Lesson 1 - Human Growth and Development
Lesson 1 - Human Growth and Development
Meaning:
•The study of how humans grow, develop, and change
throughout the lifespan.
Meaning -Growth
• Development:
• Refers to changes over time in a person’s body,
thought, and behavior due to biological and
environmental influences.
• Results in improved working or functioning.
• Indicates the changes in the quality or characteristics.
• Results from growth, maturation and learning.
E.g. How does a child’s movement develop?
Characteristics of Development
• Development:
• Occurs in an orderly, predictable pattern as a result of maturation
and experience/learning.
• Is continuous throughout the lifespan.
• Aims at adapting to the environment.
• Is complex involves many structures and functions.
• Has many aspects (physical, emotional, intellectual, social, and
moral).
• Is qualitative thus cannot be measured directly.
• Is possible even without growth.
Difference between growth and
development
Growth Development
• 1 Quantitative Qualitative
• 2 Objectively observed & measured It cannot be measured directly.
• 3 Fixed. Stops after maturation. Continues throughout lifespan.
• 4 It is one aspect of development. It is complex and many sided.
• 5 Occurs in different body parts. It involves changes in processes and
functions.
• 6 It is not directional. It is progressive and sequential.
• 7 It is not affected by learning. Affected by Learning and experience.
• 8 May or not lead to development. It is integrative. Dev’t in one aspect
promotes the dev’t in other aspects.
Domains of human development
• Human development is studied within four
interacting domains:
a. physical growth,
b. cognitive growth,
c. personality development, and
d. sociocultural development
Aspects of human devt…
• Physical: weight, body proportions and general physical
appearance
• Affected by biological influences like genes from parents, and
maturation
Aspects of development cont…
• Cognitive/Intellectual development-Acquisition of
skills in perceiving, thinking, reasoning, problem
solving, and language
• Reflects the role of cognitive processes in
development.
Aspects of development cont..
• Emotional development-involves changes in an individual’s
emotions
Aspects of development cont..
• Personality development-Acquiring stable and enduring
personality traits
Aspects of development cont..
• Social development-These are changes in an individual’s
relationship with others through the processes of
socialization and enculturation.
Guiding Themes in Human Development
• Development:
a) Is affected by biological and environmental factors.
b) Occurs within a social context
c) Is understood through domains or categories of human
experience
d) Is best understood within a theoretical framework and
when studied using the scientific methods
The nature of human development