1.1.3 Development

Life Span Development

The pattern of changes that occur in an organism from birth through old age.

Developmental Norms

Typical characteristics, abilities, or achievement levels expected at a particular age or stage.

Hereditary Factors

Genetic influences inherited from biological parents that affect development.

Environmental Factors

External conditions and experiences that influence development after conception.

Biopsychosocial Approach

A model that explains development and mental-wellbeing through interacting biological, psychological, and social factors.

Sensitive Period

A limited developmental window when an individual is more responsive to certain experiences, though learning can still occur later.

Critical Period

A narrowly defined time in development when a specific experience must occur for a particular ability to form normally.

Emotional Development

Lifelong growth of skills in recognising, expressing, and regulating emotions appropriately.

Theory of Mind

The ability to attribute mental states, beliefs, and emotions to oneself and others.

Attachment

The long-lasting emotional bond formed between an infant and a primary caregiver.

Mary Ainsworth

Psychologist who developed the Strange Situation procedure to assess infant attachment.

Strange Situation

A standardised laboratory test involving separations and reunions used to measure infant–caregiver attachment.

Secure Attachment

Attachment style in which an infant uses the caregiver as a safe base, shows distress on separation, and is comforted on reunion.

Insecure Avoidant Attachment

Attachment style characterised by minimal distress on separation and avoidance of the caregiver upon return.

Insecure Resistant Attachment

Attachment style marked by anxiety, intense distress on separation, and ambivalent behaviour on reunion.

Disorganised Attachment

Insecure attachment pattern featuring inconsistent, contradictory behaviours toward the caregiver.

Stranger Anxiety

Normal developmental fear or wariness of unfamiliar people shown by infants.

Separation Anxiety

Distress displayed by infants when separated from primary caregivers.

Harry Harlow

Psychologist known for monkey experiments that highlighted the importance of comfort over feeding in attachment.

Surrogate Mother (Harlow)

A substitute ‘mother’ figure—cloth or wire—used in Harlow’s monkey studies.

Cognitive Development

Ongoing changes in mental abilities such as thinking, reasoning, memory, and language.

Jean Piaget

Swiss psychologist who proposed a four-stage theory of cognitive development.

Assimilation

Incorporating new information into existing mental schemas.

Accommodation

Altering existing schemas or creating new ones to fit new information.

Sensorimotor Stage

Piaget’s first stage (0-2 yrs) where infants learn through senses and actions.

Object Permanence

Understanding that objects continue to exist when out of sight.

Goal-Directed Behaviour

Performing actions with a purposeful outcome in mind.

Preoperational Stage

Piaget’s second stage (2-7 yrs) marked by symbolic thought and egocentrism.

Symbolic Thinking

Using words or images to represent objects not physically present.

Egocentrism (Piaget)

Child’s tendency to see the world solely from their own viewpoint.

Animism

Belief that inanimate objects have consciousness or feelings.

Transformation (Piaget)

Understanding that objects can change form or state.

Centration

Focusing on one aspect of an object or event at a time.

Reversibility

Ability to mentally follow a sequence back to the starting point.

Concrete Operational Stage

Piaget’s third stage (7-12 yrs) involving logical thought about concrete objects.

Conservation

Understanding that properties such as volume or number remain the same despite changes in appearance.

Classification

Grouping objects or events based on shared characteristics.

Formal Operational Stage

Piaget’s fourth stage (12 yrs+) featuring abstract and idealistic thinking.

Abstract Thinking

Reasoning that does not require concrete objects to understand concepts.

Idealistic Thinking

Envisioning perfect standards and possibilities, often seen in adolescents.

Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory

Eight-stage model emphasising social and psychological conflicts across the lifespan.

Psychosocial Crisis

A developmental conflict between personal needs and societal expectations that must be resolved.

Trust vs Mistrust

Erikson’s first stage (0-18 mths); reliable caregiving fosters hope.

Autonomy vs Shame/Doubt

Second stage (18 mths-3 yrs); support for independence develops will.

Initiative vs Guilt

Third stage (3-5 yrs); encouragement of purposeful actions builds purpose.

Industry vs Inferiority

Fourth stage (5-13 yrs); success in tasks cultivates competency.

Identity vs Confusion

Fifth stage (13-21 yrs); forming a stable self-concept leads to fidelity.

Intimacy vs Isolation

Sixth stage (21-39 yrs); ability to form close relationships fosters love.

Generativity vs Stagnation

Seventh stage (40-65 yrs); contributing to society nurtures care.

Integrity vs Despair

Eighth stage (65 yrs+); reflecting with satisfaction yields wisdom.

Social Development

Changes in relationships and interaction skills over time.

Physical Development

Biological changes in body systems, motor skills, and hormonal processes.

Developmental Norms Chart

Reference list showing expected developmental milestones by age.