U2 AOS1a Flashcards
Development
A series of orderly, predictable changes that occur from fertilisation until death. Development can be physical, social, emotional or intellectual.
Developmental milestones
A significant skill or event occurring in a person’s life (e.g. learning to walk, getting a job, having children).
Human lifespan stages
Prenatal (fertilisation-birth)
Infancy (birth-2 years)
Early childhood (2nd birthday-6 years)
Late childhood (6th birthday-12 years)
Youth (12th birthday-18 years)
Early adulthood (18th birthday-40 years)
Middle adulthood (40th birthday-65 years)
Late adulthood (65th birthday-death)
Prenatal lifespan stage
-> fertilisation-birth
-> fastest growth period + one of the most vulnerable
Infancy lifespan stage
-> birth-2 years
-> period of rapid growth
-> develop motor skills, learn to eat, crawl to walk, noises to words, social interaction
Early childhood lifespan stage
-> 2nd birthday-6 years
-> slow + steady growth
-> social skills + making friends, become toilet trained, early learning
Late childhood lifespan stage
-> 6th birthday-12 years
-> slow + steady growth
-> refine reading + writing skills, develop long-term memory, honing motor skills, understand stereotypes, primary school
Youth lifespan stage
-> 12th birthday-18 years
-> rapid growth
-> sexual maturity + ability to reproduce, becoming accustomed to increased independence, more complex relos, development of life goals, secondary schol
Early adulthood lifespan stage
-> 18th birthday-40 years
-> body reaches physical peak (23-30) followed by steady decline, deciding on a career, starting a fam
Middle adulthood lifespan stage
-> 40th birthday-65 years
-> stability in work + relos, further development of identity (i.e. maturation of values + beliefs), financial security, physical signs of ageing + menopause, children gain independence + leave home (‘empty nest syndrome’), become a grandparent
Late adulthood lifespan stage
-> 65th birthday-death
-> change in lifestyle + living arrangements due to retirement + financial security, declining physical health, greater participation in voluntary work + leisure activities, enduring grief, reflecting on life, grandparenting
Physical development (definition)
Changes to the body and it’s systems. These can be changes in size, complexity and motor skills.
Social development (definition)
The increasing complexity of behaviour patterns used in relationships with other people.
Emotional development (definition)
Relates to experiencing the full range of emotions, and increasing complexity relating to the expression of emotions, the development of self-concept and resilience.
Intellectual development (definition)
The increase in complexity of processes in the brain such as thought, knowledge and memory.
Physical development (sectors)
-> growth
-> changes to body systems
-> motor skill development (fine + gross)
Social development (sectors)
-> behaviours
-> social roles
-> relationship skills
-> communication skills
Emotional development (sectors)
-> developing self-concept
-> experiencing the full range of emotions
-> learning appropriate ways of expressing + communicating emotions
-> building resilience
Intellectual development (sectors)
-> knowledge + memory
-> language
-> creativity + imagination
-> attention
-> thought patterns + problem solving
Abstract thought
A complex thought process where ideas are the focus rather than tangible objects (concrete thought).
Factors influencing perceptions of lifespan stages
-> past experiences w people in the specific lifespan stage
-> way media portrays people in the lifespan stage
-> person’s own experiences in the lifespan stage
-> other peoples opinions
-> way politicians + other public figures speak of various population groups
-> person’s values + beliefs
Common perceptions of youth
> lazy + narcissistic
-> slackers, unable/unwilling to gain ongoing, meaningful employment
-> uneducated + incapable of making informed, rational decisions
-> lack maturity of past gens
-> feel entitled to a decent life + want world to provide it for them
-> vibrant, energetic, hard-working
-> ‘best years of your life’
Common perceptions of adults
-> judgemental + lacking understanding
-> out of touch
-> complain a lot
-> ‘karen’
-> resistant to change + have trouble learning complex tasks
-> bad drivers
-> wise + experienced
Generation gap
The difference in attitudes and opinions experienced by people of different generations.
