Chapter 12 Development Throughout the Life Span

Objectives 12.1 The Beginnings of Development Describe the development of the field and explain the prenatal and newborn stages of human development Infancy and Childhood Discuss physical development in infants and newborns. Examine Piaget’s stage theory in relation to early cognitive development. Illustrate the importance of attachment in psychosocial development.

Objectives 12.3 Adolescence and Young Adulthood Discuss the impact of sexual development in adolescence and changes in moral reasoning in adolescents and young adults. Examine the life stages within Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development.

Objectives 12.4 Adulthood and Aging Illustrate the physical, cognitive, and social aspects of aging Nature and Nurture Describe the multiple influences of nature and nurture in human development.

What Is Development?

Prenatal Development Zygote: An initial stage in development as the fertilized egg grows through cell division and attaches to the uterine wall Embryo: Prenatal stage following zygote lasting 2 to 8 weeks; in this stage, the heart begins beating Fetus: The unborn child from around 9 weeks until birth © lelik759/ShutterStock, Inc.

Infancy and Childhood PhysicalCognitiveSocial Neural Plasticity Rapid Growth Piaget’s Stage Theory: Sensorimotor Preoperational Concrete Operational Formal Operational Touch as Primary Attachment Bond Secure Insecure Avoidant

Physical Development Figure 12.07: Children move through an orderly sequence of stages in motor development in the first year.

Developmental Norms

Piaget’s Stage Theory

Challenges to Piaget’s Stage Theory By depending only on the baby’s motor behaviors, Piaget underestimated their cognitive abilities. Cognition develops more gradually and continuously.

Social Development Contact comfort: The need for touch as a primary drive in monkeys and humans

Attachment Theory

Family Relationships Parenting Styles –Authoritarian –Permissive –Authoritative

Family Relationships Differential parenting Siblings Daycare Divorce

Peers Kindergarteners are much more likely to have same-sex play partners. Gender differences in observed behavior occur early in development, well before the biological influences.

Adolescence and Young Adulthood PhysicalCognitiveSocial Puberty: Sexual Maturation Growth Spurt Neural Growth and Pruning Emotion over Cognition Moral Reasoning Identity Formation Separation from Parents Peer Relationships

Physical Development Primary sexual characteristics: The reproductive organs and external genitalia Secondary sexual characteristics: Physical changes, along with a spurt in height and changes to the body’s overall shape, that occur during puberty Menarche: The occurrence of a first menstrual period, indicating the capacity to become pregnant Spermarche: The first ejaculation occurs around age 14, followed a year later by the development of mature sperm cells

Brain Development Gray matter volume in the cortex increases with maturation from 5 to 20 years of age. Reproduced from Lenroot, R. K., & Giedd, J. N. (2006). Brain development in children and adolescents: insights from anatomical magnetic resonance imaging. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Review, 30(6), 718– 729.

Cognitive Development Preconventional level: Judges the morality of an action based on its consequences, particularly to oneself. An action is morally wrong if you will be punished. Conventional level: Determines right and wrong based on social roles and society’s laws. Good intentions are taken into account, but the law is the law Postconventional level: Considers that social contracts, laws, and rules can bend to uphold individual and universal rights

Social Development

Adulthood and Aging PhysicalCognitiveSocial Reproductive Maturity End of Reproduction Diminished Abilities Declines in Speed and New Learning Growth in Knowledge Choosing a Life Partner Assessing Contributions

Physical Development Successful aging depends on: Freedom from disability and disease High cognitive and physical functioning Social engagement

Cognitive Development All adults show a decline in performance on tasks requiring fluid intelligence, or reasoning about new information. Crystalized intelligence, or reasoning using knowledge already existing in memory, shows no decline with advancing age.

Social Development Figure 12.27: Change in personality traits for 6 trait domains (assuming cumulative change over time). Extraversion is broken into social vitality and social dominance. Data from Roberts, B. W., & Mroczek, D. (2008). Personality trait change in adulthood. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 17(1), 31–35.

Ages and Stages of Adulthood People who are out of sync with the social clock experience more stress than those who are “on time.” The pressure to make choices and move ahead can grow throughout adulthood. Adults often try to identify a purpose in life. Life satisfaction ratings are similar across age ranges.

Nature and Nurture Nature: Biological influences including genetics, hormones, and evolutionary tendencies Nurture: Environmental influences such as family life, schooling, culture, and experiences