1.2 2015PSY

• Lifespan development


  The study of factors that influence consistency and transformation from conception to death
• Types of development

  -Bi-directional

  -Plasticity

  -Multi-dimensional
• Bi-directional development


  We make gains and losses across time, with others influencing us vice-versa
• Plasticity development


  brain's capacity to achieve lasting structural changes in response to environmental demands that are not fully met by the organism's current functional capacity
• Multi-dimensional deveopment


  Physical, emotional, social, perceptual, personality, intellectual
• Prenatal - Conception to birth

  1 cell organism becomes baby
• Infancy toddlerhood - Birth to 2 years

  Motor, perception, relationship ties
• Early childhood - 2-6 years


  -Play years

  -Refined motor skills

  -Expanding thought and language

  -Morality

  -Peer-relationships

  -gender identity
• Middle childhood - 6-11 years

  -Improved athleticism

  -logical thought

  -self understanding

  -mastery of academic skills

  -friendships

  -beginning of peer group membership
• Adoecence - 11-18 years


  Puberty, abstract thought, autonomy, identity, personal values and goals
• Early adulthood 18-40 years


  leave home, career concerns, intimate relationships, parenting, established lifestyle
• middle adulthood - 40-65 years


  Career peak, launching children
• Medieval europe concept of development

  Children as miniature adults, no concept of adolescence
• Concept of adolescence

  19th-20th century phenomenon
• Emerging adulthood

  -21st-century western phenomenon.

  -Arnette (2000); the stage is between 18-25
• Changes in life expectancy influence on development


  As we live longer concepts change,. Early theories saw development plateau after adolescence and decline with age, which is no longer the case.