Life course theories Theories are defined as systematic efforts to formulate explanations of natural phenomena to make sense out of observations or experiences Rules of the game of psycho-social processes Development, socialization adaptation

Perspectives Developmental—rate and growth of person Socialization—skills/knowledge needed to perform roles Adaptational—how persons cope with life events/circumstances that demand responses different from everyday habits

Models Timing-of-Events model—social time is the time expected by a society that people will make major life transitions, like moving from childhood to adulthood, marrying, having children. Adaptation is required when a person is unwilling/unable to make timely transition. Normative-crisis model—assumption that person must accomplish certain tasks (learning to be autonomous/independent in U.S. society) to grow psychologically and/or socially. (ex. Freud, Erikson, Levinson)

Stage Theories of Development defined Stage theories argue that people go through stages of progression or sequence. Stage includes description of the stage or is a theory of what is going on in the stage. Example—infancy, childhood, adulthood descriptive terms of stages, but also symbolize physical, psychological, social change Sequence rests on assumption of mastery of functions to get from one level to next like sit-walk-run

Stages of physiology We crawl, then walk, then run; we babble first and then we speak. Ability to get through these physical changes defines normal development Buhler’s stages: growth w/out reproduction (0-15); growth w/reproductive ability (15-22); reproductive ability w/o further growth (22-45); loss of reproductive ability for female (45-65/70); decline w/loss of reproduction (65-death). When reproduction defines stages how is this culturally defined?

Cognitive stages Piaget: sensorimotor (0-18 months); preoperational (18 mon. to 6 years); concrete operations (6-12); formal operational (abstract principles)

Psychosocial Freud Oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital Erikson: eight stages Levinson: theory of life course Gould theory of transformations

Role theories Role: sets of norms/standards that apply to expected behavior of categories of persons in relationships with others Scripts

Socialization stages Infancy (Small) Early childhood—preparation, dependency, roles assigned by sex, age, family and social origins Adolescence to adulthood—transition to performance, autonmy, achieved statuses—knowledge, abilities, motivation Occupational roles, family roles—role gain, role loss

Themes in life course study Goals and life purposes Life stresses and adaptation—includes social change as well as individual responses Identity and life course—includes cohort identity Continuity/discontinuity; scheduling; rites of passage; age/cohort effects; cultural variations