Human Development Overview

HDF 501: Lifespan DevelopmentWheelock College

Boston, MA

Four Questions of Developmental Science

Continuity

Sources of Development

Plasticity

Individual Differences

• Stages of Development

• Shift Points• Domains of

Development

Is Development Continuous?

Note – Image source: Cole, M., Cole, S., and Lightfoot, C. (2008). The development of children (6th ed.). New York: Worth Publishers.

Ages and StagesPhysical Social Emotional Language Cognitive

Prenatal

Early Infancy

Later Infancy

Early Childhood

Middle Childhood

Adolescence

Adulthood

What are the Sources of Development?

• What roles do biology, environment, and culture play?

• Nature vs. Nurture?

Note – Image source: Cole, M., Cole, S., and Lightfoot, C. (2008). The development of children (6th ed.). New York: Worth Publishers.

Ecological Model of Sources of Development

• Sources and Systems of Development

Note – Image source: Cole, M., Cole, S., and Lightfoot, C. (2008). The development of children (6th ed.). New York: Worth Publishers.

Is Development Plastic?

• Are there critical periods of development?

• How is development affected by injury?

Note – Image source: http://neuroscience.ucdavis.edu/grad/research

What is the Meaning of Individual Differences?

• What is the nature of difference between people?

• Do people’s characteristics remain constant throughout the lifespan?

Note – Image source: Cole, M., Cole, S., and Lightfoot, C. (2008). The development of children (6th ed.). New York: Worth Publishers.

Ages and StagesPhysical Social Emotional Language Cognitive

Prenatal

Early Infancy

Later Infancy

Early Childhood

Middle Childhood

Adolescence

Adulthood

Continuity

Sources of Development

Plasticity

Individual Differences

Primary Objectives

• Compare and contrast theories of development, using the 4 essential questions to guide this analysis.

• Conduct objective, naturalistic observations of young children.

• Identify evidence of a child’s development from observations and relate it to theory.

• Examine the development of adults through a case study analysis.

“The principle goal of education in the schools should be creating men and women who are capable of doing new things, not simply repeating what other generations have done.” –Jean Piaget