Human Development: Goals, Domains, and Periods

• Human development encompasses the systematic study of changes and stability throughout the human lifespan
• Life-span development studies human development as a lifelong process with systematic changes from conception to death
• Developmental scientists are professionals engaged in studying human development

Four Goals of Human Development

• Describe: Identify when and how developmental milestones occur
• Explain: Understand the causes and mechanisms behind development
• Predict: Anticipate behaviors based on patterns
• Intervene: Utilize knowledge to improve development

Three Domains of Development

• Physical: Growth and changes in the body, sensory capabilities, motor skills, and health

• Cognitive: Changes in mental abilities like learning, memory, language, and reasoning

• Psychosocial: Changes in emotions, personality, and social relationships

• Social Construction: A concept created by a culture that seems natural but isn't inherently universal

Periods of the Life Span:

• Prenatal Period (Conception to Birth):
• Rapid growth, organ/brain development, high environmental sensitivity occur
• Early sensory responses start, as well as the beginning of memory and learning
• Early bonding with mother

Infancy and Toddlerhood (Birth to Age 3):

• Rapid motor skills, brain development, and functional sensory systems occur
• Cognitive abilities include early learning, memory, problem-solving, and language acquisition
• Attachment formation increases as well as autonomy and early peer interaction

Early Childhood (Ages 3 to 6):

• Steady growth and improved motor skills develop, sleep and appetite changes occur
• Egocentric thinking, the growth of language/memory skills, and early schooling
• Gender identity develops while independence and social play increases

Middle Childhood (Ages 6 to 11):

• Growth slows, but strength and coordination improves
• Logical thinking and literacy skills develop, along with problem-solving abilities
• A more complex self-concept develops, and peer influence strengthens

Adolescence (Ages 11 to About 20):

• Puberty and reproductive maturity occur, along with health risks
• Abstract reasoning and identity exploration occurs
• Peer influence is present, with evolving parent relationships while identity formation is completed

Emerging and Young Adulthood (Ages 20 to 40):

• Peak health is achieved, lifestyle choices affect long-term well-being
• Advanced moral reasoning takes place, along with career and education choices
• A stable personality is achieved, with intimate relationships and family formation

Middle Adulthood (Ages 40 to 65):

• A decline in strength/senses, and menopause in women
• Expertise and problem-solving peak, with career transitions
• Midlife transitions, balancing work, family, and aging parents all occur

Late Adulthood (Age 65 and Over):

• Health declines and reaction times slow down
• Memory changes are apparent and intelligence is mostly stable with adaptations
• Retirement, coping with aging/loss, and a focus on life’s meaning emerge

Influences on Development

• Individual differences: Variations in characteristics, influences, or developmental outcomes
• Heredity: Traits inherited from parents
• Environment: all nonhereditary influences from external surroundings starting in the womb
• Maturation: Natural unfolding of physical/behavioral changes

Contexts of Development

• Nuclear family: A 2-generational kinship with 1-2 parents, and biological/adopted/step- children
• Extended family: Multigenerational network of parents, children, and other relatives
• Socioeconomic status (SES): Status based on income, education, and occupation
• Risk factors: Conditions increasing the likelihood of negative outcomes
• Culture: A society’s shared way of life with customs, traditions, beliefs, values, language, and learned behaviors passed down
• Ethnic group: People share ancestry, culture, religion, language, a national origin and identity
• Ethnic gloss: Oversimplification obscuring differences within ethnic/cultural groups

Normative and Nonnormative Influences

• Normative influences affect many people in similar ways
• Normative: Events occur similarly for most in a group
• Normative age-graded: Similar for a particular age group. Timing is predictable
• Normative history-graded: Significant events shape attitudes of a historical generation
• Historical generation: People influenced by a major historical event
• Cohort: People born around the same time
• Nonnormative: Unusual events affecting a particular person

Timing of Influences: Critical or Sensitive Periods

• Imprinting: Instinctive learning where, during a critical point, a young animal forms attachment to the first moving object
• Predisposition toward learning: Readiness to acquire information during a critical period
• Critical period: Time when an event has a crucial impact on development
• Plasticity: Range of modifiability of performance
• Sensitive period: Time when a person is open to experiences

Seven Key Principles of a Life-Span Developmental Approach

• Development is lifelong, with each stage influencing the next
• Development is multidimensional across biological, psychological, and social areas
• Development is multidirectional, can improve or decline
• Biology and culture influences shift over the lifespan
• Resource allocations shift with age
• Development shows plasticity
• Development is shaped by time, place, and cultural context