HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Human Development

Human Development

Introduction

Human development is marked by different stages and milestones over the lifespan. It is expressed over three domains: physical, cognitive and socio/emotional. While human physical and cognitive development is universal, socio/emotional definitions and development vary from culture to culture.

Lifespan Development

The study of lifespan development grew out of Darwin's desire to understand evolution.  The first study of children was published by G. Stanley Hall.  Hall's book introduced norms and adolescence to scientists (Boyd & Bee, 2006).  Lifespan is the period of time from conception extending to death.  This paper will define the development of humans throughout the lifespan and describe the characteristics of the lifespan perspective.  Human development domains and periods will be identified and contemporary concerns as related to lifespan development will be identified.

Lifespan Development Defined

Lifespan development is a process beginning at conception that continues until death.  The progression initiates with the emergence of a fetus from a one-celled organism. As the unborn child enters the world the environment in which the child exists begins to influence the child's development (WGBH Educational Foundation, 2001).  The main developmental periods are child and adolescence, early adulthood, middle adulthood and late adulthood.  Each era's transition involves a necessary change in the character of the individual's life and sometimes takes up to six years to complete the change (Smith, 2009). 

Characteristics of the Lifespan Perspective

The lifespan perspective argues that significant modifications take place throughout development. The lifelong perspective consists of a development of humans that is multidimensional, multidirectional, plastic, multidisciplinary, and contextual.  The development involves growth, maintenance and regulation. Baltes additionally contributed to the understanding of the positive characteristics of growing old such as learning ways to compensate and overcome (Boyd & Bee, 2006).

LIFE SPAN DEVELOPMENT IN DIFFERENT CONTEXTS

Human Development Domains

The domains of development are categories used by scientists.  The categories include, physical, cognitive and social domains characterize human development. The social domain contains adjustment in variables within social situations such as personality research, social skills and developing relationships. All the domains operate together and are affected by each other (Boyd & Bee, 2006).

Human Development Periods

Human development periods span the lifetime from conception to the end of life.  These periods are as follows, prenatal, early, middle and late childhood.  As the child grows and approaches adulthood the periods are adolescence, early, middle and late adulthood.

Contemporary Concerns in Lifespan Development

Nature versus nurture is one of the many contemporary concerns in lifespan development.  Additional concerns in the area of development include continuity and discontinuity. Nature and nurture concerns surround the basis of development.  The issue lies in determining the weather genetics or environment influence development. 

STAGES OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

The various stages of human development include the prenatal period, infancy, toddlerhood, early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, middle adulthood and late adulthood. Each stage is marked by milestones in physical, cognitive, and socio/emotional development.

Physical Development

Physical development has to do with the way that the human body develops over a lifespan. The most rapid and complex human development occurs ...