Human Development

Lifespan Development

Changes throughout a person's entire life.

Nature vs Nurture

Genetics vs environment.

Continuity vs Discontinuity

Gradual development vs stages.

Stability vs Change

Whether traits stay the same or change.

Active vs Passive

Whether people shape development or are shaped by outside forces.

Preformation

Belief that a tiny complete human grows larger.

Tabula Rasa

Locke's idea that the mind starts as a blank slate.

Rousseau

Believed children naturally develop according to their own tendencies.

Psychosocial Theory

Erikson's theory of development through eight stages.

Sensorimotor

Piaget: birth–2; learning through senses and actions.

Preoperational

Piaget: 2–7; symbolic thinking and egocentrism.

Concrete Operational

Piaget: 7–11; logical thinking about concrete things.

Formal Operational

Piaget: 12+; abstract and hypothetical thinking.

Object Permanence

Objects exist even when not visible.

Conservation

Quantity stays the same despite appearance changes.

Kohlberg's Moral Theory

Moral reasoning develops through stages.

Preconventional

Morality based on punishment and rewards.

Conventional

Morality based on rules and social approval.

Postconventional

Morality based on principles and rights.