Life Span Development 1

pattern of change that begins at conception and continues through the human life span

biological, sociocultural, and environmental influences that are similar for individuals in a particular age group.

puberty, menopause, beginning school, retirement

Influences that are common to people of a particular generation because of historical circumstances.

economic, political and social upheavals like the Great Depression, WWII, Civil Rights Movement, 9/11, integration of cell phones into everyday life

unusual occurrences that have a major impact on an individual's life; events do not happen to all people

death of a parent when child is young, pregnancy in adolescence, home burned down, winning the lottery, unexpected career opportunity

changes in an individual's physical nature

genes inherited from parents, development of the brain, height and weight gain, hormonal changes of puberty

changes in an individual's thought, intelligence, and language

watching colorful mobile above crib, putting together two-word sentences, memorizing a poem, imagining what it would be like to be a movie star, solving crossword puzzles

changes in an individual's relationships with other people, emotions, and personality

infant's smile in response to a parent's touch, toddlers aggressive attack on playmate, development of assertiveness, joy at senior prom, actions of elderly couple

conception to birth: tremendous growth from a cell to organism with a brain and behavior capabilities, lasts about nine months

birth to 18 or 24 months: extreme dependence on adults, psychological activities are just beginning- language, sensorimotor coordination, and social learning

end of infancy to 5 or 6 years old "preschool years": become more self-sufficient, care for themselves, develop school readiness skills, first grade typically marks the end

6 to 11 years old "elementary school years": mastery of fundamental skills of reading, writing and arithmetic, increase in self control and wanting to achieve

10-12 to 18-21 years of age: transition from childhood to early adulthood, rapid physical change, independence and identity are important, more time spent away from family

early 20s to 30s: establish personal and economic independence, career development, selecting a mate, starting a family, raising children

40 to 60 years old: expanding personal and social involvement and responsibility, reaching and maintaining career satisfaction

begins 60s-70s until death: time of life review, retirement, adjustment to new social roles of decreased strength and health

the number of years that have elapsed since birth

an individual's adaptive capacities compared with those of other individuals of the same chronological age

social roles and expectations related to a person's age

a person's age in terms of physical health (organs, diseases, accidents, nutrition, exercise)

the longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors

Focuses on the extent to which development involves gradual, cumulative change (continuity) or distinct stages (discontinuity).

Describe development as primarily unconscious and heavily colored by emotion. Behavior is merely a surface characteristic, and the symbolic workings of the mind have to be analyzed to understand behavior. Early experiences with parents are emphasized.

states we go through five stages pf psychosexual development

includes 8 stages of human development. Each stage consists of a unique developmental task that confronts individuals with a crisis that must be resolved.

1 to 3 years; the psychological conflict of toddlerhood, which is resolved favorably when parents provide young children with suitable guidance and reasonable choices

First year of life; Erikson's first psychosocial crisis. Infants learn basic trust if the world is a secure place where their basic needs (for food, comfort, attention, etc.) are met.

3-6 years; children undertake new skills and activities and feel guilty when they do not succeed at them

6-12 years; The fourth of Erikson's eight psychosexual development crises, during which children attempt to master many skills, developing a sense of themselves as either industrious or inferior, competent or incompetent.

12-20 years; According to Erikson, the major developmental task of adolescence in finding a sense of who they are and where they are going in life. Failure results in developing a negative identity or in role confusion.

20-40 years; According to Erikson, a major developmental task of early adulthood is developing an intimate relationship. Failure to do so may lead to isolation.

40-60 years; Erikson's seventh stage of psychosocial development, in which the middle-aged adult develops a concern with establishing, guiding, and influencing the next generation or else experiences a sense of inactivity or lifelessness

60 +; According to Erikson, the major developmental task of older age is finding meaning in the life that one has led. Success gives rise to a sense of integrity, whereas failure leads to despair.

States that children actively construct their understanding of the world and go through four stages of cognitive development

in Piaget's theory, the stage (from birth to about 2 years of age) during which infants know the world mostly in terms of their sensory impressions and motor activities

in Piaget's theory, the stage (from about 2 to 7 years of age) during which a child learns to use language but does not yet comprehend the mental operations of concrete logic.

in Piaget's theory, the stage of cognitive development (from about 7 to 11 years of age) during which children gain the mental operations that enable them to reason logically about concrete examples

in Piaget's theory, the stage of cognitive development (normally beginning between age 11-15) during which people begin to think logically about abstract and logical terms

Involves changing the probability of a behavior's occurrence. Rewards increase the likelihood of reoccurrence. Punishment reduces the likelihood of the behavior.