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1: Introduction

02/18/2015

Looking Ahead
An Orientation to Lifespan Development
Key Issues and Questions: Determining the Nature and Nuture of
Lifespan Development
What is Lifespan Development?
Lifespan development is the field of study that examines patterns of
growth, change, and stability in behavior that occur throughout the
entire lifespan
Assumptions about Developmental Study
Nature & nurture both influence our development
Change is constant
25=height of your physical abilities and brain fully developed
o PFC keeps developing
o PFC=speaking, thinking, reasoning, executive function
(decision-making/problem-solving and planning)
Major Topical Areas
Ability to socialize develops
Cohort: band/tier/group of people you are part of
Very narrow definition
Key Issues
Discontinuous: jumps from one step to another
Theory
General explanation that are not proven completely but is shown by
evidence
Categories of Research
Correlational
o Trying to find if 2 things have a relationship between them
o Case study: study Jack the Ripper specifically and what made
him a murderer
Based on this in-depth study, you draw conclusions
o Survey: survey people u