An Introduction to Lifespan Development PDF

An Introduction to Lifespan Development Chapter 1, Lifespan Development  ▪ human development ▪ physical development ▪ gross-motor skills ▪ fine-motor skills ▪ cognition ▪ cognitive development ▪ socio-emotion...

An Introduction to Lifespan Development Chapter 1, Lifespan Development  ▪ human development ▪ physical development ▪ gross-motor skills ▪ fine-motor skills ▪ cognition ▪ cognitive development ▪ socio-emotional development Key Terms ▪ heredity ▪ environment ▪ nature versus nurture debate ▪ continuity ▪ discontinuity ▪ pedagogy  ▪ Human development - the process of growing and changing throughout life Types of ▪ Physical development Development ▪ Cognitive development ▪ Socio-emotional development  ▪ physical development - the changes in size, body composition, chemical make-up, and height that occur as humans develop from birth to adulthood. ▪ Gross-motor skills - involve large muscle Physical movements Development ▪ Examples: crawling, walking, and jumping. ▪ Fine-motor skills - involve small muscle movements ▪ Examples: cutting with scissors, typing on a keyboard, and writing with a pen or pencil.  ▪ Cognitive development - the way people change and grow in how they think over the stages of life Cognitive ▪ Cognition - actions or processes Development involving thinking and knowing ▪ Language development ▪ Moral development  ▪ Socio-emotional development - refers to changes in the way a Socio-emotion person’s social relationships, al feelings, social skills, self-esteem, development gender identity, and ways of coping with situations change over time.  ▪ Human Development Is Relatively Orderly Principles of ▪ Human Development Takes Place Gradually Human ▪ Human Development Is Interrelated Development ▪ Human Development Varies Among Individuals  Examples: ▪ children learn their alphabet before Human they can read Development Is Relatively ▪ they learn to walk before they run Orderly ▪ they learn to ride a bike before driving a car  Human Development Takes Place Gradually ▪ Most changes take weeks, months, or years to complete Human Examples: Development Takes Place ▪ Height and growth spurts Gradually ▪ Reading abilities ▪ Friendships  ▪ Physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional development occur together. ▪ They are interdependent of one another. In other words, they are mutually dependent and supporting. Human ▪ Development in one area coincides with Development development in another area. Is Interrelated Example: A young child who is behind in physical coordination is often behind in cognitive and socio-emotional development. If the same child is helped with physical coordination, cognitive and socio-emotional development are often enhanced. Maslow’s Hierarchy  ▪ The base level includes physical needs to survive such as air, water, food, clothing, and shelter. ▪ The second through fourth levels include psychological needs such as security, love Maslow’s and acceptance, and esteem. Hierarchy ▪ The final level, self-actualization, is to fully Explained realize one’s own potential. ▪ This is a lifelong process. ▪ According to Maslow, a person cannot meet these higher-level needs until first meeting the basic needs. Human Development Varies ▪ Although Among isIndividuals development orderly and predictable, the outcomes and rate of development vary by individual. Human ▪ Both heredity and environments influence Development development, and no one is exactly alike. Varies Among ▪ Heredity - traits people are born with Individuals ▪ Environment - all of a person’s surroundings and the people in them  ▪ Nature versus nurture debate - How much of who people are relates to genetics and how much relates to environment? Are there some traits that are genetic and others that are created by environment? ▪ Continuity versus discontinuity - Do changes in development occur because of the slow Key Issues in progression of change or do they occur as a Development result of something abruptly changing? ▪ Motivation - Who directs people’s growth and development? Do people direct themselves through exploration and interactions? Do others, such as parents, teachers, and friends, direct growth and development?  ▪ Nature versus nurture debate - the debate between genetic versus environmental influences on development Nature Versus Nurture ▪ For most traits, other than physical characteristics such as eye and hair color, both genetics and environment play a part.  ▪ Some who study human development believe that people are essentially the same from birth to death. Personalities remain intact. Although people grow and change, they essentially stay the same. ▪ Continuity - developmental changes are relatively slow, but steady ▪ Examples: Continuity ▪ People who are quick to explore the world around them remain Versus so. Discontinuity ▪ Those who are hesitant around new people and experiences stay that way. ▪ Discontinuity - development happens as the result of sudden changes that occur throughout the lifespan ▪ Examples: ▪ Becoming more independent because of entering preschool, parental divorce, the death of a sibling, or a move to another city  ▪ Pedagogy - teacher- or parent-directed method of learning Pedagogy ▪ Andragogy - a child interacts with Versus his or her environment very early in Andragogy life, directing learning as growth and change occurs  ▪ You interact with people daily in your family, school, job, and recreation. ▪ Studying human development gives insight into what to expect of the people in your life based on their stage of development. ▪ This understanding may enhance relationships as Why Study you work with children, other teens, and adults at different stages of life. Human ▪ You will be better able to appreciate and relate to Development? people at different stages of development, ▪ You will have more insight into your own life both now and in the future. ▪ Knowing more about your own stage of life may motivate you to consider choices you make that will affect your life.