Human Development Across a Life Span

Development The sequence of age-related changes

that occur as a person progresses from conception to death. Discontinuous Based on species

Germinal Stage lasting from conception to about 2 weeks. A zygote, a one celled organism is formed by the union of an egg and sperm

During this stage, rapid cell division occurs, and the mass

of cells migrates to the uterus and begins to implant into the uterine wall, forming a placenta during the implantation process.

Embryonic Stage Lasts from 2 weeks to 2 months Is the period when most of the vital organs and

bodily systems such as the heartbeat, spine, and brain emerge.

The embryonic period is a time of great vulnerability; if anything

interferes with development during this time period, effects can be devastating.

Fetal Stage Lasts from 2 months to birth. During the early parts of this

stage, the muscles and bones begin to form. The body continues to grow and function, with sex organs developing in the 3rd month and brain cells multiplying during the final 3 months.

• Between 22 and 26 weeks, the age of viability is reached… when the baby could survive if born prematurely. 12 weeks 3 inches, fetus, fingerprints, smile, urinate 16 weeks 6-7 inches, hair, fingernails 20 weeks 12 inches, sucks thumb, hiccups, eye lashes age of viability-(22 weeks)

Infants Average 7.3 pounds 18-22 inches Grasping: an infants response to cling to something

that touches their hand. Rooting: an infants sucking response to something

touching their cheek.

Environmental Factors Maternal Nutrition Severe maternal malnutrition increases the risk of birth complications and psychological defects in the newborn. Prenatal malnutrition has been linked to vulnerability to schizophrenia and other

disorders in adolescence and early adulthood. Low birth weight is associated with increased risk

of diabetes and heart disease. Teratogens

harmful agents to the prenatal environment

Maternal Drug Use Virtually all prescription and non prescription drugs can

be harmful to an unborn child. (alcohol, nicotine, aspirin, caffeine, cocaine, marijuana, heroin.) pg 111 in Life Span book

Babies of heroine users are born addicted to narcotics and have an increased risk of death due to complications.

Fetal alcohol syndrome is a collection of congenital problems associated with excessive alcohol use during pregnancy.

Maternal Illness Diseases such as rubella, syphilis, cholera,

smallpox, mumps, and sever cases of the flu can be hazardous to the fetus.

Herpes can cause paralysis, deafness, blindness, and brain damage in infants, and can be fatal for many newborns.

20-30% of mothers who carry the AIDS virus pass it to their babies.

Basic Principles of Motor Development

Cephalocaudal trend – children tend to gain control over the upper part of their bodies before the lower part.

Proximodistal trend – children gain control over their torsos before their extremities. Maturation – gradual unfolding of genetic blueprint

Developmental norms – median age Cultural variations

Early Emotional Development: Attachment Attachment refers to the close, emotional bonds of

affection that develop between infants and their caregivers.

Separation anxiety is normal emotional distress seen in infants when they are separated from people with whom they have formed an attachment.

Mary Ainsworth’s Patterns of Attachment (AP ESSAY 2008) Secure attachment, playing and exploring

comfortably when mom is present, becoming visibly upset when she leaves, and calming quickly upon her return. More closely related to high self-esteem later in life.

Anxious-ambivalent attachment, show anxiety even when mom is near and protest excessively when she leaves, but are not particularly comforted when she returns.

Avoidant attachment, sought little contact with their mothers and were not distressed when she left.

Easy and Difficult Babies: Difference in Temperament

Temperament is primarily genetic & refers to characteristic mood, activity level, and emotional reactivity. Nutrition and environment plays a secondary role.

Easy children- happy, regular in sleeping and eating, adaptable, and not easily upset.

Slow-to-warm-up children- less cheery, less regular in their sleep and eating, and slower in adapting to change.

Difficult children- glum, erratic in sleep and eating, resistant to change, and relatively irritable

Diana Baumrind Parenting styles (AP ESSAY 2008) Authoritarian: parents are the boss: Children often

become resentful, develop low self-esteem, lack independence & autonomy.

Democratic/authoritative: children are involved in decisions. Overall……Most successful children & families.

Permissive/laissez-faire: children do what they want. A lot of children tend to get involved with drugs and illegal activities.

Erikson’s Theory-Psychosocial

Erikson’s Stages: Early Childhood Conflict must occur to transition to next stage through moratorium

Trust vs. Mistrust- first year of life-Feeding If an infant’s basic needs are met and sound attachments are

formed, the child should develop and optimistic attitude toward the world.

Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt- age 2 to age 3-toileting Child must begin to take some responsibility in feeding,

eating, and dressing. If all goes well, he or she acquires a sense of self-sufficiency.

Initiative vs. Guilt- age 3 to age 6-Independance Children experiment and take initiatives that may conflict

with parents rules. Self-esteem is established. Industry vs. Inferiority- age 6 through puberty-school

Children learn to value achievement and take pride in accomplishment, resulting in a sense of competence.

Erikson’s Stages: Adolescence Identity vs. Confusion- adolescence-peers A sense of self identity is established

along with a set of unique morals and ideals.

Erikson’s Stages: Adulthood Intimacy vs. Isolation- early adulthood-

relationships Development of the capacity to share intimacy

with others. Generativity vs. Self-absorption- middle

adulthood-parenting The decision is made whether to have children.

Integrity vs. Despair- retirement years-life reflection Avoidance of dwelling on the mistakes of the

past, the meaning in life is found.

James Marcia (1988) 4 identity statuses Foreclosure-commitment based on others

ideas. Moratorium-considering important issues.

Experiencing life. Identity Diffusion-confused, no sense of

identity. Identity Achievement-based on experiences

and own beliefs clear decisions are made.

Piaget’s Stage Theory-Cognitive

Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development Sensorimotor period- birth to age 2

Symbolic thought develops Development of object permanence, when a child realizes that

object continue to exist even when they are no longer visible. Preoperational period- age 2 to age 7

Improved use of mental images Understanding conservation, the awareness that physical

quantities remain constant in spite of changes in their shape. Concrete Operational Period- age 7 to age 11

Children can perform operations only on images of tangible objects and actual events

Reversibility and decentration are mastered. Formal Operational Period- begins at age 11

Abstract, systematic, logical and reflexive thought.

Kohlberg’s Stage Theory-Moral

Freud-Psychosexual Development

Adolescence Adolescence is the transitional period

between childhood and adulthood. Adolescence begins around age 13 and

end about age 22 or even later. Begin developing independence now: laundry,

cooking, self care, financial. Get a job, help around the house, contribute.

Puberty happens during this time. Failure to move into adulthood can

lead to depression.

Secondary sexual characteristics in females: Breast development Pubic hair Increase in body fat mass Development of sex organs & breast ducts Stimulation of skeletal growth Event Average Age in Years: Initial breast development 11 Growth spurt 12 ¼ First menstruation 13 Skeletal growth completed 14 ½ Final breast development 15 ¼

Secondary sexual characteristics in males: Enlargement of the male sex organs Pubic & facial hair Increase in muscle mass Increase in size of the larynx with deepening of the voice Acceleration of linear growth Stimulation of libido Event Average Age in Years Initial testicular growth 11 ¾ Temporary breast development 13 Voice cracking begins 13 Growth spurt 13 ½ Hair in armpits 14 Adult voice attained 15 Moustache begins to appear 15 Whiskers appear 16

Puberty Pubescence- the two year span preceding puberty

during which secondary sex characteristics, develop physical features that distinguish one sex from the other but that are not essential for reproduction, and the changes leading to physical and sexual maturity take place.

Puberty- the stage in which sexual functions reach maturity, and the primary sex characteristics, the structures necessary for reproduction, develop fully.

Adulthood Personality Development Personality is marked by both stability

and change, as adulthood is a period of many transitions.

Adjusting to Adulthood Marriage Newly married couples tend to settle into marriage

roles gradually. Difficulties occur when couples enter a marriage

with different ideals of marital roles. The first few years of marriage tend to be

characterized by great happiness. Happiness tends to decline in the middle years of

marriage and increase again toward the end. 95% of all people get married. Nearly 60% divorce rate for 1st marriages 70% divorce rate for 2nd marriages

Aging and Cognitive Changes Fluid intelligence- information processing

skills Decreases with age.

Crystallized intelligence- application of accumulated knowledge. Remains stable with age.

The Expanse of Adulthood Personality development Social development Career development Physical changes Cognitive changes Life span is increasing. 1900-40, 2009-80 Menapause, Empty nest, mid-life crisis

Kübler-Ross’s Stages of Dying

People who are terminally ill go through a series of stages as they approach death. Some of the stages can be legitimate expressions of other concerns, however. The stages are:

Denial Anger

Bargaining with God Depression

Acceptance of death