Chapter 6: Human Development

7 stages of development

Ø Prenatal

Ø Infancy

Ø Childhood

Ø Adolescence

Ø Young Adulthood

Ø Middle Adulthood

Ø Late Adulthood

Prenatal and Infancy Development

Stages of prenatal development: - Germinal > Embryonic > Fetal

Influences:

- Function of zygote’s genetic code (nature) creates the most impact in prenatal dev.

- Environmental factors,Teratogens (nurture):

(a) Environmental agents (drugs/ viruses)

(b) Diseases (German measles)

(c) Bad physical conditions (Malnutrition)

  * Environmental factors can influence prenatal development/ lead to birth defects or even death

Piagets’s Stages of Cognitive Development

Stages	Age	Lack of
Sensorimotor	Birth to 2 years	Object permanence
Preoperational	2 to 6 years	Understanding of reversibility
Concrete operational	6 to 12 years	Abstract thinking
Formal operational	Up to 12 years	一

Children develop schemas in their cognitive development, which are the organized units of knowledge about objects, events and actions.

These schemas can be changed through 2 two processes: -
-Assimilation: Interpretation of new experiences in the information we already know.

-Accommodation: Modification of one’s existing knowledge to fit with what is perceived

Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Approach to Development

-Emphasize on cognitive development through interaction with others and represent the shared knowledge of one’s culture

-Zone of proximal development:

-the area between what a child can actually do and what the child can only do a challenging task when proper help is given.

-Scaffolding:

- the parent and teacher adjusts the level of help in relation to the
  child’s level of performance. E.g.: provide the child with hints or
  clues in problem solving.

2 Types of Intelligence

Ø Crystallized intelligence (knowledge, verbal skills, numerical skills), that increase with age.

Ø Fluid intelligence (abstract thinking, logical problem solving, spatial reasoning), that decrease with age. 

Moral Development and Social Development

Kohlberg’s Levels of Moral Reasoning

(1) Preconventional level

     - self-oriented

(2) Conventional level

     - social approval

(3) Postconventional level

     - self-chosen/ avoidance of self-condemnation

Pre-conventional level

  ·        Stage 1: Punishment orientation

  ·        Stage 2: Reward orientation

Conventional level

  ·        Stage 3: Good-girl/ Good-boy orientation

  ·        Stage 4: Law and Order orientation

Post-conventional level

  ·        Stage 5: Social contract orientation

  ·        Stage 6: Universal ethical principles orientation

Parenting Style

Authoritarian	Very demanding + Less responsive
Authoritative (best parenting style)	Very demanding + Responsive
Permissive (child easily get spoilt)	Make few demands + Overly responsive
Uninvolved	Not demanding + Not being responsive

Erikson’s Psychosocial Stage Theory of Development

Ø Stressed the effect of society and culture upon development

Ø Consists of 8 stages of development (each stage is named after the two sides of the issue relevant in that stage).

(1)  Trust vs Mistrust

(2)  Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt

(3)  Initiative vs Guilt

(4)  Industry vs Inferiority

(5)  Identity vs Role Confusion

(6)  Intimacy vs Isolation

(7)  Generativity and Stagnation

(8)  Integrity vs Despair

-by Zhi Zhong