D. Developmental Principles
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OUTLINE
The Study of Human Development
a.​ Human Development
b.​ Life-Span Development
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THE STUDY OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
DEFINING HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Human Development — scientific study of patterns
of change and stability throughout the human
lifespan
●​ Development is complex and multifaceted
●​ Research findings are often applied to child
rearing, education, health, and social policy
Goals of Developmental Psychology
★​ Describe behavior and how it changes
★​ Explain processes / causes of change
★​ Predict future behavior
★​ Intervene to enhance / modify behavior
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Key Terms in Development
●​ Growth: physical and physiological changes
(structure and form); quantitative
●​ Development: relatively predictable pattern of
changes (organization and function); qualitative
●​ Maturation: unfolding of traits resulting from the
interaction of heredity and environment; broad
term
Risk, Protective, and Causal Factors
●​ Risk Factor: increase likelihood of negative
developmental outcomes
●​ Protective Factor: reduce likelihood of negative
developmental outcomes
●​ Causal Factor: leads to the negative
developmental outcome
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Development is Multidimensional.
○​ Occurs along multiple interacting dimensions
– biological, cognitive, psychological, and
social
○​ Each may develop at varying rates
Development is Multidirectional.
○​ As people gain in one area, they may lose in
another, sometimes at the same time
○​ Hence, it’s advisable for children to learn
language as early as possible
Relative Influences of Biology and Culture Shift
Over Lifespan.
○​ Influenced by both biology and culture
○​ Balance between the two change over time
○​ As we age, we learn to rely more on culture
Development Involves Changing Resource
Allocations.
○​ Individuals choose to invest their resource of
time, energy, talent, money, and social
support in varying ways
○​ For growth, maintenance or recovery, or for
dealing with loss
Development Shows Plasticity.
○​ Many abilities can be improved significantly
with training and practice, even late in life
Development is Contextual.
○​ Each person develops within multiple
contexts – circumstances or conditions
defined in part b y maturation and in part by
time and place
○​ Ex. historical influences, SES, family
REFERENCES
Papalia, D., & Martorell, G. (2015). Experience human
development (13th ed.). McGraw Hill Education.
Santrock, J. W. (2019). Life-span development (17th ed.).
McGraw-Hill Education.
DEFINING LIFE-SPAN DEVELOPMENT
Life-Span Development — concept of human
development as a lifelong process, which can be
studied scientifically
●​ From “womb to tomb”
●​ Can either be positive or negative
7 PRINCIPLES OF LIFE-SPAN DEVELOPMENT
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Development is Lifelong.
○​ Development starts from conception to death
○​ Each period has its own unique
characteristics
○​ No period is more important than the other
1 | Compiled by @studywithky