What is it? Development may be used in many contexts. It means change. Sometimes it may be rapid, slow and barely noticed. It is a systematic change over time. Adaptive change means change in response to the demands of external and internal conditions. It means change from the simple to the complex. Early change determines later outcomes. The child will shape the adult to be. Learning developmental change may involve learning change through experience. Developmental change may involve maturation. This is change due to innate biological processes (eg. early milestones in child development testifies to the role of maturation).
Lifespan developmental approach:
The notion of development as a lifelong adaptive process with the following key features as noted by Baltes:
Multi Directional:
Development involves both growth and decline. Early in life growth is noted later in life. There is growth but also decline. Growth varies in rate and so does decline in different development domains.
Plasticity: Adaptive capacities evolve and are not fixed training and experiences. There is a modification of capacities. For example, Pavlov's conditioning studies show how it is possible to modify reflex behaviour through conditioning.
History and Context:
Development takes place at particular times and places. Cultural circumstances influence mental outlook (eg. cultural deprivation limits development of adaptive behaviours - headstart as a compensatory education effort to overcome effects of early deprivation). We are not victims of our envirement if we can interact with it and change it. We are not reactive but pro active.
Multiple causation:
develpment results from a variety of resources.
Domains of Development:
changes occur in several aspects of self: cognitive, social, personal, physical; emotional domains.
1. Rate of change varies.
2. All changes are inter related (development does not take place in the installment plan (Gesell).
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