development/ childhood lecture 1

development

refers to a systematic continuities and changes between conception to death. under the influence of biological maturation and learning.

maturation

the stage of full advanced development.

includes physical growth ( weight, height, muscle tissue expansion and development.

what causes development ? 

learning+ maturation 

developmental psychology

1) a branch of psych that devotes to identify and explain continuities + changes that individual display over time.

2) a scientific study of changes that occur in humans throughout their life span.

another maturation definition

refers to developmental changes that happen due to the aging process instead of illness, injury, learning, or other life experiences ( here we focus on biological growth)

three main goals of developmentalists

describe, explain, optimize development

1) description : how people change over time.

2) explanation : why some individuals develops differently than others ? ( different variations).

3) optimize development : (what) helping people to develop in positive directions.