LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT EXAM PREPARATION
PACK 2026 KEY CONCEPTS AND REVISION
NOTES
◉ cohort. Answer: group of people born at around the same time in
the same place
◉ influences on development. Answer: history-graded, age-graded,
sociocultural-graded, non-normative life event
◉ history graded influences. Answer: biological and environmental
influences associated with particular historical moment...
examples: 9/11
◉ age-graded influences. Answer: biological and environmental
influences that are similar for individuals in a particular age...
examples: puberty, menopause, entering formal education
◉ sociocultural-graded influences. Answer: the social and cultural
factors present at a particular age group (*will be considerably
different for children who are white and affluent than for children
who are members of a minority group and living in poverty*)
,◉ non-normative life events. Answer: specific, atypical events that
occur in a person's life at a time when such events do not happen to
most people
example: child whose parent's died in automobile accident at age 6
◉ major issues in lifespan development. Answer: continuous change
vs. discontinuous change...
critical period vs. sensitive period
lifespan approach vs. particular periods approach...
nature vs. nurture...
◉ continuous change. Answer: gradual development in which
achievements at one level build on those of previous levels;
quantitative change
◉ discontinuous change. Answer: development that occurs in
distinct steps or stages; each stage brings about behavior that is
qualitatively different from behavior at earlier stages
◉ critical period. Answer: presence of certain kinds of
environmental stimuli is necessary for development to proceed
normally
, ◉ critical period. Answer: absence of certain kinds of environmental
influences is likely to produce permanent, irreversible consequences
◉ sensitive period. Answer: a point in development when organisms
are particularly susceptible to certain environmental stimuli
◉ sensitive period. Answer: absence of particular environmental
influences may hinder development
◉ lifespan approach. Answer: current theories emphasize growth
and change throughout life, relatedness of different periods
◉ focus on particular periods. Answer: infancy and adolescence
emphasized by early developmentalists as most important periods
◉ nature (genetic factors). Answer: emphasis is on discovering
inherited genetic traits and abilities (encompasses any factor that is
produced by maturation)
◉ nurture (environmental factors). Answer: emphasis is on
environmental influences that affect a person's development (may
be biological, social, societal-level factors)
PACK 2026 KEY CONCEPTS AND REVISION
NOTES
◉ cohort. Answer: group of people born at around the same time in
the same place
◉ influences on development. Answer: history-graded, age-graded,
sociocultural-graded, non-normative life event
◉ history graded influences. Answer: biological and environmental
influences associated with particular historical moment...
examples: 9/11
◉ age-graded influences. Answer: biological and environmental
influences that are similar for individuals in a particular age...
examples: puberty, menopause, entering formal education
◉ sociocultural-graded influences. Answer: the social and cultural
factors present at a particular age group (*will be considerably
different for children who are white and affluent than for children
who are members of a minority group and living in poverty*)
,◉ non-normative life events. Answer: specific, atypical events that
occur in a person's life at a time when such events do not happen to
most people
example: child whose parent's died in automobile accident at age 6
◉ major issues in lifespan development. Answer: continuous change
vs. discontinuous change...
critical period vs. sensitive period
lifespan approach vs. particular periods approach...
nature vs. nurture...
◉ continuous change. Answer: gradual development in which
achievements at one level build on those of previous levels;
quantitative change
◉ discontinuous change. Answer: development that occurs in
distinct steps or stages; each stage brings about behavior that is
qualitatively different from behavior at earlier stages
◉ critical period. Answer: presence of certain kinds of
environmental stimuli is necessary for development to proceed
normally
, ◉ critical period. Answer: absence of certain kinds of environmental
influences is likely to produce permanent, irreversible consequences
◉ sensitive period. Answer: a point in development when organisms
are particularly susceptible to certain environmental stimuli
◉ sensitive period. Answer: absence of particular environmental
influences may hinder development
◉ lifespan approach. Answer: current theories emphasize growth
and change throughout life, relatedness of different periods
◉ focus on particular periods. Answer: infancy and adolescence
emphasized by early developmentalists as most important periods
◉ nature (genetic factors). Answer: emphasis is on discovering
inherited genetic traits and abilities (encompasses any factor that is
produced by maturation)
◉ nurture (environmental factors). Answer: emphasis is on
environmental influences that affect a person's development (may
be biological, social, societal-level factors)
