PDF_-_PSY41o_-_Ch.01_-_Intro_to_Life-Span

Carnegie Stages of Human Development

• Stages range from the zygote stage (1 day) to various stages noted with specific days of development and complex structures involved in the process.

• Acknowledgments for contributions from various professors and collection details.

Life-Span Perspective

Development Definition

• What is development?

  • A pattern of change that starts at conception and persists throughout the human lifespan.

  • Personal development reflects influences from:

    • Like all individuals (universal traits)

    • Like some individuals (social and cultural influences)

    • Like no other individual (unique personal experiences)

Growth and Decline

• Development includes both growth and decline. The duality leads to questions such as:

  • Is change inherently good or bad?

• Traditional Approach:

  • Significant change from birth to adolescence.

  • Minimal change during adulthood and decline in old age.

• Lifespan Approach:

  • Continuous development occurs throughout adulthood and childhood.

Lifespan and Life Expectancy

• Lifespan:

  • The maximum age documented for humans, currently 122 years.

• Life Expectancy:

  • The average years a person born in a specific year is expected to live. Presently about 79 years in the U.S. Increased by 30+ years in the 20th century due to:

    • Improved nutrition, sanitation, medicine, technology, and knowledge.

Development Process

Key Features

• Development is:

  • Lifelong: Change is ongoing across all age ranges.

  • Multidimensional: Interconnected biological, cognitive, and socioemotional changes.

  • Multidirectional: Some elements improve while others may decline.

  • Plastic: Capacity for change decreases with age.

  • Multidisciplinary: Involves fields like psychology, sociology, etc.

  • Contextual: Shaped by historical, economic, social, and cultural factors.

Developmental Contexts

Influences on Development

• Normative age-graded influences:

  • Shared experiences among a particular age group (e.g., puberty).

• Normative history-graded influences:

  • Events that affect a specific generation (e.g., wars, movements).

• Non-normative life events:

  • Unique occurrences that significantly affect individual lives (e.g., trauma, loss).

Trajectories of Development

• Equifinality:

  • Different pathways can lead to the same outcome (e.g., antisocial behavior).

• Multifinality:

  • Similar beginnings do not guarantee similar ends.

• Transition Points:

  • Critical decisions impacting future pathways (e.g., educational choices, relationships).

Contemporary Concerns

• Social policy:

  • Promoting resilience in adversity.

• Health and Well-Being:

  • Addressing issues like obesity and cognitive diseases.

• Parenting and Education:

  • Effects of parenting styles and household structures on development.

Sociocultural Contexts

Diversity Factors

• Culture:

  • Behavioral patterns and beliefs transmitted across generations.

• Ethnicity:

  • Includes cultural heritage, nationality, race, and religion.

• Socioeconomic Status (SES):

  • Position within society based on economic, educational, and occupational factors.

• Gender:

  • Psychological and sociocultural dimensions tied to being male, female, or non-binary.

Developmental Periods

Overview of Key Stages

• Prenatal Period: Conception to birth. Tremendous growth.

• Infancy: Birth to 24 months. High dependence.

• Early Childhood: Ages 2-6. Emergence of independence and play.

• Middle to Late Childhood: Ages 6-11. Focus on skills and self-control.

• Adolescence: Ages 11-20. Growth and identity exploration.

• Early Adulthood: Ages 20s and 30s. Personal and economic independence.

• Middle Adulthood: Ages 40s to 60s. Social responsibilities increase.

• Late Adulthood: 60s onward. Life review and adjustment.

Conceptions of Age

Age Types

• Chronological Age: Number of years since birth.

• Biological Age: Age regarding biological health.

• Psychological Age: Adaptive capacities compared to peers.

• Social Age: Roles and expectations tied to age.

Aging Patterns

• Normal Aging: Peak functioning followed by stability and gradual decline.

• Pathological Aging: Greater decline in cognitive and physical abilities.

• Successful Aging: Maintaining physical and social wellbeing longer.

Developmental Debates

Key Issues in Psychology

• Nature vs. Nurture: Biological inheritance vs. environmental experiences.

• Stability vs. Change: Persistence of traits throughout life vs. adaptability.

• Continuity vs. Discontinuity: Gradual change vs. distinct stages of development.