Lecture 9_Lifespan Development (1)

Lifespan Development

  • Definition and focus of human lifespan development.

Stages of Human Development

  • Neonate (newborn)

  • Infancy (approx. 0-2 years)

  • Early childhood (approx. 2-6 years)

  • Middle childhood (approx. 6-12 years)

  • Adolescence

  • Early adulthood

  • Late adulthood

  • Death

Domains of Development

  • Physical Development

  • Cognitive Development

  • Social Development

  • Personality Development & Other Related Areas

Infancy Development (Age 0-2)

Physical Development

  • Key organs fully developed: medulla & mid-brain.

  • Importance: vital functions like heartbeat, sleeping, and waking.

  • Almost all neurons present at birth; number decreases with age.

  • Synaptic creation is rapid; synaptic pruning follows to retain efficient pathways.

Reflexes

  • Startle Reflex: Arms thrown outward when startled.

  • Babinski Reflex: Toes splay and curl when foot is touched.

Sensory Abilities

  • Vision limited; can only focus on objects 10 inches away.

State of Consciousness

  • Sleep cycle: deep sleep > light sleep > wakefulness > drowsiness, lasts about 2 hours.

  • Infants sleep about 90% of the day and are awake for only 2-3 hours.

Crying

  • Indicates needs, primarily hunger.

  • Different cries signal different needs (e.g., anger).

Cognitive Development

Piaget's Theory

  • Important Concepts:

    • Schema: Mental models of actions in similar situations.

    • Assimilation: Adding new experiences to existing schemas, potential distortions occur.

    • Accommodation: Adjusting schemas to incorporate new experiences.

    • Equalibration: Balance between new information and existing knowledge.

Sensorimotor Stage

  • Infants coordinate sensory perception and motor behaviors.

  • Recognition of existence outside themselves; manipulation of objects begins.

  • Development of Object Permanence: Awareness that objects exist even when not visible.

Language Development

Speech Recognition

  • 1 month: Recognizes phonetic distinctions (e.g., "pa" vs. "ba").

  • 6 months: Discrimination between two-syllable words.

Sound Production

  • 2 months: Produces laughter and cooing.

  • 6 months: Starts to produce consonants.

  • 12 months: Engages in babbling.

Speech Production

  • 12 months: Produces simple meaningful words.

  • 18 months: Combines words with gestures.

Social & Personality Development

Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory

  • Oral Stage: Focus on satisfaction around the mouth; affects personality based on gratification.

Erikson's Psychosocial Theory

  • Trust vs. Mistrust: Infants learn to trust based on caregiver reliability.

Attachment Theory (Bowlby & Ainsworth)

  • Attachment: Affectional bond with caregiver.

  • Four styles of attachment:

    • Secure: Happy to explore, upset when caregiver leaves.

    • Anxious-Avoidant: Little emotion on departure and return.

    • Anxious-Ambivalent: Distressed and angry on return.

    • Disorganized: Confused responses, lack of clarity in attachment.

Consequences of Attachment Quality

  • Secure attachment: Enhanced relationships and self-esteem.

  • Insecure attachment: Difficulties in friendships and increased aggression.

Early Childhood Development (Age 2-6)

Physical Development

  • Height growth: 2-3 inches per year.

  • Weight gain: 6 pounds per year.

  • Advances in large muscle and locomotor skills.

  • Rapid development of the corpus callosum; left-brain dominance affects cognitive functions.

Cognitive Development

Piaget's Preoperational Stage

  • Use symbols in play; engage in egocentric thinking.

  • Difficulty understanding conservation — perception affects judgment about quantity.

Language Development

Speech Development

  • 18-24 months: Simple sentences of 2-3 words; developments in grammar.

  • Between ages 2-6: Better understanding of language rules and automatic use of inflections.

Social & Personality Development

Freud's Theory (Stages 2 & 3)

  • Anal Stage: Focus on control through toilet training.

  • Phallic Stage: Focus on genital pleasure and identification with same-sex parent.

Erikson's Theory (Stages 2 & 3)

  • Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt: Gain independence and autonomy.

  • Initiative vs. Guilt: Children develop initiative when encouraged.

Bowlby’s Attachment Theory

  • Children form strong attachments and begin understanding of relationships beyond immediate caregivers.

Parenting Styles

  • Authoritarian: High demands, low warmth; leads to low self-esteem.

  • Permissive: Low demands, high warmth; can lead to irresponsibility.

  • Authoritative: Balanced style with high expectations; fosters self-esteem and responsibility.

  • Uninvolved: Lacks emotional connection; leads to various social issues.

Relationships in Early Childhood

  • Relationships through play evolve from solitary to associative and collaborative play.

Middle Childhood Development (Age 6-12)

Physical Development

  • Enhancements in various motor skills; improvements in cognitive functions, especially in the frontal lobe.

Cognitive Development

Piaget's Concrete Operational Stage

  • Mastery of cognitive processes including addition, multiplication, etc.

  • Understanding conservation becomes apparent; inductive reasoning develops.

Literacy Development

  • Formal education leads to the ability to read and write effectively; improved phonological awareness.

Social & Personality Development

  • Freud - Latency Stage: Focuses on relationships with same-sex peers.

  • Erikson - Industry vs. Inferiority: Develop competence through goal achievement; concern with social acceptance.

Family Relationships

  • Growing independence in children while maintaining attachments; understanding family dynamics and roles.

Friendships

  • Friendships based on trust and emotional support; clear segmentation by gender and play styles.

Adolescence Development

Physical Development

  • Changes in weight and muscle development; onset of secondary sexual characteristics.

Cognitive Development

Piaget’s Formal Operational Stage

  • Capability of abstract and hypothetical reasoning; improved problem-solving abilities.

Social & Personality Development

  • Freud - Genital Stage: Re-emergence of sexual drives with focus on relationships.

  • Erikson - Identity vs. Role Confusion: Development of values, beliefs, and exploration of identity.

Establishing Autonomy

  • Independence from parents and the formation of intimate relationships.

Sexuality

  • Factors influencing sexual activity in teenagers and societal implications.

Early Adulthood Development

Physical Changes

  • Peak performance typically before age 30; begins decline thereafter.

  • Health risks increase; knowledge of health behaviors often ignored.

Cognitive Development

  • Transition from acquiring to applying knowledge; development of more complex reasoning.

Social & Personality Development

  • Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love: Components of love: Passion, intimacy, and commitment.

Middle Adulthood Development

Physical Changes

  • Changes in appearance and sensory abilities; health concerns increase.

Cognitive Development

  • Crystallized intelligence increases; fluid intelligence may decline.

Social & Personality Development

  • Erikson’s Generativity vs. Stagnation: Creative and meaningful pursuits and contributions to society.

Late Adulthood Development

Physical and Cognitive Changes

  • Decline in brain function, memory, and sensory abilities.

  • Importance of exercise for health and cognitive function.

Alzheimer's Disease

  • Most common form of dementia; irreversible memory and cognitive decline.

Social & Personality Development

  • Erikson - Ego Integrity vs. Despair: Reflecting on life’s achievements and experiences.

  • Importance of emotional satisfaction in late adulthood.