Principles in Developmental Psychology

The discussion revolves around five core principles in developmental psychology, with the addition of a fifth principle: meaning matters.

Continuity

• Concept of Continuity: In developmental psychology, continuity refers to whether development is viewed as a continuous or discontinuous process. This principle explores how life stages are perceived and whether transitions are gradual or abrupt.

• Continuous vs. Discontinuous Development: The key question is whether development occurs in stages (discontinuous) or steadily over time (continuous). Continuous development suggests a more incremental change, while discontinuous development posits that people undergo significant changes at different life stages.

• Example of Discontinuous Development: The work of Jean Piaget illustrates discontinuous development through his stages of cognitive development, which highlight major qualitative changes in a child’s thinking, indicating discontinuity. His stages include the Preoperational stage (ages 2-7) where children begin to engage in symbolic play, and the Concrete Operational stage (ages 7-11) where logical reasoning develops concerning concrete objects.

• Freud and Erikson: Both Sigmund Freud and Erik Erikson proposed stage theories, each supporting the idea of discontinuous development. Freud's psychosexual stages and Erikson's psychosocial stages emphasize how personality and behavior evolve through defined phases in a person's life.

• Development and Decline: Development is not merely about growth; it also involves decline. Even in later life, individuals may acquire new knowledge and skills, despite also experiencing decline in certain cognitive or physical functions.

• Building on Earlier Development: Development is cumulative; early experiences significantly influence later outcomes. For instance, research on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) emphasizes how negative experiences during childhood can have lasting effects on mental and physical health later in life.

• Identity and Continuity: Personal identity is closely tied to the concept of continuity. The ancient Greek term for ‘person’ reflects the idea that individuals maintain a stable identity through their roles and relationships across different life stages, highlighting the continuity of self despite changes.

Only Survivors Grow Old

• Aging and Health: This principle highlights that those who reach advanced old age are not a representative sample of their younger peers due to selective survival. Those who survive to old age tend to have had favorable health outcomes and lifestyle choices.

• Health and Lifestyle Factors: Survivors often exhibit healthier lifestyles and behaviors throughout life, which impacts research outcomes in aging studies and the perceived capabilities of older adults.

• Research Bias: Findings on the elderly must consider the biased nature of the sample population, which often leads to overly positive perceptions of aging, neglecting the experiences of those who do not survive to old age.

Individuality

• Diversity in Development: Each individual’s development follows a unique path, emphasizing the importance of person-specific experiences. Recognizing the variability in developmental trajectories is crucial for understanding the full spectrum of human growth.

• Typical vs. Individual Development: This aspect distinguishes between normative development (general trends observed in populations) and idiographic development (individual differences that highlight unique life experiences).

• Epigenetics: This field studies how biological and environmental influences interact, affecting developmental differences among individuals. It suggests that genes and the environment continuously shape behavior and personality.

• Multidirectionality: Skills and traits (e.g., cooking vs. biking) can develop at different rates and in different directions, supporting the idea that individual development is multifaceted.

• Age-Related Variability: As individuals age, differences among them tend to become more pronounced, highlighting the impact of diverse life experiences.

Aging is Not Disease

• Aging vs. Disease: This principle distinguishes typical age-related changes from diseases that have a detrimental impact on health. It emphasizes the need to view aging as a natural process rather than a pathological one.

• Types of Aging:

  • Primary Aging: Refers to normal age-related changes, such as gradual memory decline, without the presence of disease.

  • Secondary Aging: Involves impairments or diseases that arise as individuals age, for example, health conditions like cancer or cardiovascular diseases.

  • Tertiary Aging: Describes the rapid decline seen shortly before death, which often leads to increased dependency and a considerable decrease in functional abilities.

• Optimal Aging: Highlights the potential for gains and healthy living in older age. It encourages a positive outlook on aging, focusing on quality of life and well-being rather than solely on the decline.

Meaning Matters

• Creation of Meaning: Explores how humans create and evolve meanings throughout their lives, which deeply influence their decisions and experiences.

• Victor Frankl's Logotherapy: Developed from Frankl's harrowing experiences as a Holocaust survivor, this therapeutic approach underscores the importance of finding meaning in life, especially during suffering and adversity, as a critical component of human resilience.

• Two Aspects of Meaning:

  • Existential Meaning: Philosophical exploration of the overall meaning of life and existence, addressing questions about purpose and significance.

  • Contextual Meaning: Involves everyday interpretations that influence behavior, relationships, and personal experiences.

• Lebenswelt: The concept of Lebenswelt denotes the societal contexts and environments that shape how individuals perceive and create meaning in their lives, reflecting the dynamic interplay between culture and personal experience.

Implications of Aging

• Increasing Centenarians: There is a significant growth in the number of individuals over 100 years old in Canada, indicating a broader trend toward an aging society and the need for societal adaptation.

• Demographic Changes: Statistics Canada notes that seniors are projected to outpace children, which will have profound implications for societal structures, healthcare, and politics.

• Health and Income: Factors like health status and socioeconomic status significantly influence longevity, revealing that females generally enjoy a higher health-adjusted life expectancy than males.

• Diversity of Experience: Acknowledges the varied experiences of different populations, such as indigenous seniors versus non-indigenous, highlighting how background affects aging and health outcomes.

• Public Health: There are numerous urgent health issues associated with aging populations, including rising rates of overdose deaths and increasing prevalence of mental health concerns in the elderly, affecting their overall quality of life and care needs.