: 10–18 (puberty to independendence)
6. Emerging adulthood: 18–25 or even 29 (period bet adolescence and adulthood)
7. Early adulthood: 25–40 years (adult roles are established)
8. Middle adulthood: 40–65 years
9. Late adulthood: 65 + (some subcategories)

Question 12

biological and environmental forces that influence life span dev.

Answer 12

1. nature: characteristics & abilities are determined by heredity (characteristics we’re born with). AKA nativism / genetic determinism.
2. nurture: environmental factors are predominant in development
   *AKA: environmental determinism.

Question 13

goals driving the study of life-span development

Answer 13

1. Description: ‘normal’ development, individual differences, variations in development. No 2 develop the same.
2. Prediction: predict development & those factors that cause us to develop as we do / develop differently.
3. Explanation: Link to prediction. Explain the cause/ relationship. Nature/nurture?
   -Optimization: how can humans be helped to develop in positive directions? Enhance capabilities, prevent problems?

Question 14

four traditional objective markers of adulthood (US)

Answer 14

leaving home, getting a job, marrying, and having a child

Question 15

Cultural Differences in the Life Span (C)

Answer 15

• Age and Society: Age, like gender or race, holds different meanings in different cultures.
• Culture def. : Shared understandings, values, beliefs, and practices shaping how life stages are viewed.
• Impact of Culture: Influences developmental pathways and life experiences.

Question 16

Age Grades (C)

Answer 16

What They Are: Socially defined age groups (e.g., children, teens, adults).

*Role: Assigned statuses, roles, privileges, and responsibilities.

*Example: Legal age for voting (18), drinking (21), or marriage (varies).

Question 17

Rites of Passage (C)

Answer 17

Definition: Rituals marking transitions between life stages.

Question 18

Old Age in Cultures (C)

Answer 18

Western View: Starts around 65 years (e.g., retirement age).
* Defined by how they funcion, not *chronological age.
Categories: “Old,” “Old but
functional,” “Helpless old.”

Question 19

Age Norms (C)

Answer 19

• Definition: Societal expectations for appropriate behavior at certain ages.
• Examples: 6-year-olds: Too young to date but old enough for school.

*Adults: Marry around 25, retire around 65.
= Variation: some societies expect children to work

Question 20

Social Clock (C)

Answer 20

• Definition: Personal sense of when milestones should occur, influenced by age norms.
• Examples:
  Feeling pressure to marry at 30.
  Planning retirement at 70, even if one loves their job.

Question 21

Cultural and Subcultural Variation (subC)

Answer 21

Definition: Grades, age norms, and social clocks vary across cultures and subcultures.
* Example: Different expectations about when life milestones (e.g., marriage, parenthood) occur.

Question 22

subcultural differences

Answer 22

1. Diversity in Society: Society is diverse in race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES).
   = varied developmental experiences based on SES.
2. Age Norms and SES Differences
   = Milestones differ due to access to resources and cultural expectations.
3. Impact of Poverty on Development
   = Dev. Consequences: can’t create a stable home & diff. brain dev.

Question 23

Today’s educators & health professionals are being asked to engage in what practices

Answer 23

1. Evidence-based practice - Based
   on research and ensuring
   treatments they provide have
   been demonstrated to be
   effective.
2. Use scientific research, rather
   than experience.
3. Use effective interventions rather
   than ineffective & harmful.

Question 24

what are the 7 key assumptions of the modern life-span perspective (Paul Baltes)

Answer 24

1. life-long process
2. multidirectional
3. involves both gain & loss
4. characterised by lifelong plasticity
5. shaped by its historical-cultural context
6. multiply influenced
7. must be studied by multiple disciplines

Question 25

modern life-span perspective (1)

Answer 25

lifelong process: we change throughout our lifespan

Question 26

modern life-span perspective (2)

Answer 26

multidirectional: dev. does not occur in 1 direction
* different capabilities show diff. patterns of change over time e.g: intellect

Question 27

modern life-span perspective (3)

Answer 27

involves both gain & loss: shown in each phase of life-span
* gain & loss linked = focus skills in 1 areas :. lose skills in another

Question 28

modern life-span perspective (4)

Answer 28

characterised by life-long plasticity: (changes in response to experiences)
* influenced by environ. & experience
* neuroplasticity = brain’s ability to change in response to experience

Question 29

modern life-span perspective (5)

Answer 29

shaped by its historical-cultural context: Great Depression affected the life courses of the era’s children
= families in poverty - fathers out of work and less disciplined :. behaviour problems

Question 30

modern life-span perspective (6)

Answer 30

multiply influenced: dev. is the outcome of ongoing inter-actions between nature & nurture

Question 31

modern life-span perspective (7)

Answer 31

must be studied by multiple disciplines: dev. influenced by everything :. impossible for one discipline to have all the answers.
* many disciplines, each with its own perspectives & tools