Life span perspective of development
Life span perspective of development is the study of insight information into the development of an individual throughout their life span. Life span perspective of development includes studying such aspects of human life like who an individual is, how individuals became who they are and who the individuals will become (Sigelman, & Rider, 2011). Psychoanalytic theory of development provides insight into life span of human development while explaining the stages of development that an individual undergoes in their entire life span. Lifespan perspective of development provides critical information regarding the effects of heredity and the environment on development of an individual (VanHasselt, 1992). Life span perspective is critical in the study of development; this is because it takes into account not only developments that take place during adulthood and childhood but captures every phase of human life. Life span perspective is considered as the view of human development that is characterized by multicultural, multicontexual, multidirectional, multidisciplinary and plastic characteristics. Lifespan perspective deals with understanding of the changes that take place in every stage of human development. Life span perspective is made up of cognitive, physical and social domains. Life span perspective of development is often influenced by the first hence making it historically embedded (Kastenbaum, 1979).
Theories of life span development
The two theories of lifespan development are: psychosexual theory and psychosocial theory.
Psychosexual theory: This theory was developed by psychologist Sigmund Freud and it is centered on sexual drives of individuals. According to Freud, human development takes place in stages and the first six years takes place in stages characterized by pleasure and sexual interest centered on certain parts of the body. There is the oral stage that takes place from birth to one year (Berger, 2011). During this stage, some sections of the body focus on the gums, mouth, tongue and the lips. The second stage is the anal; this takes place between one and three years and the section of the body that is much focused at this stage is the anus. The third stage is the phallic stage and occurs between three and six years; the penis is the particular section of the body that is focused. At this stage pleasure is derived from genital stimulation. According to Freud, earlier stages of human development influence adult habits and personalities (Sugarman, 1986).
Psychosocial theory: This was developed by psychologist Erik Erikson. This theory describes eight stages of development, characterized by development crisis. To him, it is the interaction between the individual and social environment that can resolve the crisis. Erikson named two polarities for every crisis. Development stages of this theory centers on social needs (Sugarman, 1986). The eight stages are: Autonomy versus shame, trust versus mistrust, initiative versus guilt, industry versus inferiority, intimacy versus isolation, identity versus role confusion, integrity versus despair and generativist versus stagnation (Berger, 2011).
How heredity and the environment interact to produce individual differences in development.
Heredity and environment, both, have strong influence on individual development. Heredity refers to inherited genes or traits while environment refer to intrinsic effect (Fischbein, 1979). Heredity is about the nature while environment is about nurture. Heredity and environment influence life span development of an individual; they both exert continual and dynamic influence on the individual. This is, however, subject to indeterminable exchange (Berger, 2011).
Conclusion
Life span perspective of development and it offers dynamic information regarding why and how individuals develop. The two theories of life span development provide insight into development of individuals. Heredity and environment affect individual development.
References
Berger, K. S. (2011). The developing person through the life span (8th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
Fischbein, S. (1979). Heredity - environment influences on growth and development during adolescence: A longitudinal study of twins. Lund: LiberLäromedel/Gleerup.
Kastenbaum, R. (1979). Humans developing: A lifespan perspective. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Sigelman, C. K., & Rider, E. A. (2011). Life-span human development. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Sugarman, L. (1986). Life-span development: Concepts, theories, and interventions. London: Methuen.
VanHasselt, V. B. (1992). Handbook of social development. New York [u.a.: Plenum Press.
