In: Psychology
Conception to Birth: Write One Paragraph explaining The Importance of Studying Life-Span Development
What is the importance of studying life span development (birth to death)?
Expert Answers info
PHILLIP HOLLAND | CERTIFIED EDUCATOR
The study of life span development is very important since people change as they age. Educators and psychologists study how the brain develops and what milestones can be reasonably achieved at which age. This helps define what is "normal" in terms of skill development in young people.
Life span development has also helped scientists understand the function of the brain and by what age the brain is fully mature. Lawyers can use brain maturity studies to determine whether or not a person was fully responsible for their offense. The study of life span development has led to new age groups such as adolescents, a group that did not have its own classification one hundred years ago. Without studies in life span development, teenagers would be treated as very young adults with the same responsibilities of older adults. Life span development studies have shown that it is not reasonable to expect the same actions from teenagers and older adults.