Human development involves biological, cognitive, and socioemotional changes that occur throughout the entire lifespan from birth to death. Traditionally, development was thought to be extensive in childhood but minimal in adulthood and old age, but the life-span approach emphasizes that development continues and changes occur across all adult stages of life as well.

1. Developmental
Psychology

2.  What is Human Development? Well, it
can be considered as the many changes
that occur during the human life span.

3.  The “Traditional Approach”
emphasized extensive change from birth
to adolescence, little or no change in
adulthood, and inevitable decline in old
age.
 The “Life-Span places an emphasis on
understanding that development is not a
process that is ever “completed”, that
developmental changes are seen
throughout adulthood as well as
childhood.

4.  Santrock,J.W. (2011). Life-Span Development, 13 ed. NY, NY: McGraw-Hill.

5. Development involves a number of
different areas:
Biological refers to physical changes in
an individual.
Cognitive refers to changes in
thought, intellectual development, etc.
Socioemotional refers to changes in
personality, emotional, and
relationships.