LIFE SPAN DEVELOPMENT, Lecture notes of Developmental Psychology

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LIFE SPAN DEVELOPMENT

Unit 1: Introduction and Theories of Human

Development

u Meaning of developmental changes; u Significant facts about development; u Developmental task during the lifespan- infancy and early childhood, late childhood, adolescence, adulthood, middle age, old age; u Recent focus of interest in life span; u Theories Neuro-maturational theories; Constructivist theories; Learning theories; Ethological theories; Theories of the child’s mind; Dynamical systems approach.

u American Psychological Association : Lifespan development studies how humans learn, mature, and adapt from infancy to adulthood to elderly phases of life. u Some areas of focus include physical, cognitive, social and emotional growth. u The scientific study of how and why people change or remain the same over time. u INTROSPECTION : MY PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS AT 6 13, AND NOW? u MY IDEA OF FRIEND OVER THE YEARS

u Development --- a lifelong process. u Individual and group differences in patterns of development u Examining the influences of

• gender,
  • cohort/generation
  • race, ethnicity, culture, socioeconomic status, education level, and time in history is also important. The lifespan developmental perspective, A more comprehensive view of the individual within the context of their own developmental journey and within social, cultural, and historical contexts

u PSYCHOSOCIAL & EMOTIONAL - From self to others, expansion of one’s world and changes overtime

• Infant and caregiver emotions, personality, self-esteem, and relationships, Peer group influence for adolescents, identity formation,
• Issues of family, friends, parenting, romance, divorce, remarriage, blended families, caregiving for elders, becoming grandparents and great grandparents, retirement, new careers, coping with losses, death and dying.

u Successful achievement leads to the person’s happiness, and increases the probability of competence in the respective task u Failure leads to unhappiness in the individual, disapproval by society and difficulty in later tasks. u He believed that learning is basic to life and that people continue to learn through out life.

Havinghurst identified the following six major stages in human life: u Infancy & early childhood (Birth till 6) u late childhood (6-12) u Adolescence (13-18) u Early Adulthood (19-30) u Middle Age (30-60) u old age (60 and over)

Major objectives of developmental psychologists u To find out the common characteristic changes in FOUR DOMAINS across developmental periods u To find out when these changes occur u To find out what causes them u To find out how it influences behavior u To find out if it can be predicted or not u To find out if its individual or universal

1. Development involves changes u Development----Progressive series of changes that occur as a result of maturation and learning u It is qualitative in nature u Two antagonistic processes happen simultaneously growth /evolution atrophy /involution

u Conception to death-change is constant physical and psychological dimension u Development is continuous u Goal of development – to enable to adapt to the environment – self realization/self actualization u The urge to become the person both physically and psychologically

2.Early foundations are critical u “ The childhood shows the man as morning shows the day” u Attitudes /patterns of behaviours/habits – determines adaptation and success to a great extent u 2 - 5 preschool age – foundation of all behaviors for lifetime u 0 - 2 yrs/8 to 18 months-determine – critical period for competence u Erikson – trust/mistrust-----attitude development

CONDITIONS AFFECTING EARLY FOUNDATIONS

u Favorable interpersonal relationships u Emotional states u Child training methods u Early role playing u Family structure u Environmental stimulation