Human Development Overview

Study Notes

Human development encompasses physical, cognitive, and psychosocial changes throughout a person's life.
Research findings often have practical applications in education and social policy.

Life-span development is a continuous process from conception to death.
Events such as parenthood, work, and marital satisfaction are now studied within developmental psychology.

Describe: Identifying typical developmental patterns.
Explain: Understanding the reasons behind developmental variations (e.g., delayed language).
Predict: Anticipating the likelihood of future developmental outcomes (e.g., speech problems).
Intervene: Developing strategies to address developmental challenges (e.g., speech therapy).

Physical development: Growth of the body and brain, sensory abilities, motor skills, and health.
Cognitive development: Learning, attention, memory, language, thinking, reasoning, and creativity.
Psychosocial development: Emotions, personality, and social relationships.
These domains are interconnected.

Periods of the Life Span: The division of the human lifespan into stages is a social construction influenced by cultural norms.
Developmental Tasks: Certain needs must be met and tasks mastered for typical development at each stage.
Life-Span Developmentalists: Focus on adult development and aging, often describing it in four "ages":
- First Age: Childhood to adolescence.
- Second Age: Prime adulthood (20s to 50s).
- Third Age: 60s to 79 years old.
- Fourth Age: 80 years old and beyond.

Nature vs. Nurture:
- Heredity: Inborn traits and characteristics inherited from biological parents.
- Environment: External factors influencing development from prenatal life onward.
- Epigenetics: The impact of environment on gene expression.
Stability vs. Change:
- The extent to which early traits persist or change throughout life.
- Heredity and early experiences often contribute to stability.
Continuity vs. Discontinuity:
- Continuity: Gradual, cumulative development.
- Discontinuity: Development in distinct stages.
Maturation:
- The unfolding of natural physical and behavioral changes.
- Becomes increasingly influenced by individual differences and life experiences.
- Continues to affect biological processes like brain development throughout life.

Most developmentalists do not take extreme positions on nature vs. nurture, stability vs. change, and continuity vs. discontinuity.
These issues are debated regarding their influence on development.
Individual rate and timing of development vary.