Psychosocial Development Across the Lifespan

2025 Tri 1

Types of developmental domains

Physical, cognitive , and psychosocial

What is physical developmental domain

• Growth of body and brain

• Can happen over long or short time span

• Some are very noticeable but some can only be identified by professional

• Major concepts include weight and height, fine and gross motor skills, and brain growth

What are the 9 principles of human development

1. Human development involves change (physical, cognitive, social)

2. Human development is continuous (happening whether you can see it or not)

3. Human development is sequential (follows a logical order or sequence)

4. Human development is predictable (there are patterns that are able to be predicted i.e a child going from crawling to walking)

5. Human development happens in specific directions (starts with the head and moves down through the body. i.e baby can control neck before arms and legs.)

6. Human development occurs from general to specific (learn to learn large muscles before small)

7. Human development results from heredity and environment (both genetics and environment equally influence change and growth 

8. Human development is influenced by maturing and learning (brain has to grow to a certain size before it can start to think and communicate.)

9. Human development involves individual rates of growth (not everyone will think, look, or act in the exact same way as another person)

What is cognitive developmental domain

• Changes in thinking, speaking, and remembering and recalling information

• Closely related to physical development (brain growth)

• Closely related to psychosocial development as things are learned from interacting with others

• Major concepts include thought, learning, language, memory, and intelligence

What is psychosocial developmental domain

• Changes in feelings, emotions, and relationships with others

• Major concepts include identity, personality, emotions, and relationships

What are Freud's 5 psychosexual stages (in order)?

Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latent, Genital

What happens if a person experiences trauma during a psychosexual stage?

A: They may develop addictions, depression, or dependencies.

Q: What is Erikson’s theory called?

A: Psychosocial Development Theory

Q: What is the first of Erikson’s 8 stages and its key conflict?

A: Trust vs Mistrust – develops basic trust if needs are met.

Q: What stage is focused on identity development in adolescence?

A: Identity vs Role Confusion (12–19)

Q: What is Pavlov’s theory based on?

A: Classical conditioning – learning through association.

Q: What type of responses does classical conditioning create?

A: Involuntary behaviours.

Q: What is Skinner’s ABC model in operant conditioning?

A: Antecedent, Behaviour, Consequence

Q: What increases behaviour according to Skinner?

A: Positive reinforcement.

Q: What are the 4 stages of Piaget’s cognitive development?

A: Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, Formal Operational

Q: At what stage do children learn object permanence?

A: Sensorimotor (0–2)

Q: When do children start logical thinking and empathy?

A: Concrete Operational (7–11)

Q: What is Bandura’s key concept?

A: Observational learning (modeling)

Q: What does Bandura say influences behaviour?

A: Watching and imitating others.

Q: Who proposed the sociocultural theory of learning?

A: Lev Vygotsky

Q: What is the Zone of Proximal Development?

A: The range of tasks a child can do with guidance but not alone.

Q: What two things are central to Vygotsky’s theory?

A: Language and social interaction.

Q: What are Maslow’s 5 levels of needs?

A: Physiological, Safety, Love/Belonging, Esteem, Self-actualisation

Q: What is self-actualisation in Maslow’s theory?

A: Reaching your full potential (creativity, purpose).

Q: Who developed attachment theory?

A: John Bowlby

Q: What does a secure attachment lead to?

A: Trust, confidence, healthy relationships.

Q: What are the 3 types of insecure attachment?

A: Anxious ambivalent, anxious avoidant, anxious disorganised