intro to lifespan
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TRANSCRIPT
Overview of Lifespan Development Theory
EDPR 7117/8117
Objectives of Topic
Understand the three primary approaches to studies of lifespan development
Analyze the different research methodologies presented
Evaluate and specify the importance of various development processes and influences
Subtopics
Introduction Human development Lifespan perspective World views Influences Context Issues Methods to study development
Introduction
Expectations from this course Focus on research Your opinions Using the information
Human Development
Definition intRAindividual change
Change that occurs within one person Does not all take place at the same time
e.g., physical and emotional don’t happen simultaneously
intERindividual differences Change that occurs between people
(age groups, etc.)
Lifespan Perspective
Life course perspective: age specific or age-course focus
Lifespan perspective: pattern of change that continues throughout the lifespan
Life Course Perspective Lifespan Perspective
World Views
Perspectives Behaviorist Cognitive Psychoanalytical
Influences
Normative influences Biological and environmental that are similar for
an age group Nonnormative influences
Specific to an individual Historical influences
9/11 Sociocultural influences
Age, gender, class, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation
Context
Families Schools Neighborhoods Religious organizations Social organizations
How it was
All about child development Most important developmental milestones. Discrete age periods
Childhood (progress) Adulthood (stability) older adulthood (decline)
How it has changed
Life-span perspective change patterns, influences, continuities and/or
discontinuities Focus began to change
development in “mature” years important childhood developmental patterns not
markers in adulthood new developmental patterns emerge in adulthood and
later adulthood
Sequences of the lifespan
Prenatal Infancy & toddlerhood Early childhood Middle childhood Adolescence Young adulthood Middle adulthood Late adulthood
Mixing it up
Developmental processes are Multidimensional Multidirectional Multidisciplinary Contextual
Importance of plasticity
Developmental issues
Nature vs nurture Continuity vs discontinuity
child learning to talk vs. learning to think abstractly Stability vs change
Research
Cross-sectional studies Look at groups of people One place in time Good for comparisons of cohorts
Longitudinal studies
Study over a period of time Same subjects Good for looking at change over time
What is a theory?
Ideas that help explain things and can be used to make predictions
Human Development theories represent differing world view or philosophical perspectives of what is important and even what the important questions are in the understanding of humans.
The behavioral perspective
Focuses on how people act Major theorists:
B.F. Skinner (operant conditioning) Julian Rotter (social cognitive theory) Albert Bandura (social learning theory)
The cognitive perspective
Focuses on how people think Studies how humans process their social,
emotional, and physical environment. Theorists:
Jean Piaget (stages & dissonance) Len Vygotsky (sociocultural)
The psychoanalytic perspective
Focuses on how people feel explaining and understanding one’s emotions and
emotional development Major theorists:
Sigmund Freud (psychosexual) Erik Erikson (psychosocial)
Assignments
Read materials for week from CD Write notes, questions as you go You are responsible for materials even if they are
not discussed in class! Discussion Board Question(s)
Required posting no later than 11:59 pm of day noted
Can post questions/comments Can answer on the board if you have pertinent
information
Assignments
Article presentations If you are the presenter…
Read your article Prepare your presentation Get to class early to load your PPT if you have one
If you are the audience… Read the article Prepare a critique review sheet
Email if you have questions