Life Span Perspective Paper
Life Span Perspective
PSY 375
July 11, 2011
Sue Cohen
Life Span Perspective Lifespan perspective is gaining knowledge through the changes that occur during human development. Changes occur as a result of cultural influences and specific events surrounding change (Lerner, 1996.) Many characteristics define lifespan perspective and how it relates to human development. Understanding lifespan characteristics led to different theories of lifespan development. Heredity works together with the environment to create individual differences in development. Life is constantly changing so understanding aspects of change will gain insight in lifespan perspectives. The lifespan perspective, in relation to human development obtains its definition from the characteristics of development. These characteristics are ever-changing, multidirectional, multicontextual, multicultural, multidisciplinary, and plasticity. Life is ever-changing and change affects human development. Multidirectional change comes in from every direction such as physical health, social interactions, and intellectual growth. The influences have an effect on how individuals perceive future events can change the way an individual thinks, and processes information. Multicontextual means human lives receive influence from different contexts such as historical conditions, family patterns, and economic conditions. Individuals in a cohort will have similar values because of their exposure to similar events, culture, and technology. Multicultural occurs when exposure to cultures influence the person’s development. Cultures are more than race, religion, and region. Cultures are workplace, school, and any other dynamically structured group. Multidisciplinary refers to the academic fields that provide insight and data such as psychology, biology, education, and many more. Last is plasticity that encompasses every trait, and every individual is vulnerable to change at any period in the lifespan
PSY 375
July 11, 2011
Sue Cohen
Life Span Perspective Lifespan perspective is gaining knowledge through the changes that occur during human development. Changes occur as a result of cultural influences and specific events surrounding change (Lerner, 1996.) Many characteristics define lifespan perspective and how it relates to human development. Understanding lifespan characteristics led to different theories of lifespan development. Heredity works together with the environment to create individual differences in development. Life is constantly changing so understanding aspects of change will gain insight in lifespan perspectives. The lifespan perspective, in relation to human development obtains its definition from the characteristics of development. These characteristics are ever-changing, multidirectional, multicontextual, multicultural, multidisciplinary, and plasticity. Life is ever-changing and change affects human development. Multidirectional change comes in from every direction such as physical health, social interactions, and intellectual growth. The influences have an effect on how individuals perceive future events can change the way an individual thinks, and processes information. Multicontextual means human lives receive influence from different contexts such as historical conditions, family patterns, and economic conditions. Individuals in a cohort will have similar values because of their exposure to similar events, culture, and technology. Multicultural occurs when exposure to cultures influence the person’s development. Cultures are more than race, religion, and region. Cultures are workplace, school, and any other dynamically structured group. Multidisciplinary refers to the academic fields that provide insight and data such as psychology, biology, education, and many more. Last is plasticity that encompasses every trait, and every individual is vulnerable to change at any period in the lifespan
References: Baltes, P., Staudinger, U., & Lindenberger, U. (1999). Lifespan psychology: theory and application to intellectual functioning. Annual Review Of Psychology, 50471-507. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Berger, K. S. (2008). The developing person through the life span (7th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers. Lerner, R. M. (1996). Relative plasticity, integration, temporality, and diversity in human development: A developmental contextual perspective about theory, process, and method. Developmental Psychology, 32(4), 781-786. doi:10.1037/0012-1649.32.4.781 Scheibe, S., & Freund, A. M. (2008). Approaching Sehnsucht (Life Longings) from a Life-Span Perspective: The Role of Personal Utopias in Development. Research in Human Development, 5(2), 121-133. doi:10.1080/15427600802034868