T’Pre K. Griffin
Capella University
Abstract The purpose of this paper is to present a comparison of my knowledge and understanding of lifespan development at the outset of course PSY 7210 Lifespan Development and at the courses’ end. In this paper I will explore lifespan development by identifying and discussing the stages of development, theoretical perspectives and research related to lifespan development. I will conclude with discussing how my knowledge and understanding of lifespan development can be applied within my specialization of Industrial-Organizational (I-O) Psychology.
Reflection on Lifespan Development As middle age lurked its unwanted presence I began to recognize how true and applicable the saying “life is too short” applied to almost everything the average middle-aged person set to accomplish. At age 42, I have no regrets in life. My parents set the stage for my desire for achievement and accomplishment, and I set out to do the same for my children. A person’s lifespan is their legacy; and I strongly believe that nothing happens by chance, all things happen as a consequence of some action. For example, my enrollment in this course was the consequence of years of work in a field that I no longer hold a passion. I started career as a high school girl’s basketball coach and somehow 22 years later managed to service 14 years in United States Air Force; two years as a State Correctional Officer; and seven years as a State Auditor. My academic career has seen me bounce from nursing to education and finally settling with business. My most important career as a mother is about to take new direction, as my youngest children begin their collegiate journey. So the question I asked myself was “What do I do now”? I recently obtained my Masters degree in Management and Leadership and was not sure I wanted to return to school so soon; however the profession that I’ve longed to do for so many years
References: Baltes, B. B., & Dickson, M. W. (2001). Using Life-Spa Models in Industrial-Organizational Psychology: The Theory of Selective Optimization With Compensation. Applied Development Science. 5(1), 51-62. Benson, P., Galbraith, J., & Espeland, P. (1994). What kids need to succeed: Proven, practical ways to raise good kids. Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishing. Berk, L Berkowitz, M., & Grych, J. (1998). Fostering goodness: Teaching parents to facilitate children’s moral development. Journal of Moral Education, 27(3), 371-391. Bono, G Broderick, P. C. & Blewitt, P. (2010). The Life Span: Human development for helping professionals (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education Inc. Courage, M. L., & Howe, M. L. (2002). From infant to child: The dynamics of cognitive change in the second year of life. Psychological Bulletin, 128(2), 250-277. doi: 10.1037/0033-2909.128.2.250 Dean, S., Bhutta, Z., Mason, E Feldman, R. S. (2006). Development across the life span. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Heckhausen, J., & Schulz, R. (1995). A life-span theory of control. Psychological Review, 102(2), 284-304. doi: 10.1037/0033-295X.102.2.284 Hepper, P McElwain, N. L., Booth-LaForce, C., & Wu, X. (2011). Infant–mother attachment and children 's friendship quality: Maternal mental-state talk as an intervening mechanism. Developmental Psychology, 47(5), 1295-1311. doi:10.1037/a0024094 McCrae, R Rothbart, M. K., & Ahadi, S. A. (1994). Temperament and the development of personality. Journal Of Abnormal Psychology, 103(1), 55-66. doi:10.1037/0021-843X.103.1.55 Santrock, J., MacKenzie-Rivers, A., Malcomson, T., & Ho Leung, K