Age Ranges & Human DevelopmentDr David Armstrong

Prenatal Development and the Newborn Developmental Psychology

a branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive and social change throughout the life span

Age Ranges • Prenatal period (conception - birth)• Infancy and toddlerhood (from birth - 2 years)• Early Childhood (from 2 - 6 years)• Middle Childhood (from 6 - 11 years)• Adolescence (from 11 - 18 years)• Emerging adulthood (from 18-25 years) • Adulthood (from 25 onwards)

• Any other age range? • What age range do you fall in? What age range of children will you be

working with/teaching? What age range interests you the most?• See: Berk, L. 2013. p. 5.

Developmental Issues

Nature and Nurture

Stability and Change

Continuity-Discontinuity

Extent to which development is influenced by nature and by nurture

Degree to which early traits and characteristics persist through life or change

Extent development involves gradual, cumulative change (continuity) or distinct stages (discontinuity)

Processes in Development

Thank You

• Final Question: so if human development involves: biological processes, cognitive processes and socio-emotional processes what dimension of this development do educational examinations and assessment usually assess?

• Thank you for listening.•