Lifespan Development PDF

1.1 What Is Lifespan Development Key Concepts: 1.​ Lifespan Development ○​ Definition: The study of human growth and changes across the entire life, from conception to death. ○​ Key Areas of Focus: Physical, cognitive, emotional, and social changes. 2.​ Ma...

1.1 What Is Lifespan Development Key Concepts: 1.​ Lifespan Development ○​ Definition: The study of human growth and changes across the entire life, from conception to death. ○​ Key Areas of Focus: Physical, cognitive, emotional, and social changes. 2.​ Major Periods of Development: ○​ Prenatal Development: Conception to birth ○​ Infancy and Toddlerhood: Birth to 2 years ○​ Early Childhood: 2 to 6 years ○​ Middle Childhood: 6 to 11 years ○​ Adolescence: 12 to 18 years ○​ Early Adulthood: 18 to 40 years ○​ Middle Adulthood: 40 to 65 years ○​ Late Adulthood: 65+ years Key Features of Human Development 1.​ Lifelong Development ○​ Definition: Human development occurs throughout the entire lifespan. ○​ Importance: Early research often focused only on children, but modern theories stress the need to study all stages (adolescence and adulthood included). ○​ Takeaway: Development does not stop after childhood; it’s an ongoing process. 2.​ Multidirectional Development ○​ Definition: Development can involve both growth and decline at different stages of life. ○​ Key Terms: ​ Growth: Physical changes like height or strength (typically seen in childhood). ​ Maturation: The process of becoming more developed emotionally, cognitively, and physically (example: brain maturation, emotional maturity). ​ Aging: The process of getting older, which includes physical declines (usually used for adults, not children). ○​ Example: An adult may experience physical decline due to aging but may also experience emotional maturation or improved social skills. 3.​ Multidisciplinary Approach ○​ Definition: The study of development involves various fields such as health sciences, social sciences, and education.  ○​ Importance: Each discipline contributes to understanding human development from different angles. ○​ Example: Psychologists might focus on emotional development, while sociologists may look at social changes, and health professionals might focus on physical aging. 4.​ Multidimensional Development ○​ Definition: Development occurs in multiple dimensions—biological, social, emotional, cognitive, and moral. ○​ Key Areas: ​ Biological: Changes in the body (e.g., growth, aging, brain development). ​ Social: Changes in relationships, social roles, and interaction with others (e.g., friendships, family dynamics). ​ Emotional: Changes in emotional regulation and experience (e.g., emotional maturity, self-control). ​ Cognitive: Changes in thinking, memory, and problem-solving abilities (e.g., brain development, learning). ​ Moral: Development of ethical reasoning, values, and moral behavior. ○​ Example: A child’s moral reasoning (knowing right from wrong) develops as part of their emotional and cognitive growth. Summary of Lifespan Development Features ​ Lifelong: Development continues through all stages of life, not just childhood. ​ Multidirectional: Growth and decline occur simultaneously at different stages. ​ Multidisciplinary: Various fields contribute to the study of development, like psychology, education, and medicine. ​ Multidimensional: Development is influenced by biological, social, emotional, cognitive, and moral changes.