Life Span

Childhood Development
Developmental Psychology: Study of changes that occurs as someone
matures.
Three issues in Developmental Psychology:
1.Continuity vs. Stages of Development
2.Stability vs. Change
3.Nature vs. Nurture

Newborns
Physical development starts in the womb (kicking, hiccups, suckeling)
At birth newborns can: hear, see, and feel
Automatic Movements:
Grasping Reflex: When presented a stimuli in the palm of an infant's
hand they will automatically grab it with surprising strength.
Rooting Reflex: When presented a stimuli near the mouth or cheek an
infant will turn to the object and begin suckeling.

Physical Development
From birth to two years old children will grow from roughly 7 lbs (on
average) to between 20-30, learn to walk, climb stairs, feed themselves,
and almost double in height.

Perceptual Development
Robert Fantz (1961)
- Study in which infants chose human faces above other images to
look at
Gibson & Walk (1960)
- Visual cliff experiment to test infant depth perception
- Less than 6 months no fear
- Over 6 months aware of the cliff

Language Development
Is language innate or learned?
The development of speech starts with infants mimicking parents with
coos and word sounds
Around 2 years old a childs vocabulary will range between 500 and
1500 words
- However, grammar is not developed until later stages of childhood
- Telegraphic speech: speech in which words are left out but meaning
still clear

Cognitive Development
Object Permanence: Childrens understanding that an object exists even
if they cannot see it (18-24 months)
Representational Thought: Ability to picture something in a childs mind
(monkey see, monkey do)

Essays
Rubric sheets to be passed out, comments and corrects left on
Schoology
- If you did not get anything back and you turned something in it is
either late w/out a late submission form or plagiarized (see me at
the end of the period)
- Average score roughly a C+/B- (scores bumped up by a letter grade)
Common Issues:
1.Citations, there werent any (annotated bibliography is an
organization tool)
2.Grammar and punctuation

Citations
In text citations are necessary to give credit to the person or place
where you gained the knowledge.
Parenthetical Citations:
1.What type of source is it? (book, article, web page, etc.)
2.Correlates to works cited or reference section at the conclusion of
the piece
a. First word most often in in-text citation will be same as post-text citation

Footnotes: Can be used in place of parenthetical citations and are

prefered for long citation explanations
WITHOUT CITATIONS YOUR WORK IS PLAGIARIZED!

Emotional Development
Begins around 6 months of age when infants can distinguish between
people
Stranger Anxiety: Feeling uneasy when an unrecognized person comes
around
- Typically will pass so long as parents are around
Separation Anxiety: Uneasy when parents leave, if done repetitively and
for long periods of time can cause psychological disorders
- Secure, avoidant, resistant, or disorganized attachment

Social Development
Socialization: The process of learning rules of behavior within the
culture an individual is born into
Two Theories: Freud and Erikson
- Both focus on emotional dynamics, acceptance, and rewards for
conforming

Erik Erikson: Psychosocial Development

Sigmund Freud: Psychosexual

Development

Cognitive-Development Approach
Children have a blank slate (Tabula Rasa - John Locke) and their
experiences mold their social self.
- Games and Playing: Allows students to create ideas of fairness,
rules, and practice role taking
- Points of View: Moral development begins at different stages
(Kohlberg, 1969)

Adolescence
Adolescence: The transition period between childhood and adulthood.
- Defined physically in terms of age
- Defined psychologically
Rites of Passage: Events that marks steps towards adulthood.
- 16th, 18th, and 21st Birthdays
- Graduation (H.S. and College)

Theories of Adolescence
G. Stanley Hall (1904): Viewed adolescence as being like a caged
animal
Margaret Mead (1935): Difficulties in adolescence are caused by culture
Robert Havighurst (1972): Adolescents have tasks they must complete
in route to becoming an adult
- Developing close relationships from both sexes
- Becoming independent of ones parents
- Choosing a profession
- Preparing for marriage and family

Physical Development
Puberty is the physical benchmark that identifies adolescence
Girls begin puberty typically between ages 8-10 and boys between ages
9-16
Asynchrony: A condition where different parts of ones body develops at
different rates which may cause awkwardness
Body image issues

Cognitive Development
Jean Piaget: Formal Operations Stage
- Development of abstract thinking and heightened problem-solving
capacity
Rationalization: Being able to explain an unpleasant emotion or
behavior in a way that preserves ones self esteem and sense of self.
Changes in cognitive development typically also leads to changes in
personality

Moral Development
Lawrence Kohlberg (1971): Stages of moral development begins the
questioning of right versus wrong.
- Progresses most during college
Ponder the following:
- Is it okay to drive 65 mph in a 25 mph zone if your wife is in labor?
- Is it okay to steal from a grocery store if your kids are starving?
- Is it okay to kill an intruder who breaks into your home?

Identity Development
Erik Erikson - Identity Crisis Theory
- Adolescence are aware of all labels that apply to them
- Inner conflict in which intense thought about self and future takes
place
- Understanding that future is real not just a role playing game
- Identity Formation vs. Identity Confusion
- Role Conflict: Needs, Talents, Interests, Peers, Family, School, etc.
- Who am I?
James Marcia (1966): Continued Eriksons work with four stages to

Social Development
Family: Fear and uncertainty with both parents and adolescence
Peers: Development of cliques and friend groups is where the majority
of adolescents spend their time (friends look at each other as equals)
Difficulties: Feeling of invincibility, self image, depression, and suicide
are difficult issue for teens to deal with

Adulthood
Adulthood begins following puberty and is typically identified as a stage
of independance.
Characterized by physical changes, evolving outlooks on life, and
increased responsibilities
Adjustment to life without children

Physical Changes
Adults reach their physical peak between ages 18 and 30
Appearances change: Gray hair, thinning or losing hair, wrinkles, weight
gain, and dry skin
Sense change: Loss of eyesight & loss of hearing,
Health complications: Cancer, heart disease, and cirrhosis (3 leading
causes of death)

Cognitive Changes
A persons ability and aptitude for learning knowledge is at its height
during early adulthood
While mental capabilities are strong the speed of those abilities begins
to decline as people age beyond their late 20s and early 30s
Level of education, stimulating environment, and an intellectually
demanding profession helps to keep adults sharp

Daniel Levinsons Theory of Male

Development

Old Age
Characterized by living into an advanced age. Typically considered 65+
in American culture.
Often terms like golden age or senior citizen is used to replace old
Fear of getting old and the issues that come with old age is one of the
most recognized phobias in the United States

Perception of Old Age

Decremental model of age: Inevitable shared belief that old age brings
about poor health, declined mental functioning, and general reduced
quality of life.
Ageism: A prejudice or discrimination towards someone based on their
age.

Changes in Health
Throughout adulthood, a persons senses will decline by roughly 1% of
their functionality per year
High risk of chronic disease: heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and
arthritis
Difficulty finding quality medical care and quality medical insurance

Changes in Life Situations

Many life situation changes in old age are negative; reducing
responsibility and increasing isolation
- Nearly 22% of those 75+ are widowed
Retirement offers a possibility of focusing on new tasks that were not
possible while working.

Changes in Cognitive Functioning

While mental functioning will most likely decline with age many elderly
will still remain sharp, however there are debilitating cognitive disorders
that can negatively impact the elderly and their families.
Senile Dementia: Decreases in mental abilities experienced by some on
old age.
Alzheimers: A condition that destroys a persons ability to think,
remember, relate to others, and care for herself/himself.