A Topical Approach to Life-Span Development 6e Chapter One: Introduction John W. Santrock

The Life-Span Perspective Development: Define

Characteristics of the Life-Span Perspective Contextual Growth Maintenance Regulation of loss Lifelong Multidimensional Multidirectional Plastic Multidisciplinary Be able to describe these characteristics of the life-span perspective on development. In particular, explain: Multidimensional = Multidirectional = Plasticity = Multidisciplinary =

Characteristics of the Life-Span Perspective Development is contextual - It takes place in environmental and social contexts that influence us in many ways Normative age-graded influences Shared by a particular age group Normative history-graded influences Shared by a specific generation Nonnormative life events Unique to the individual

Figure 1.6 - Processes in Development

Periods of Development Development period = time frame in one’s life characterized by certain features & events Prenatal Period Infancy Early childhood Middle and late childhood Adolescence Early adulthood Middle adulthood Late adulthood Take notes on the age range for each period. As the semester continues, we will focus on the key developmental issues that occur during each period.

Conceptions of age Chronological age: Number of years elapsed since person’s birth Biological age: Physical capacities & health Psychological age: Adaptive capacities Social age: Social roles and expectations related to one’s age Biological, psychological, and social age are all COMPARATIVE to others of the same chronological age Psychological adaptive capacities = learning, flexibility, coping with stress, thinking clearly Social capacities – connectedness with others, family/peers/co-workers/friends

Developmental Issues Nature and nurture Stability and change Inheritance and environment Stability and change Persistence of early traits and characteristics Continuity and discontinuity Gradual vs. abrupt changes in development Describe each issue. Use these to compare theories.

Theories of Development Theory: Hypotheses: Define, and differentiate by giving examples of hypotheses derived from various theories.

Theories of Development: Psychoanalytic theories Fill in characteristics of psychoanalytic theories

Erikson’s Eight Life-Span Stages Figure 1.11, p. 21 Example

Theories of Development: Cognitive Theories Emphasize: Three major theories Piaget’s cognitive development (stage theory) Vygotsky’s sociocultural cognitive theory (continuity) Information processing theory What do cognitive theories emphasize? Discussed in more detail in Ch 6

Piaget’s Four Stages of Cognitive Development Figure 1.12, p. 23 example

Cognitive Theories of Development: Information-Processing theory Compares humans to computers: Brain ~ hardware Cognition ~ software Thinking involves:

Theories of Development: Behavioral and social cognitive theories Behaviorism: Scientific studies can only be based on direct observations and measures Development is studied by observing only outward behaviors not cognitions, emotions, or unconscious processes Behavior is learned from experiences/environment Development is continuous as experiences are added Watson's fear conditioning study Skinner’s operant conditioning Consequences, rewards and punishment, shape behavior No emphasis on thoughts, feelings Development is pattern of behavioral changes Modifying environment produces change Changes determined by consistency of experiences, rewards or punishments

Theories of Development: Behavioral and social cognitive theories Bandura’s social cognitive theory Interactions among behavior, environment, and cognition are key to development Behavior is learned through observation and imitating (modeling) Behavior of others is cognitively evaluated, strategies created for successful learning

Figure 1.13 - Bandura’s Social Cognitive Model

Theories of Development: Ethological theory Emphasis on: biology and evolution sensitive periods of development careful observations Lorenz: Imprinting Bowlby: Attachment theory Explain the following theories: Lorenz: Imprinting Bowlby: “Attachment” determines development

Theories of Development: Ecological theory Emphasis on environmental context Bronfenbrenner’s theory: Development is influenced by five environmental systems

Figure 1.14 - Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory

Theories of Development: Eclectic theoretical approach Life-span development is complex Each theory has contribution to understanding development Eclectic approach focuses on best features of each