PHYSICAL
COGNITIVE (memory, info processing)
-birth  breathing + ingestion
-Neonate-pink, downy hair, white waxy skin,
elongated head
-F=2.5kg-17kg (36m)
F=46cm-102cm (36m)
-M=2.755kg-17.5kg(36m)
M=46cm-105cm(36m)
-baby’s proportions =psychological benefit of
promoting nurturing
-less rapid growth than infancy
-cephalocaudal
Loss ‘milk teeth’
-loss ‘puppy fat’
-musculoskeletal system develops (increase
muscle mass + cartilage  bone)
-attention + interest
-recognition of obj, ppl, activities.
-special response to mother
-Habituation facilitates learning
Middle
childhood
-physical growth slows
-physical skills easier to learn/master
-hand-eye-coordination
-larger/stronger
-M+F grow similar rate
-prox +ceph dev. Less obvious
-growth of extremities
-internal organs increase size
-weight increase
-growth spurt (F=10-14, M=12-16)
-short term memory improves (4digits @5/6 
6digits @11) due to ability to ‘chunk’ & more
slots.
-long term memory increases (mnemonic
strategies + metamemory)
-approximation
-gist and constructive memory improve
-recall and recognition memory improve
Adolescence
(+puberty)
-growth spurt (3yrs)
-50% weight gain during spurt
-F develop hourglass
-M internal organs increase (lungs+heart)
In puberty..
-primary and secondary sex characteristics
develop
-release of sex hormones (androgens)
F-enlarged ovaries, uterus,
M-enlarged
vagina, labia etc.
penis,
-Ova – Menarche @ 12yo
scrotum @
-breast buds@ 10yo
12yo
-pubic hair @ 11yo
-testes
-other hair @12-13yo
develop 
-mature breasts &pubis @14semen
15
-voice deepens slightly
enlargement
of prostate
-short and long term memory increase
-greater store of knowledge
-increased attentional capacity (particularly
divided)
-faster speed of info processing
-better able to process info sequentially
Infancy
Early
childhood
-short term memory increases
-increase in capacity for attention
EMOTIONAL
MOTOR
-first ejac
@13-14yo –
Spermarche
-pubic hair
@12yo
-voice cracks
-complete
by 15yo
Early
Adulthood
(20-40)
Middle
adulthood
(40-60)
Late
adulthood
(60+)
-peak of physical strength/ability
-body organs strongest @20s
-growth in height (full =mid 20s), weight
(full=mid 30s), strength
F=breasts/hips/pelvis (reproduction)
M=shoulders and upper arms
-gradual decline after 30s (resp., cardio)
= not noticeable unless athlete
- increased skill & experience compensate for
physical loss
-changes in appearance and body function
-great variation but most show by 50s
-primary and secondary (more variable)
ageing
-strength stable until 50, then decline
-strength used more efficiently
External signs
Internal
signs
Skin(elasticity, colour)
Resp. and
Hair (colour, distrib.)
cardio
Body build (gain weight if not
system
active)
decline (due
to issues
with left
ventricle &
arterial
walls)
-recognition of losses
-loss in efficiency but compensation
-plasticity
Major changes (reduced pumping capacity of
heart, loss of neurons in central NS)
-primary ageing accelerated by secondary
ageing
-slowing with age (motor, sensory,
intellectual)
-skin, bone, muscle decline
-cardio., resp. decline
-brain mass and weight gradually decline
-enrichment and training can lead to positive
changes in cognitive performance
-decrease in fluid intelligence, increase in
crystallised intelligence
-wisdom
-some neuronal loss
-increased density of synapses
-some regeneration of neurons
-acute (reversible) or chronic (not reversible)
organic brain syndromes (eg. Alzheimer’s,
multiinfarct dementia)
-ageing influenced by lifestyle factors