LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT
• Links to other research fields, such as
Coverage: social psychology, cognitive psychology,
• Introduction to Lifespan Development and comparative psychology.
• Lifespan Perspective • Draws from other sciences like biology,
• Conceptions of Age sociology, healthcare, nutrition, and
• Periods of Development anthropology.
• Issues in Lifespan Development
• Historical Theories on Development Lifespan Perspective
• Contemporary Theories on
Development Principles of Lifespan Development (Paul
• Descriptive Research Baltes)
• Correlational Research • Development is lifelong: Change occurs
throughout life, with no specific age being
• Experimental Research
more important than another.
• Research Involving Time-Spans • Development is multidirectional: People
• Conducting Ethical Research experience both growth and loss across
various aspects of life (e.g., finishing
school, marriage, becoming a parent).
Introduction to Lifespan Development • Development is multidimensional:
Changes happen in three main areas:
What is Lifespan Development? o Physical: Changes in body, health,
• The scientific study of how people and senses.
change and stay the same from birth to o Cognitive: Changes in thinking,
death. memory, and intelligence.
• Focuses on physical, cognitive, o Psychosocial: Changes in
emotions, relationships, and self-
language, and psychosocial identity.
development, including family and peer o These domains interact with each
influences. other, meaning one change can
Growth of the Field: affect others.
• Initially focused on infants and children. • Development is multidisciplinary:
• Expanded to include adolescence, Lifespan development draws on
knowledge from many academic fields like
adulthood, and aging.
psychology, biology, and sociology.
• Development isn't seen as finished by • Development is characterized by
age 25 – adults continue to grow and plasticity: People have the ability to
change. change throughout life, such as how the
• Research on adulthood is growing, brain can adapt and recover from injury.
especially with the aging "baby • Development is multicontextual:
boomers." Development is influenced by various
contexts:
Changing Views on Development: o Normative age-graded influences:
• Early childhood experiences no longer Shared experiences at a specific
seen as the sole influence on future age (e.g., childhood, adolescence).
development. o Normative history-graded
• Lifespan development emphasizes influences: Experiences tied to the
growth throughout life and how time period and historical events
(e.g., Baby Boomers growing up in
experiences shape us. the 1960s).
• Adulthood is seen as a time of ongoing o Non-normative life influences:
cognitive, social, and psychological Unique, individual experiences that
development. shape development (e.g., losing a
Connections to Other Fields: parent early).
• Informs applied areas like educational Social Contexts Affecting Development
• Socioeconomic Status (SES): A family's
psychology, psychopathology, and
income, education, and occupation impact
forensic developmental psychology. their lifestyle, parenting, and stressors.
1|Hikamac chi
, LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT
o Higher SES families tend to have o This refers to how mentally and
better job security, higher emotionally mature you are
education, and better health. compared to others your age.
o Lower SES families may o For example, someone may be 20
experience more stress, health years old but have the mental
issues, and unstable jobs. capacity of an 8-year-old, or a 70-
o Poverty: Families below the year-old might be learning new
poverty line face difficulties in skills and traveling.
maintaining a household, and o Your psychological age reflects
poverty is linked to poorer health, how adaptable and excited you are
lower life expectancy, and other to face new challenges.
challenges. • Social Age
Cultural Context o Based on cultural expectations for
• Culture: Shared beliefs, values, people of a certain age.
behaviors, and practices that guide o Social age considers milestones
society. It influences how we live and like finishing education, getting a
develop. job, moving out, marrying, or
• Ethnocentrism: Belief that one's own retiring.
culture is superior. This can hinder o Social age norms are changing—
understanding of other cultures. many people are reaching these
• Cultural Relativity: Understanding that milestones later or not at all.
cultural practices should be evaluated
within their own cultural context. Periods of Development
• Cultural Impact on Development:
Human development is shaped by cultural Prenatal Development
values and practices, and understanding • Starts at conception and ends at birth.
this is crucial when studying development • Focus on forming body structures,
across cultures. maternal health, and avoiding harmful
Lifespan vs. Life Expectancy environmental factors (teratogens).
• Lifespan: The maximum length of time a Infancy and Toddlerhood
species can live under optimal conditions • From birth to age 2.
(e.g., a human's potential lifespan can be • Rapid physical growth and development
over 120 years). (e.g., learning to walk, talk).
• Life Expectancy: The average number of • Caregivers become more involved in
years a person born in a particular period guiding and ensuring safety as the child
can expect to live, which can vary based becomes mobile.
on historical, social, and health factors. Early Childhood
• From ages 2 to 6 (preschool years).
• Children learn language, develop a sense
Conceptions of Age
of self, and gain more independence.
Chronological Age • Begin to understand the physical world
• This is the most common way to measure around them.
age: the number of years since birth. Middle and Late Childhood
• However, we don’t always feel the same • From ages 6 to puberty.
as our chronological age. We might feel • Focus on learning academic skills and
older or younger depending on our health, building friendships.
stress, or mood. • Children start comparing themselves to
Other Ways to Think About Age others and gaining self-awareness.
• Biological Age: Adolescence
o Refers to how quickly your body is • From puberty to around age 18.
aging. • Physical changes (puberty) and cognitive
o Factors that influence biological development (thinking abstractly about
age include nutrition, physical concepts like love, fear, freedom).
activity, sleep habits, stress • Adolescents may feel invincible, which
management, smoking, alcohol can lead to risky behaviors.
use, and genetics. Emerging Adulthood
• Psychological Age: • Ages 18 to 25.
