Question

Prepare a 900- to 1,150-word paper in which you discuss the life span perspective of human development. Be sure to include the following items in your description:

• Summarize three theories related to human growth and development and identify at least one influential theorist for each.
• Identify aspects of the life span perspective.
• Explain how heredity and the environment influence human development.

Answer 1

Introduction- The process by which a germinating seed or conceived organism is turned into the mature plant or full-ledged being are collectively termed growth and development. The process of growth and development is thus the medium and means of bringing about changes in the organisms. The terms, growth, and development are then used interchangeably and regarded as synonymous terms. In general, they refer to change produced by the interaction of one’s genetic and environmental factors as well as to the changes in the physical, mental, social, emotional and moral aspects involving one’s individuality. However, they differ in a sense and are capable of conveying different meanings as will become evident from the following discussions.

The change is various dimensions of one’s personality is mainly two types –quantitative and qualitative. While the term ‘growth’ may be limited to the changes in the quantitative aspects, i.e. increase in size, length, height and weight, and expansion of vocabulary, etc. the term ‘development’ implies the overall changes occurring in both the quantitative as well as the qualitative aspect. Therefore, development as a term carries a wider and more comprehensive meaning than the term growth.

Since the growth is limited to the description of quantitative changes, its scope is confined to those aspects or dimensions of one’s personality in which quantitative changes occur. As a result, in dealing with those aspects of personality where both the term are involved, the term growth is not employed. On the other hand, development as a comprehensive term related to all types of changes can be employed to describe the changes in all dimensions of one’s personality whether physical, mental, social and moral or any other. That is why whereas we come across these in the case of the social, emotional and moral aspects of personality.

Development said to be a complex process in comparison to the process of growth. The results of growth in terms of quantitative changes are very specific, fairly easy to observe and measurable. The results of development, in comparison, are quite complex and difficult as far as their actual assessment and measurement are concerned.

Thus, the terms growth and development, both imply changes, structural as well as functional, carries a comprehensive meaning and consequently, we would prefer to describe the trends of changes during the life span of an individual in various dimensions of personality as well as discussing the principles and theories to highlight the pattern and mechanism of these changes.

Principles of Development

• Principle of Continuity
• Lack of uniformity in developmental rate.
• Individual differences
• Uniformity of pattern
• Proceeding from general to specific response
• Integration
• Interrelation
• Interactions
• Cephalocaudal and Proximodistal tendencies
• Predictability

Factors influencing Growth and Development

1. Heredity
2. Biological or Constitutional factors
3. Intelligence
4. Emotional development
5. Social Nature

Erickson’s Theory of Growth and Development

Erickson postulated that the development of an individual is the result of his interaction with his social environment. Right from his birth, his birth, his social development puts him under specific conflicts called a crisis, by making specific demands at different ages or developmental stages of life. Such as

• Trust vs. Mistrust
• Autonomy vs. Doubt
• Initiative vs. Guilt
• Industry vs. Inferiority
• Identity vs. Role confusion
• Intimacy vs. Isolation
• Generativity vs. Stagnation
• Ego integrity vs. Despair

Piaget’s theory of Cognitive Development

Jean Piaget described the process of development with the help of active cognition, the theory emphasizes on a self-learning, sensation learning, and accommodation, assimilation. Piaget categorized the stage of cognitive development and each stage develops as specific cognitive behavior.

• Sensory learning stage
• Pre-Operational Stage
• Concrete Operational Stage
• Formal Operation Stage

Freud’s Psycho-sexual development

Sigmund Freud suggested that the development of a child depends on sexual instinct, anger, fears, emotions, and feelings are the symbols of sexual development. According to him, sexual development plays the primary role to form a personality. He described 5 stages of psychosexual development.

• Oral Stage
• Anal Stage
• Phallic Stage
• Latency Stage
• Genital Stage

Conclusion- The growth and development always affect by the heredity and environment, a child gets genotypes and fundamental instincts from their biological parents, such as posture, physical structure, and diseases, while the environment affects his overall personality. For example, the heredity is like a volume of glass while environment is the material fills it.