Introduction To Lifespan Development

INTRODUCTION
LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT
Learning Objectives
 Define Lifespan development.

 Explain the following concepts in lifespan developments
 Developmental Psychology
 Growth
 Development
 Describe the domains human growth and development.
 Explain the principles of Human Growth and development.
 Discuss the significance of studying lifespan development.
concepts in lifespan developments
 Lifespan Development: The field of study that examines

patterns of growth, change and stability in behaviors that
occur throughout the entire life span.
 Developmental psychology is the study of human growth
and development over the entire lifespan, from conception
to death.
concepts in lifespan developments
 Growth refers to the quantitative changes, that can be

measured such as Height, weight compared to normal
growth charts.
 Development are the qualitative, progressive, continuous
process of change leading to a functional capacity such as
the child crawls, rolls over, walks among others.
Domains human growth and development.
 Physical development: focuses on the physical make-up

of the human body and emphasizes the brain, nervous
system, muscles, sensory capabilities as well as our basic
needs (food, drink, sleep).
 Cognitive development: emphasizes intellectual abilities,
including learning, memory, problem-solving and
intelligence.
Domains human growth and development
 Personality and social development: emphasizes the

characteristics that differentiate one person from another
as well as interactions with one another and how social
relationships change over the lifetime.
Principles of Growth and Development
Development proceeds from the head downwards

 This is referred to as the CEPHALOCAUDAL principle. This
principle describes the direction of growth and
development,from head to toe.
 The cephalocaudal is also the trend of infants learning to use
their upper limbs before their lower limbs
Development proceeds from the Centre of the body outwards
 This is the principle of proximodorsal development that also
describes the direction of development.
Development proceeds from the Centre of the body

outwards
 The proximodistal trend is the tendency for more general
functions of limbs to develop before more specific or fine
motor skills. It comes from the Latin words proxim- which
means "close" and "-dis-" meaning "away from", because
the trend essentially describes a path from the center
outward
Development depends on maturation and learning:

 Maturation refers to the sequential characteristics of biological
growth and development. The biological changes occur in
sequential order and give children new abilities.
 Maturational patterns are inborn, that is, genetically
programmed. The child’s environment and the learning that
occurs as a result of the child’s experience largely determine
whether the child will reach optional development. A stimulating
environment and varied experiences allow a child to develop to
his or her potential.
Development proceeds from the simple (Concrete) to the

more complex
 Children use their cognitive and language skills to reason
and solve problems. As children develop further in
cognitive skills, they are able to understand a higher and
more complex relationship between objects and things:
eg,an apple and orange exist in a class called FRUIT. The
child cognitively is then capable of classification.
Growth and development is a continuous process

 As a child develops, he/she adds to the skills already acquired and
the new skills become the basis for further achievement and mastery
of skills. One stage of development lays the foundation for the next
stage
Growth and development proceed from the general to specific
 Growth occurs from large muscle movement to more refined
(smaller) muscle movements
Principle of Unique Development

This states that even though there is a set pattern of development
every individual differs with regards to the time he achieves the
changes.
Principle of inter-related development
 This states that the three types of developments that take place
in an individual are social, mental and emotional. However
these three are inter-related and one doesn’t exist without the
other.
Principle of Interaction Of Heredity & Environment

 According to this principle, an individual is the product of
his heredity and environment. Even though the genes play
an important role in determining the rate and quality of
growth and development, his socio-cultural, emotional and
physical environment has its own importance.
Importance of Growth and Development for health worker
• Knowing what to expect of an individual at any given age.
• Helping in formulating the plan of care.
• Helping in parents’ and caregivers’ education in order to achieve optimal
growth & development at each stage.

• Understanding different activities of the individual.
Importance of the study of Lifespan development.
• Knowing the cause of the particular activity.
• Knowing the positive and negative qualities of the
individual
Importance of the study of Lifespan development.
•Understanding intelligence, abilities, attitudes, motivation, aptitudes and
personality of a person.
•Understanding actions and interactions of an individual in the peer group
and causes of his activities.

•Understanding parents and other family members and the rearing process.
•Understanding the problems of an individual and seek help

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INTRODUCTION

 Define Lifespan development.

 Lifespan Development: The field of study that examines

 Growth refers to the quantitative changes, that can be

 Physical development: focuses on the physical make-up

 Personality and social development: emphasizes the

Development proceeds from the head downwards

Development proceeds from the Centre of the body

Development depends on maturation and learning:

Development proceeds from the simple (Concrete) to the

Growth and development is a continuous process

Principle of Unique Development

Principle of Interaction Of Heredity & Environment

• Knowing what to expect of an individual at any given age.

• Helping in formulating the plan of care.

• Helping in parents’ and caregivers’ education in order to achieve optimal

growth & development at each stage.

• Knowing the cause of the particular activity.

• Knowing the positive and negative qualities of the

•Understanding intelligence, abilities, attitudes, motivation, aptitudes and

and causes of his activities.

•Understanding the problems of an individual and seek help

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