chapter 9: lifespan development

physical development

growth and changes in the body and brain, senses, motor skills, and health and wellness

cognitive development

learning, attention, memory, language, thinking, reasoning and creativity

psychosocial development

emotions, personality and social relationships

normative approach

when most children reach specific developmental milestones

biological milestones

universal across cultures

social milestones

vary across cultures

continuous development

views development as a cumulative process, gradually improving on existing skills

discontinuous development

development occurring in unique stages

stage theories

process of development is universal

nature

biology and genetics shape our personalities and behaviors

nurture

environment and culture shape our personalities and behaviors

psychosexual theory

freud

freud

• childhood experiences shape our personalities and behavior as adults

• discontinuous development

• lack of proper nurturance and parenting during a stage —> child may become stuck in that stage

• children’s pleasure seeking urges in 5 diff erogenous zones

stages of psychosexual development

1. oral

2. anal

3. phallic

4. latency

5. genital

psychosocial theory

erik erikson

erikson

• social nature of development

• personality development takes place across lifespan, not just childhood

• social interactions affect our sense of self

1st stage of psychosocial development (erikson)

trust vs mistrust: trust or mistrust that basic needs will be met

2nd stage of psychosocial development (erikson)

autonomy vs shame/doubt: develop sense of independence in many tasks

3rd stage of psychosocial development (erikson)

initiative vs guilt: initiative in some activities; may develop guilt when unsuccessful or boundaries overstepped

4th stage of psychosocial development (erikson)

industry vs inferiority: develop self-confidence in abilities when competent or sense of inferiority when not

5th stage of psychosocial development (erikson)

identity vs confusion: experiment with identity and roles6

6th stage of psychosocial development (erikson)

intimacy vs isolation: establish intimacy and relationships with others

7th stage of psychosocial development (erikson)

generativity vs stagnation: contribute to society and be part of family

8th stage of psychosocial development (erikson)

integrity vs despair: assess and make sense of life and meaning of contributions

cognitive theory

piaget

piaget

• focused on children’s cognitive growth (specific stages)

• believed children develop schemata to help understand the world

• when children learn new info they adjust schemata thru assimilation or accommodation

assimilation

incorporates info into existing schemata

accommodation

change schemata based on new info

1st stage of piaget’s stages of development

sensorimotor: world experienced through senses and actions (issues with object permanence)

2nd stage of piaget’s stages of development

preoperational: use words and images to represent things but lack logical reasoning (egocentrism)

3rd stage of piaget’s stages of development

concrete operational: understand concrete events and analogies logically; perform arithmetic operations

4th stage of piaget’s stages of development

formal operational: formal operations, utilize abstract reasoningmor

moral development

learning to discern right from wrong

level 1 theory of moral development (kohlberg)

pre-conventional morality: 

1. behavior driven by avoiding punishment

2. behavior driven by self interest and rewardsle

level 2 theory of moral development (kohlberg)

conventional morality:

1. behavior driven by social approval

2. behavior driven by obeying authority and conforming to social order

level 3 theory of moral development (kohlberg)

post conventional morality:

1. behavior driven by balance of social order and individual rights

2. behavior driven by internal moral principles

rooting reflex

cheek stroked —> turn head towards stimulus

sucking reflex

object near mouth —> suck on objects

grasping reflex

object near hands —> cling to objects

moro reflex

startled/feel like falling—> spread arms and pulls them back in

blooming period

thousands of new neural connections between 0-3 yrs

pruning period

reduction of neural connections in childhood/adolescence to optimize bran function (efficiency)

puberty

• maturation of adrenal and sex glands

• development of secondary sexual characteristics

• menstrual periods and first ejaculation

• growth spurts

frontal lobe

• judgement

• impulse control

• planning

piaget (infants)

children’s ability to understand objects developed slowly as a child matures and interacts with the environment

attachment

long standing connection or bond with others

bowlby (attachment theory)

defined attachment as the affectional bond/tie that an infant forms with primary caregiver (all or nothing)

secure base

parental presence that gives the child a sense of safety as they explore their surroundings

requirements for healthy attachment

• caregiver must be responsive to child’s needs

• caregiver and child must engage in mutually enjoyable interactions

secure attachment

child uses parent as secure base from which to explore

avoidant attachment

unresponsive to parent, does not use parent as secure base, does not care if parent leaves

resistant attachment

clingy behavior, then reject mothers attempts to interact with them

disorganized attachment

show odd behavior around caregiver

authoritative style

high structure and high warmth

authoritarian style

high structure and low warmth

permissive style

low structure, may still be warm

uninvolved style

low structure and low warmth

cognitive development

• improved logical reasoning and problem solving

• increases in theory of mind (cognitive empathy)

• feeling concern for others

during psychosocial development

• adolescents refine sense of self as they relate to others

• peer group vs parents in values and role shaping

• peer relationships become a central focus

• identity vs role confusion

crystallized intelligence

information, skills, strategies gathered thru experience stay same or improve

fluid intelligence

info processing abilities, reasoning, memory begin to decline

self determination theory

3 universal needs:

1. autonomy

2. belongingness

3. competence

socioemotional selectivity theory

as we get older, our social support and friends ships dwindle in number, but remain as close, if not more close than in our earlier years