2|Hikamac chi
• Links to other research fields, such as
Coverage: social psychology, cognitive psychology,
• Introduction to Lifespan Development and comparative psychology.
• Lifespan Perspective • Draws from other sciences like biology,
• Conceptions of Age sociology, healthcare, nutrition, and
• Periods of Development anthropology.
• Issues in Lifespan Development
• Historical Theories on Development Lifespan Perspective
• Contemporary Theories on
Development Principles of Lifespan Development (Paul
• Descriptive Research Baltes)
• Correlational Research • Development is lifelong: Change occurs
throughout life, with no specific age being
• Experimental Research
more important than another.
• Research Involving Time-Spans • Development is multidirectional: People
• Conducting Ethical Research experience both growth and loss across
various aspects of life (e.g., finishing
school, marriage, becoming a parent).
Introduction to Lifespan Development • Development is multidimensional:
Changes happen in three main areas:
What is Lifespan Development? o Physical: Changes in body, health,
• The scientific study of how people and senses.
change and stay the same from birth to o Cognitive: Changes in thinking,
death. memory, and intelligence.
• Focuses on physical, cognitive, o Psychosocial: Changes in
emotions, relationships, and self-
language, and psychosocial identity.
development, including family and peer o These domains interact with each
influences. other, meaning one change can
Growth of the Field: affect others.
• Initially focused on infants and children. • Development is multidisciplinary:
• Expanded to include adolescence, Lifespan development draws on
knowledge from many academic fields like
adulthood, and aging.
psychology, biology, and sociology.
• Development isn't seen as finished by • Development is characterized by
age 25 – adults continue to grow and plasticity: People have the ability to
change. change throughout life, such as how the
• Research on adulthood is growing, brain can adapt and recover from injury.
especially with the aging "baby • Development is multicontextual:
boomers." Development is influenced by various
contexts:
Changing Views on Development: o Normative age-graded influences:
• Early childhood experiences no longer Shared experiences at a specific
seen as the sole influence on future age (e.g., childhood, adolescence).
development. o Normative history-graded
• Lifespan development emphasizes influences: Experiences tied to the
growth throughout life and how time period and historical events
(e.g., Baby Boomers growing up in
experiences shape us. the 1960s).
• Adulthood is seen as a time of ongoing o Non-normative life influences:
cognitive, social, and psychological Unique, individual experiences that
development. shape development (e.g., losing a
Connections to Other Fields: parent early).
• Informs applied areas like educational Social Contexts Affecting Development
• Socioeconomic Status (SES): A family's
psychology, psychopathology, and
income, education, and occupation impact
forensic developmental psychology. their lifestyle, parenting, and stressors.
1|Hikamac chi
, LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT
o Higher SES families tend to have o This refers to how mentally and
better job security, higher emotionally mature you are
education, and better health. compared to others your age.
o Lower SES families may o For example, someone may be 20
experience more stress, health years old but have the mental
issues, and unstable jobs. capacity of an 8-year-old, or a 70-
o Poverty: Families below the year-old might be learning new
poverty line face difficulties in skills and traveling.
maintaining a household, and o Your psychological age reflects
poverty is linked to poorer health, how adaptable and excited you are
lower life expectancy, and other to face new challenges.
challenges. • Social Age
Cultural Context o Based on cultural expectations for
• Culture: Shared beliefs, values, people of a certain age.
behaviors, and practices that guide o Social age considers milestones
society. It influences how we live and like finishing education, getting a
develop. job, moving out, marrying, or
• Ethnocentrism: Belief that one's own retiring.
culture is superior. This can hinder o Social age norms are changing—
understanding of other cultures. many people are reaching these
• Cultural Relativity: Understanding that milestones later or not at all.
cultural practices should be evaluated
within their own cultural context. Periods of Development
• Cultural Impact on Development:
Human development is shaped by cultural Prenatal Development
values and practices, and understanding • Starts at conception and ends at birth.
this is crucial when studying development • Focus on forming body structures,
across cultures. maternal health, and avoiding harmful
Lifespan vs. Life Expectancy environmental factors (teratogens).
• Lifespan: The maximum length of time a Infancy and Toddlerhood
species can live under optimal conditions • From birth to age 2.
(e.g., a human's potential lifespan can be • Rapid physical growth and development
over 120 years). (e.g., learning to walk, talk).
• Life Expectancy: The average number of • Caregivers become more involved in
years a person born in a particular period guiding and ensuring safety as the child
can expect to live, which can vary based becomes mobile.
on historical, social, and health factors. Early Childhood
• From ages 2 to 6 (preschool years).
• Children learn language, develop a sense
Conceptions of Age
of self, and gain more independence.
Chronological Age • Begin to understand the physical world
• This is the most common way to measure around them.
age: the number of years since birth. Middle and Late Childhood
• However, we don’t always feel the same • From ages 6 to puberty.
as our chronological age. We might feel • Focus on learning academic skills and
older or younger depending on our health, building friendships.
stress, or mood. • Children start comparing themselves to
Other Ways to Think About Age others and gaining self-awareness.
• Biological Age: Adolescence
o Refers to how quickly your body is • From puberty to around age 18.
aging. • Physical changes (puberty) and cognitive
o Factors that influence biological development (thinking abstractly about
age include nutrition, physical concepts like love, fear, freedom).
activity, sleep habits, stress • Adolescents may feel invincible, which
management, smoking, alcohol can lead to risky behaviors.
use, and genetics. Emerging Adulthood
• Psychological Age: • Ages 18 to 25.
2|Hikamac chi
