DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESS

LIFE-SPAN DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESS

 DESCRIBES
 EXPLAINS

Developmental processes as they occur naturally and as they are modified by

the environment over the whole period of human life.

DEVELOPMENT IS INFLUENCED BY AGE

Age-related biological and sociological processes are most important in

childhood, and in other stages of the life cycle to a lesser degree

Age-related abilities seem to develop naturally as the person grows older-

 Motor and cognitive skills
 Social behaviours

Behaviour is affected by
 Personal experiences

 Biology, history..

STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT

As individuals grow many behaviours seem to come not only in a certain order
but also in certain groupings. Each of these groupings of behaviour is
called -–Stage of Development

Stage theories emphasize individual difference variables, which include

intelligence, physical coordination, activity level, degree of impulsivity etc

STAGE THEORIES HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO:

 Alter child-rearing practices

 The way children are taught in schools

 The way adults think about themselves

 The understanding of children’s behaviour

 The understanding of adults

DEVELOPMENTAL CONCEPTS

MATURATION

Is defined as the type of change that unfolds over time

and appears to be characteristic of an entire species.

Predictable behaviour changes can be explained

through the concept of maturation.

NEED SATISFACTION + PSYCHOLOGICAL

MATURATION + ACQUISITION OF PERCEPTUAL

AND COGNITIVE SKILLS + ABILITY TO FORM

INDEPTH RELATIONSHIPS = NORMAL GROWTH

OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM =

FUNCTIONING INDIVIDUAL