Human Development Exam 1

Development

A pattern of change that begins at conception and continues throughout the lifespan, this can be negative or positive

Life span

growth, maintenance, and regulation of loss. constructed through biological, sociocultural, and individual factors

Life expectancy

the average # of years that a person born in a particular year is expected to live

Development is Lifelong

characteristic of life-span perspective that claims that development occurs throughout life

Development is multi-dimensional

characteristic of life-span perspective that claims that development has biological, cognitive, and socioemotional directions.

Development is multi-directional

characteristic of life-span perspective that claims that some components of development shrink and grow.

Plasticity

has capacity to change

Development is multidisciplinary

characteristic of life-span perspective that claims that development is looked at from many different perspectives (psychologist, sociologist, etc)

Development is contextual

characteristic of life-span perspective that claims that context/setting influenced by historical, economic, and cultural factors influence development

Normative age-graded influences

biological processes, beginning workforce/retirement

Normative history graded influences

Influences common to people of the same generation because of historical contexts

Nonnormative life events

unusual occurrences that influence development (death of a parent)

What three things influence development?

biology, culture, and the individual

What are the contemporary concerns when it comes to development?

Health, Parenting and Education, sociocultural contexts, and technology

Culture

encompasses behavior patterns, beliefs, and products passed down from generation to generation

Cross-cultural studies

comparing two aspects of 2 or more cultures

Ethnicity

Cultural heritage, nationality, race, religion, and language encompass this

Socio-economic status

Person’s position in society based on occupational, educational, and economic characteristics

Social policy

government’s course of action designed to promote the welfare of its citizens

Biological processes

changes in person’s physical nature

Cognitive processes

changes in thought, intelligence, and language

Socioemotional processes

changes in relationships, emotions, and personality

Prenatal

conception-birth, time of tremendous growth

Infancy

birth-18-24 months, major dependence on adults, language, symbiotic thought, sensiomotor coordination, and social learning start

Toddler

18mo-3 yr, transition period between infancy and early childhood

Early childhood

3-5 yr, self-sufficient, spend many hours playing with peers, ends in 1st grade

Middle childhood

6-10/11 years, master reading and writing, achievement centered, open to larger world

Adolescence

10/12-18/21, rapid physical changes, independence and identity

Early adulthood

20’s-30’s, economic and personal idependence

Middle adulthood

40’s-60’s, assisting the next generation and gaining more responsibility

late adulthood

60’s/70’s-death, reflection, adjusting to social norms

What are the four ages?

1st age: childhood-adolescence

2nd age: prime adulthood

3rd age: 60-79 years old

4th age: 80 and older

Normal aging

regular process of aging for most individuals

Pathological aging

Accelerated decline in biological, cognitive, and functional abilities in aging

Successful aging

aging significantly better than the average adult

Chronological age

years elapsed since birth

Biological age

biological health related to age

Psychological age

ability to have adaptive capacities and its relation to age

Social age

connectiveness with others and its relation to age

Stability v Change argument

the degree to which early traits persist throughout life

Development is orderly

argument that claims development happens in a specific, chronological order

superior

Development results in _____ functioning

Psychoanalytic theories

What type of theories focuses on the unconscious mind and stress that early experiences with parents extensively shape development?

What psychologist had an emphasis on sexual desires and that thought problems were caused by early life experiences?

Freud

Oral

Freudian stages: birth to 1-1/2

Anal

Freudian stages: 1 1/2-3

Phallic

Freudian stages: 3-6

Latency

Freudian stages: 6-puberty

Genital

Freudian stages: puberty and onward

What are the criticisms of Freud’s psychoanalytic theory?

overemphasized sexual instincts, more emphasis should be places on cultural experiences

Erikson

Emphasized social desires and the want to affiliate w/ others, not sexual desires

Erikson

Believed that development occurs throughout the lifespan

Trust v Mistrust

Erikson stages: age: 1st year. Development of trust during infancy sets the stage for a lifelong expectation that the world is a good place to live

Autonomy v Shame

Erikson stages: Age 1-3: infants discover autonomy, if punished too harshly, make cause shame + doubt.

Initiative v Guilt

Erikson stages: age: preschool, as encountering a bigger social world, children face new challenges and need to become responsible. If child is irresponsible, guilt may arise

Industry v Inferiority

Erikson stages: elementary, gain intellectual knowledge or feel inferior

Identity v Identity Confusion

Erikson stages: Age-adolescent, exploring identity roles, either gain one or gain confusion

Intimacy v isolation

Erikson stages: age: early adulthood, if form healthy relationships —> gain intimacy, if not —> isolation

Generativity v Stagnation

Erikson stages: Age: middle adulthood, help younger generation or not

Integrity v Despair

Erikson stages: Late adulthood, reflect on past experiences and either like them or don’t

What were the contributions of psychoanalytic theory?

emphasis on developmental framework, family relationships, and unconscious parts of the mind

Criticisms of Psychoanalytic theory

lack of scientific support, too much interest on sexual underpinnings, and image of people that is too negative