Life Span Perspective Paper

Life Span Perspective Paper
Charles R. Harmon Jr.
PSY 375
November 26, 2012
Melissa Fagan

Life Span Perspective Paper
This is an informative paper to illustrate what I have learned thus far about human development. Throughout the course of this paper I shall explain the life span perspective of human development, summarize two theories of life-span development, and explain how nature and nurture account for difference in individual development.
The Life Span Perspective The life-span perspective is an approach used by scientists to study human development. These individuals are considered scientists as they attempt to explain how and why people change over time. The science of human development takes into account people from everywhere and every age with consideration of their entire life-span thus far experienced, not just where they may currently be. In respect to that, their potential growth and development is considered to be multidirectional, multicontextual, multicultural, multidisciplinary, and plastic. Collectively these five terms make up the life-span perspective. Each term of the life-span perspective brings different meaning to the evaluation of an individual’s life. The first term multidirectional is an evaluation of an individual’s advancement, stagnation, and decline throughout their life time. Their life could be linear with several advancements following one another, or it could be declining as they regress from previously attained advancements. The second term multicontextual is an understanding that all life develops in different surroundings, and that no two individuals have had the exact same ecological (nurturing) system. The third term multicultural is a term of awareness that not all life is molded from the same culture. Different cultures practice different beliefs, morals, and values which improve or diminish their unique quality of life and developmental ability. The fourth term multidisciplinary represents the realization that it takes more than a psychologist (for example) to evaluate someone’s development. Development occurs biologically, cognitively, and socially, and therefore should be evaluated accordingly with several professionals from their respective field. The last term, plastic, is an understanding that humans can be molded just as plastic. Our traits can be altered while we as individuals stay true to ourselves, just as plastic can be shaped and remain plastic.
Theories of Life Span Development
There are several theories on human development; those with age have more substance and followers than those still emerging. Of these theories there are two that I favor, Frued and Erikson’s psychoanalytic theory and John B. Watson’s behaviorism theory.
Erikson’s rendition of Frued’s theory is a personal favorite of mine. While Frued used six developmental stages highlighting psychosexual desires that drive development, Erikson used eight developmental stages highlighting psychosocial desires that drive development. While their format is similar, both having the same time frames, Erikson’s theory is a bit more relatable to my opinion of my development and therefore has gained my support. His stages: Trust vs. Mistrust, Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt, Initiative vs. Guilt, Industry vs. Inferiority, Identity vs. Role Confusion, Intimacy vs. Isolation, Generativity vs. Stagnation, and Integrity vs. Despair each highlight a different internal issue brought on by our external world. I find this to be a bit more accurate than Frued’s assertion of sexual interest.
In addition to Erikson’s psychosocial theory I am also in favor of John B. Watson’s behaviorism theory. The idea of behaviorism is that desired behaviors can be learned, while those that are undesirable can be avoided (not forgotten). Behaviorism can be explained through conditioning, which by definition is a process of associating stimuli to the desired (or anticipated) behavior. Watson’s followers Ivan Pavlov and B.F. Skinner used Watson’s idea of conditioning to formulate their own, classical and operant (respectively). Classical conditioning is the idea that people (or animals) can learn by association whereas operant conditioning is the idea that people (or animals) can learn with negative and positive reinforcement. Again, I favor Skinner’s operant conditioning while also believing these reinforcements will in turn become their own associations. Yet and still, classical condition (from a third party opinion) appears to be too specific in terms of its ‘stimulus : learning’ relationship. Skinner’s reinforcement theory has a broad usage where any reinforcement can generate a variety of desirable behaviors.
Nature vs. Nurture
The age old debate, nature vs. nurture revisited. While the two are very important in the development and therefore life-span of human life, it is a two-sided argument which should be argued based on quantity rather than superiority. That being said, the nature of a person is anything genetic that contributes to an individual’s attributes and predispositions prior to being born. The nurturing of a person is anything external that may affect or influence the person and begins in the womb with their mother’s diet. Now, I could argue superiority based on my opinions, but the fact is that nature affects nurture and nurture affects nature. For example, if someone’s nature predisposes them to be good looking, they’ll receive flattery and other shows of affection from their nurturing environment. If someone’s nature predisposes them to mental illness or deformity, they’ll be met with judgment and empathy (or sympathy).
Conclusion
In closing, the life-span perspective is a method of studying human development on a case by case basis. The view that human development is multidirectional, multicontextual, multicultural, multidisciplinary, and plastic helps to eliminate any bias or cohort classifications. Also, there are several theories about life-span development which serve as a guide to describe how people advance through life either in stages or by desire. Finally, heredity and the environment may affect how individuals develop. No one factor has been proven to be superior, however it is a debate that has ‘plagued’ scientists for years.

Reference
Berger, K. S. (2011). The Developing Person Through the Life Span (8th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.