basic concept and principles of human growth and development which could benifit BSW/MSW students for understanding the dynamics of human behaviour

1. HUMAN GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENT Dr. Ishitha E.K.

2. GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
Growth - An increase in the size of an organism or part of an
organism, usually as a result of an increase in the number of cells
It refers to an increase in some quantity over time. The quantity can
be physical (growth in height , weight
Development is a progressive series of changes that occur as a result
of maturation and experience
Development describes the growth of humans throughout the
lifespan, from conception to death

3. GROWTH VS DEVELOPMENT
GROWTH DEVELOPMENT
Increase in physical aspects eg. Height,
weight etc
refers to overall changes in the whole of
the organism, growth is a part of
development
Structural, cellular functional
Quantitative-observable and changes may
be measured-physical
Qualitative-cannot be measured and
assessed directly-biological,
psychological, social, emotional.
stops when the organism reaches the
stage of maturity
is continuous life long process, involves
changes from origin to maturity
Growth influences the process of
development, but not always
Development occurs without growth

4. THE LIFE SPAN
Life-span development- “The pattern of change that begins at
conception and continues through the life cycle.”
Life-span developmental psychology is the field of psychology which
involves the examination of both constancy and change in human
behaviour across the entire life span, that is, from conception to death
(Baltes, 1987).
Development occurs in different domains, such as the biological
(changes in our physical being), social (changes in our social
relationships), emotional (changes in our emotional understanding
and experiences), and cognitive (changes in our thought processes).

5. DEVELOPMENT STAGES
Stage Period
Prenatal Conception to birth
Infancy Birth to end of second week
Babyhood End of second week to end of second year
Early childhood Two to six years
Late childhood Six to ten or twelve years
Puberty/preadolescence Ten or twelve years to thirteen or fourteen
years
Adolescence thirteen or fourteen years to eighteen years
Early adulthood Eighteen to forty years
Middleage Forty to sixty years
Old age Sixty years to death

6. Heredity
Physical Characteristics
General physical condition
Sex
Race
Geographic location
Socioecoomic level
Intelligence
Education
Smoing and drinking
Marital status
Anxiety
Occupation
Happiness
Conditions influencing LONGEVITY

7. ISSUES IN LIFE SPAN DEVELOPMENT
Continuity and Discontinuity
Whether development is continuos or discontinuous
Development is a process of the gradual
accumulation of behaviour, skills, or knowledge
which change over time.
In contrast, suggest that developmental change is
best characterised as discontinuous in nature. what
had gone on in the past and how well the child was
able to master the developmental tasks of that
period

8. Stability and Change:
Whether development is best
characterised by stability or change
for example, does a behaviour or trait
such as shyness stay stable over time or
change across the life span

9. Nature vs. Nurture:
Whether the behaviour ultimately developed by the
child is due to hereditary factors or environmental
factors.
Both genetic traits and environmental circumstances
are involved in an individual’s development,
the individual and his or her circumstances decide
how much of the behaviour is influenced by heredity
factors and how much by environmental factors.
Some aspects of development are distinctly biological,
such as puberty ( sexual maturity 10 and 14 for girls
and ages 12 and 16 for boys). However, the onset of
puberty can be affected by environmental factors such
as diet and nutrition

10. PRINCIPLES OF GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENTDevelopment is Continuous:
The process of growth and development continues from the conception
till the individual reaches maturity. Even after maturity has been
attained, development does not end.

11. Development is Gradual:
It does not come all on a sudden. It is also cumulative in nature

12. Development is Sequential:
Development is sequential or orderly. Every species, follows a pattern
of development peculiar to it. This pattern in general is the same for
all individuals. The child crawls before he creeps, stands before he
walks and babbles before he talks

13. Development Proceeds from General to specific

14. Most Traits are Correlated (Inter related) in development
Physical, cognitive, social and emotional development are inter
related.
Generally, it is seen that the child whose mental development is
above average, is also superior in so many other aspects like health,
sociability and special aptitudes

15. Rate of Development Varies Person to Person:
Rate of development is not uniform. Individuals differ in the rate of
growth and development. Boys and girls have different development
rates. Each part of the body has its own particular rate of growth.
There are periods of great intensity and equilibrium and there are
periods of imbalance

16. Growth and Development is a Product of Both Heredity and
Environment

17. Development is Predictable:
The difference in physiological and psychological potentialities can ‘
be predicated by observation and psychological tests.

18. Development brings about both structural and functional changes

19. Development proceeds from simple to complex

20. All individuals are different

21. SIGNIFICANT FACTS ABOUT
DEVELOPMENTEarly foundations are critical-
attitude, habit and patterns of behavior established
during the early years determine how successful
individuals will adjust to life as they grow older
Eg. How parents gratify their need for food, love
attention- child learns trust mistrust

22. Role of maturtion and learning in development’

23. Each phase of development has characteristic behavior
Social expectations for every stage of development

24. Development is affected by cultural changes

25. DEVELOPMENT STAGES
Stage Period
Prenatal Conception to birth
Infancy Birth to end of second week
Babyhood End of second week to end of second year
Early childhood Two to six years
Late childhood Six to ten or twelve years
Puberty/preadolescence Ten or twelve years to thirteen or fourteen
years
Adolescence thirteen or fourteen years to eighteen years
Early adulthood Eighteen to forty years
Middleage Forty to sixty years
Old age Sixty years to death

26. DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS.
physical, intellectual, emotional and social development

28. DEVELOPMENT HAZARDS
Each phase of development has hazards
Physical
Psychological
Emotional
Intellectual
Social
Interpersonal