The Phases of the Life Cycle

Phases of Development

  • Psycho-social life tasks of each phase: infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood.

  • Domains: Physical, Cognitive, Social/Emotional.

  • Phases:

    • Prenatal: Conception to birth.

    • Infancy/Childhood: Birth to adolescence.

    • Adolescence: Transition phase.

    • Adulthood: Early, middle, late.

Prenatal Development

  • Germinal, Embryonic, Fetal stages.

Germinal Stage

  • First 2 weeks: Zygote forms, implants in uterine wall, placenta forms.

Embryonic Stage

  • 2 weeks to 2 months: Vital organs form; susceptible to teratogens.

Fetal Stage

  • 2 months to birth: Rapid growth, organ development, reflexes develop.

Infancy & Childhood

  • Infancy: Newborn to toddler (0-2 years).

  • Childhood: Toddler to teenager (2-12 years).

  • Master physical, cognitive, social/emotional milestones.

Brain Development

  • Neural connections proliferate, rapid frontal lobe growth (3-6 years).

Motor Development

  • Physical coordination matures in sequence.

Baby Memory

  • Earliest memories around age 3.

Habituation - Dishabituation

  • Habituation: decreased response to stimulus.

  • Dishabituation: increased response to new stimulus.

Cognitive Development – Jean Piaget

  • Children's reasoning evolves through distinct stages.

    • Assimilation: Integrating new info into existing schemas(knowledge).

    • Accommodation: Adjusting schemas to fit new info.

    • Equilibration: Balancing assimilation and accommodation for stable understanding.

Piaget’s Stages

  • Sensorimotor (0-2): Object permanence develops.

  • Preoperational (2-7): Language, symbols emerge; egocentrism present.

  • Concrete Operational (7-11): Logic, conservation skills appear.

  • Formal Operational (12+): Abstract thinking develops.

Lev Vygotsky

  • Mind grows through social interaction; language is key.

Social Development

  • Brain, mind, social-emotional behavior develop together.

Adolescence

  • Transition to adulthood; puberty, hormonal surge, abstract thinking, morality.

Kohlberg’s research

  • Preconventional (before 9): Punishment/reward orientation.

  • Conventional (early adolescence): Approval, authority orientation.

  • Post-conventional (adolescence+): Contract, conscience.

Adulthood

  • Early (20s-30s), Middle (till 65), Late (65+).

Physical Changes

  • Early: Peak physical abilities.

  • Late: Decline in sensory/cognitive abilities.

Social Development

  • Middle: Life reflection; intimacy & generativity.

  • Commitment to love & work.

Emerging adulthood

  • Ages 18-25: Exploration and identity formation.

Death

  • Grief, support importance, Erikson’s integrity vs. despair.

Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory

  • 8 stages from infancy to death, each with a basic conflict.

Psychosocial Stages

  • Infancy: Trust vs. Mistrust.

  • Early Childhood: Autonomy vs. Shame/D