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Life Span
Development
DeAndre M. Jackson, M.Ed.
Life Span Development

Theoretical Approaches to Life Span Development

Transition Periods in Childhood, Adolescence, and Adulthood

Biblical Worldview to Learning and Tranistions

References
Theoretical Perspectives
Psychodynamic Perspective
The approach stating that behavior
is motivated by inner forces,
memories, and conflicts that are
generally beyond people's
awareness and control.
Behavioral Perspective
Cognitive Perspective
The approach suggesting that the
keys to understanding
development are observable and
outside stimuli in the environment.
The approach that focuses on the
process that allow people to know,
understand, and think about the
world.
Humanistic Perspective
Contextual Perspective
The theory that people have a
natural capacity to make decisions
about their lives and control their
behavior.
The theory that considers the
relationship between individuals
and their psychical, cognitive,
personality, and social worlds.
Evolutionary Perspective
The theory that seeks to identify
behavior that is a result of genetic
inheritance from our ancestors.
Three Theorists
Piaget, Erickson, and Skinner
Piaget’s
Contribution to Life Span Development

Believed movement from one stage to the
next occurs when a child reaches an
appropriate level of physical maturation and is
exposed to relevant experiences.

Believed that the basic building blocks of the
way we understand the world are mental
structures called schemes.

Suggested that two principles underlie the
growth in children’s scheme: assimilation and
accommodation.

Viewed development as amore gradual
process than notion of different stages might
seem to imply.
Jean Piaget
Contribution
Erik Erikson
Psychosocial Development
The approach that encompasses
changes in our interactions with and
understanding of one another, as
well as in our knowledge and
understanding of ourselves as
members of society.
Erickson’s
Contribution to Life Span Development

In Erickson’s views, both society and culture challenge and shape us.

Suggests that developmental change occurs throughout our lives in eight
distinct stages.

Can be compared to Sigmund Freud except he believed that we continue to
develop in stages past adolescence.
B. F. Skinner
Behavioral Perspective
Skinner’s
Contribution to Life Span Development

Discovered operant conditioning which is a form of learning in which
voluntary response is strengthen or weakened by its association with positive
or negative consequences.

Whether or not children will seek to repeat a behavior depends on whether it
is followed by reinforcement.

Behavior that is reinforced, then, is more likely to be repeated in the future,
while behavior that receives no reinforcement or is punished is likely to be
discontinued.
Transition Periods in Childhood, Adolescence,
and Adulthood
• Height and Weight Growth
• Egocentric thinking
• Develop self concepts
• Girls reach puberty around age 11
or 12, boys around age 13 or 14.
• Adolescence are able to think
hypothetically, divide attention, and
monitor thought through metacognition.
• Self-concept becomes organized
and accurate and reflects other’s
perceptions.
• Growth is mostly complete,
although some organs, including
the brain, continue to grow.
• Intelligence is applied to long term
goals involving career, family, and
society.
• Identity is largely defined in terms
of work, as young adults
consolidate their careers.
Childhood
Adolescence
Adulthood
Biblical Worldview & Life Span Development

Psalms 137:1-3 By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down and wept, When
we remembered Zion. Upon the willows in the midst of it We hung our harps.
For there our captors demanded of us songs, And our tormentors mirth,
saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion."

Nehemiah 6:12 Then I perceived that surely God had not sent him, but he
uttered his prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired
him.

Hebrews 11:27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he
endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.

Proverbs 11,12 Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of
understanding remains silent.
References

Feldman, R. S. (2011). Development Across the Life Span (6th ed.). Upper
Saddie River, NJ: Prentice Hall

Some pictures and diagram's are from google images.