PSYC*1130 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Konrad Lorenz, Standardized Test, Naturalistic Observation
Document Summary
Development: pattern of change that begins at conception and continues through life span. Importance of studying life span development: includes both growth and decline; prepares us to care for children; gives insight into own lives. Characteristics of the life-span perspective: is orderly; is relatively long lasting; the change is new or qualitatively different than what was present before; results in superior functioning. Experiences influence development: maximum human life span unchanged, life expectancy: average number of years a person is expected to live when born in a particular year has changed, developmental change occurs during adulthood as well as childhood. Characteristics of the life-span perspective baltes states life span perspective has several characteristics: lifelong, contextual, multidimensional, growth, multidirectional, maintenance, plastic, regulation of loss, multidisciplinary. Development is contextual: normative age-graded influences. Biological and environmental influences shared by a particular age group: normative history-graded influences. Influences common to specific generation due to history: non-normative life events.
