Development Psychology PDF

**DEVELOPMENT PSYCHOLOGY** I. ABOUT HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Human Development is a scientific study of the process of change and stability throughout the human life-span. Life-span Development is a concept of development or a lifelong process which can be studied scientifically. THE LIFE-SPAN PERSPECT...

**DEVELOPMENT PSYCHOLOGY** I. ABOUT HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Human Development is a scientific study of the process of change and stability throughout the human life-span. Life-span Development is a concept of development or a lifelong process which can be studied scientifically. THE LIFE-SPAN PERSPECTIVE DEVELOPMENT: the pattern of movement or change that begins at conception and continues through the human life span. It involves growth and decline. TRADITIONAL APPROACH emphasizes extensive change from birth to adolescence, little or no change in adulthood and decline in old age. LIFE SPAN APPROACH emphasizes developmental change throughout childhood and adulthood. Note: Decline is part of development. THE LIFE SPAN PERSPECTIVE Life span - based on oldest documented age - currently 122 years Life Expectancy: average number of years that a person can expect to live - currently 78 years In PH, 67/70 for males and 74 for females. -females outlive males Life span refers to one\'s life duration from birth to death. Life expectancy is the average number of years a person is expected to live. B. HOW HUMAN DEVELOPMENT EVOLVED The scientific study of human development began with studies of childhood during the 19th century. Adolescence was not considered a separate phase of development. Until 20th century, the scientific interest in aging also began. As researches became interested in the following development through adulthood, life-span became a field of study. HUMAN DEVELOPMENT TODAY: 4 Goals of Scientific Study of Human Development 1. Describe 2. Explain 3. Predict 4. Modify Behavior ***[Developmental scientists]*** study development *[change,]* *[both quantitative and qualitative]*, as well as *[stability in personality and behavior.]* **THE LIFE SPAN PERSPECTIVE** View development as; **Lifelong** \- early adulthood is not the endpoint of development \- no age period dominated conception to death **Multidimensional** \- consists of biological, cognitive & socioemotional dimensions \- multiple components within each dimensions **Multidirectional** \- some dimensions (or components of a dimension) expand and others shrink. **Plastic** \- plasticity: capacity for change \- characteristics are malleable & changeable. \- development is influenced by contextual and socio-cultural influences **Multidisciplinary** -psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists, neuroscientists and medical researchers all study human development and share concern for unlocking the mysteries of development throughout the life-span. **Contextual** \- all development occurs within a context setting \- each setting is influenced by historical, economic, social and cultural factors **Development** is a process that involves growth, maintenance, and regulation of loss **Development** is constructed through biological, sociocultural and individual factors working together. THREE MAJOR DOMAINS OF DEVELOPMENT **1. Biological (Physical) development** \- growth of body and brain, and change or stability in sensory capacities, motor skills, and health. **2. Cognitive Development** \- change or stability in mental abilities, such as learning, attention, memory, language, thinking, reasoning & creativity. **3. Psychosocial Development** \- change or stability in emotion personality and social relationships **INFLUENCES IN DEVELOPMENT** **HEREDITY** - inborn characteristics inherited from the biological parents in conception. **ENVIRONMENT** - totally of non-hereditary or experiential influences on development **MATURATION** - unfolding of a natural sequence of physical behavioral changes, including readiness to master new abilities. **PHYSIOGNOMY**. Determining Physical attribution **DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES/PERIODS** Fastest growth development stages development period is the time frame in person\'s life that is characterized by certain features tremendous growth or the fastest growth development stage **1. Prenatal stage** (9 months) -conception to birth **2. Infancy** (18-24 months) -dependency upon adults and development of psychosocial acts **3. Early childhood** (end of infancy 5-6) -sufficiency and increased play **4. Middle and late childhood** (6-11 years old) -focus on achievement and self-control knows the 3R\'s - reading, writing, and arithmetic **5. Adolescence** (12-18 years old) -Age of transition **6. Emerging adulthood/young adulthood (18-39)** -try to maintain stability in times of economic **7. Middle adulthood (40-60 years old)** -focus on social involvement and responsibility to assist next generation **8. Late adulthood (60-70 years old)** -life review or reminiscing adjustment of new social roles **a. adulting and old age** -65-74 life review **b. late old age 75+** -adjustment to new social role **c. oldest 85 to death** -longest development span **CONCEPTIONS OF AGE** "how irrelevant is chronological age to understanding a person\'s psychological development?" -how should age be conceptualized? **CHRONOLOGICAL AGE** -number of years that have elapsed since birth **BIOLOGICAL AGE** -a person\'s age in terms of biological health **PSYCHOLOGICAL AGE** -an individual\'s adaptive capacities compared with those of other individuals of the same chronological age **SOCIAL AGE** -social roles and expectations related to a person\'s age **DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES** 1\. ***[Nature vs. Nurture]*** \- "completes each other" -according to many theorists, there should be no competition or arguing because without nature there will be no sense of environment at the same time with nurture that\'s why with these two they complete each other 2\. ***[Stability and Change]*** -degree to which early traits and characteristics persist through life and change *[stability]* - traits and characteristics is seen as the result of heredity and early life experiences *[change]* - traits and characteristics can be altered by later experiences -The role of early and later experience is hotly debated in this issue. **Maam Matt:** Manifestation of intelligence can change. **How?** -because we are always influenced from one\'s environment or our habits. ***[3. Continuity and Discontinuity]*** -Focus on whether development is a process or gradual. Cumulative change (continuous) -ei. (the growth of an ivy plant) -ei a seed of growing cycle with stages or metamorphosis or butterflies is a set of distinct stages (Discontinuous) 4\. ***[Universal Context]*** **-Specific Development -**focus on whether there is one path of development or several. -In other words, does development follow the same general path in all people, or is it fundamentally different depending on the socio-cultural context. **Evaluating Development Issues:** -there is always something common in between or area in a commonality. **4 Interactive Forces: Bio Physiology Framework** 1. **Biological Forces** -genetic, health-related 2. **Psychological Forces** -cognitive-perceptual, emotional 3. **Sociocultural Forces** -societal, cultural, ethnic, interpersonal 4. **Lifecycle Forces** -identical events, different age grou **CONTRIBUTION OF NEUROSCIENCE** -It helps in understanding the study of brain interactions among activities and behavior relationships. ***[Opposite of science is (Art).]*** **THEORIST DEVELOPMENT** Scientific Method has 4 steps: 1\. **C**onceptualize a process or begin with a problem or questions. 2\. **C**ollect research info or data. 3\. **A**nalyze Data 4\. **D**raw Conclusion ***[Theory]*** an interrelated coherence set of ideas that helps explain phenomena that makes predictions of the proponent. ***[Hypothesis]*** specific question and prediction that can be tested.