Handout#2

Psych 11 General Psychology

H U M A N D E V E L O P M E N T
AN INTRODUCTION TO DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
Papalia, et al. Human Developmen: 9th edition.
McGraw-Hill.New York, New York.
Development is a process from a single cell through
late adulthood, and is influenced by the interaction of
heredity and environment.
From the moment of conception, human beings
undergo processes of development. The field of
human development is the scientific study of these
processes. Developmental scientists professionals
who specialize in this field are interested in the ways
in which people change throughout life, as well as in
characteristics that remain fairly stable.
Developmental Processes: Change and Stability
Two kinds of developmental change:
1. Quantitative Change
a. A change in number or amount, such
as growth in height, weight, number of
words spoken, etc.
2. Qualitative Change
a. A change in kind, structure, or
organization, such as the change from
an embryo to a baby. These are
phenomenological changes that cannot
be measured in numbers.
Aside from these changes, developmental
psychologists are also interested in the underlying
stability, or constancy, of personality and behavior.
Domains of Development
1. Physical Domain
: a. This includes, but is not limited to, the
growth of the body and brain, sensory
capacities, motor skills, and health.
2. Cognitive Domain
a. This includes the change and stability
in mental abilities, such as learning,
attention, memory, language, thinking,
reasoning, and creativity, among
others.
3. Psychosocial Domain
a. This domain includes the change and
stability in emotions, personality, and
social relationships.
Influences on Development
1. Normative Influences are characteristics of
an event that occurs in a similar way for most
people in a group.
a. Age-graded influences are events
that occur similarly for people in a
particular age-group, such as puberty
and menopause, entry into formal
education, marriage, retirement, etc.
b. History-graded influences are events
that are common to a particular group
of people growing up at about the same
time.
2. Non-normative influences are unusual
events that have a major impact on individual
lives. They are either typical events that happen
at such a wrong time (untimely death of a
parent) or just atypical events (birth defects).
They can, of course, be happy events (winning
a lottery).
Timing of Influences
1. Critical Period
a. A specific time when a given event, or
its absence, has a specific impact on
development.
2. Sensitive Period
a. A specific time when a person is
especially responsive to certain kinds
of experiences.
Periods of the Life-Span
The life-span is the number of periods in the life cycle.
1. Prenatal Period (from conception to birth)
Germinal Stage
i. Male sperm and female
ovum/egg unites
ii. Approximately 24 hours, the
union will be called a zygote.
iii. The zygote attaches to the wall
of the uterus. The outer part
forms the placenta; the inner
part becomes the embryo.
iv. The placenta serves as the
passageway for food from the
mother to the embryo.
Embryonic Stage
i. Lasts until 8th week of
conception
ii. The embryo is most
vulnerable to damage and
defect.
iii. Development of webbed
fingers, toes, a tail bone,
eyes, ears, a nose, a mouth, a

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 heart and circulatory system
and a spinal cord.
iv. The embryo is only 1 inches
long at eight weeks
Fetal Stage
i. Begins after the 8th week.
ii. The embryo is now called a
fetus
iii. Nervous and Respiratory
System are now fully
developed, thus allowing for
most, but not all, prematurely
born babies to survive
iv. Mothers should avoid
exposure to German
measles, x-rays, STIs,
alcohol, and cigarettes.
2. Newborn and Infancy
Neonates have built-in reflexes,
automatic behaviors that are necessary
for survival.
This stage is also known as babyhood.
3. Early Childhood
End of infancy to about 5 6 years are
also known as preschool years
Care for oneself, conduct self-play
Peer relationships and play become
more evident
4. Middle or Late Childhood
From 6 12 years of age, the time of
elementary school years
Growth slows
Respiratory illness is generally
common, but health is generally better
than at any other time in the lifespan
Some children need special education
needs and strengths
Self-concept becomes more complex,
affecting self-esteem
Peers assume central importance
5. Adolescence
Physical growth and other changes are
rapid and profound
Reproductive maturity occurs
Immature thinking persists in some
attitudes and behaviors
Education focuses on preparation for
college or vocations
Search for identity, including sexual
identity, becomes central
Relationship with parents is generally
good
6. Young Adulthood
Physical condition peaks, and then
declines slowly
Lifestyle choices influence health
Cognitive abilities and moral
judgments assume more complexity
Decisions are made about intimate
relationships and personal lifestyles
Most people marry, and most become
parents
7. Middle Adulthood
Some deterioration of sensory abilities,
health, stamina, and prowess may take
place
Women experience menopause
Creativity output may decline but
improve in quality
Sense of identity continues to develop;
midlife transition may occur
Double responsibility of caring for
children and parents may cause stress
Launching of children leaves empty
nest
8. Late Adulthood
Most people are healthy and active,
although health and physical abilities
decline somewhat
Slowing of processing time affects
aspects of functioning
Retirement is common
People need to cope with personal
losses and impending death as they
seek to understand the meaning and
purpose of their lives
Search for meaning in life assumes
central importance
9. Death
Cultures have varying customs related
to death
Individuals differ in their ways of
facing death and patterns of grieving
Current issues concerning the right to
die include euthanasia and assisted
suicide
Facing death honestly can help give
meaning and purpose to life