Science of Life-Span Development

• Definitions• Psychoanalytic theories• Cognitive theories• Behavioral/Social Cognitive• Ethological theories• Ecological theories• Research methodology

Definitions of…

• Theory: A theory is an interrelated, coherent set of ideas that helps to explain and to make predictions.

• Hypothesis: A hypothesis is a specific assumption or prediction that can be tested to determine its accuracy

Psychoanalytic Theories

• Sigmund Freud– Personality– Psychosexual development

• Oral (0-1)• Anal (1-3)• Phallic (3-6)• Latent (6-12)• Genital (12+)

Psychoanalytic Theories

Erik Erikson: Eight stages of development1. Trust v. Mistrust (0-1)

2. Autonomy v. Shame/Doubt (1-3)

3. Initiative v. Guilt (3-5)

4. Industry v. Inferiority (5-11)

5. Identity v. Role Confusion (11-22)

6. Intimacy v. Isolation (22-40)

7. Generativity v. Stagnation (40-65)

8. Integrity v. Despair (65+)

Cognitive Theories

• Piaget’s cognitive development theory• Vygotsky’s sociocultural cognitive theory• The information-processing approach

Behavioral and Social Cognitive Theories

• These theories believe that scientifically we can only study what can be directly observed and measured.

• They also believe that development is observable behavior that can be learned through experience with the environment.

Ethological Theory

• Behavior is strongly influenced by biology.• Behavior is tied to evolution.• Behavior is characterized by critical periods.• European zoologist Konrad Lorenz (1903-

1989) identified imprinting.• John Bowlby theorized about attachment.

Ecological Theory

• Developed by Urie Bronfenbrenner.• Consists of 5 environmental systems:

– The Microsystem– The Mesosystem– The Exosystem– The Macrosystem– The Chronosystem

Research Methods

• Observation• Laboratories vs. naturalistic settings• Interviews and Questionnaires• Case Studies• Standardized Tests• Life-History Records• Animal Research• Correlational research• Experimental research

Definitions of…

• Independent variables• Dependent Variables• Experimental group• Control Group• Random assignment

Experiment example…

Research Challenges

• Ethics• Gender• Ethnicity and Culture