Overview
This lecture covers the major theories, research methods, and milestones of human lifespan development from conception to death, including physical, cognitive, and psychosocial domains.
Introduction to Lifespan Development
- Lifespan development is the study of how humans grow and change from conception to death.
- Development involves physical, cognitive, and psychosocial domains and is shaped by genetics, environment, culture, and relationships.
Domains and Research Methods
- Physical development includes body and brain changes, senses, motor skills, and health.
- Cognitive development involves learning, memory, language, reasoning, and creativity.
- Psychosocial development covers emotions, personality, and social relationships.
- Research methods: naturalistic observation, case studies, surveys, and experiments.
Approaches and Major Issues
- Normative approach studies average ages for developmental milestones.
- Key issues: continuity vs. discontinuity, one course vs. many courses of development, and nature vs. nurture debate.
Major Theories of Development
- Freud's psychosexual theory: five childhood stages shaping adult personality, now largely disputed.
- Erikson's psychosocial theory: eight stage model with key conflicts at each stage throughout life.
- Piaget's cognitive theory: four stages (sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, formal operational).
- Vygotsky's sociocultural theory: development is rooted in cultural and social interactions.
- Kohlberg's stages of moral development: preconventional, conventional, postconventional levels.
Prenatal and Early Childhood Development
- Prenatal stages: germinal (weeks 1–2), embryonic (3–8), fetal (9–40).
- Teratogens (e.g. alcohol, nicotine, drugs) can harm prenatal development.
- Newborns display reflexes (rooting, sucking, grasping, Moro), and developing senses.
- Rapid physical, brain, motor, and language development occurs in infancy and early childhood.
Cognitive and Psychosocial Development in Childhood
- Object permanence, egocentrism, conservation, and theory of mind develop in childhood.
- Attachment types (secure, avoidant, resistant, disorganized) depend on caregiver interactions.
- Parenting styles: authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and uninvolved influence child outcomes.
- Self-concept and social behaviors emerge in early and middle childhood.
Adolescence
- Adolescence marked by puberty, identity exploration, and increased peer influence.
- Formal operational thinking, abstract reasoning, and cognitive empathy develop.
- Erikson: identity vs. role confusion is the main psychosocial task.
- Brain development continues, affecting risk behavior and impulse control.
Adulthood and Aging
- Adulthood: early (20s–40s), middle (40s–60s), late (60s+).
- Physical peak in early adulthood; gradual decline in middle and late adulthood.
- Crystallized intelligence stable; fluid intelligence and memory decline in late adulthood.
- Social relationships, career, and generativity become central psychosocial themes.
End of Life and Death
- Hospice care provides comfort and dignity at the end of life.
- Kübler-Ross’s five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance.
- Living wills and DNR orders clarify a person's end-of-life wishes.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Developmental milestone — A significant skill or event marking progress in development.
- Attachment — The emotional bond between infant and caregiver.
- Object permanence — Understanding objects exist even when out of sight.
- Teratogen — Any agent causing harm to a developing fetus.
- Self-concept — Awareness and understanding of oneself.
- Crystallized intelligence — Accumulated knowledge and skills.
- Fluid intelligence — Ability to reason and solve new problems.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review developmental stage tables and theories (Erikson, Piaget, Kohlberg).
- Reflect on personal experiences and relate them to theoretical stages.
- Prepare for discussion/assessment on the effects of parenting styles and cultural influences on development.