Class 11th Human Development

1. Human Development
• Psychology – Class 11
• By: [Your Name]
• Understanding the process of growth, change,
and learning that occurs from conception till
the end of life.

2. Introduction
• - Human development is the study of changes
in physical, cognitive, emotional, and social
abilities over a lifetime.
• - It involves both growth (increase in
size/abilities) and decline (losses with aging).
• - It is shaped by biological, psychological, and
social forces.

3. Characteristics of Human
Development
• - Lifelong Process: Development continues
through all life stages, not just childhood.
• - Multidimensional: Includes body growth,
intellectual development, and
emotional/social maturity.
• - Multidirectional: Gains and losses can occur
simultaneously (e.g., wisdom increases,
reaction time decreases).
• - Plasticity: Abilities can improve with training
or adaptation.

4. Principles of Human Development
• 1. Development follows a predictable pattern
(cephalocaudal: head-to-toe; proximodistal:
center-to-outward).
• 2. It is a continuous process from conception
to death.
• 3. Moves from general responses to specific
skills (e.g., infants wave arms before
controlled grasp).
• 4. Different aspects (physical, mental,
emotional) develop at different rates.

5. Factors Influencing Development
• - Biological: Genetic makeup, hormonal
balance, brain development, nutrition.
• - Environmental: Parenting style, peer
influence, school quality, community
resources.
• - Cultural: Beliefs, traditions, values
influencing behavior and goals.
• - Economic: Financial security affects
education, healthcare, opportunities.
• - Life Events: Illness, accidents, major life

6. Stages of Development
• - Prenatal Stage (conception to birth): Most
rapid physical changes occur.
• - Infancy (0–2 years): Growth, sensory
development, attachment formation.
• - Early Childhood (2–6 years): Language,
imagination, motor skills.
• - Middle Childhood (6–12 years): Logical
thinking, peer relationships, academic
learning.
• - Adolescence (12–18 years): Puberty, identity

7. Prenatal Development
• - Germinal Stage (0–2 weeks): Fertilization,
zygote formation, implantation.
• - Embryonic Stage (2–8 weeks): Organ systems
start developing, high vulnerability to
teratogens.
• - Fetal Stage (8 weeks–birth): Growth, organ
maturity, brain development.
• - Influences: Mother's diet, stress levels,
exposure to toxins, prenatal care.

8. Infancy & Childhood
• - Physical: Rapid height/weight gain, motor
milestones (crawling, walking).
• - Cognitive: Learning language, recognizing
people, simple problem-solving.
• - Socio-emotional: Building trust with
caregivers, forming basic self-concept.
• - Theories: Erikson’s Trust vs Mistrust; Piaget’s
Sensorimotor & Preoperational stages.

9. Adolescence
• - Physical: Growth spurts, sexual maturity.
• - Cognitive: Abstract and hypothetical thinking
(Piaget’s Formal Operational stage).
• - Emotional: Mood swings due to hormonal
and social changes.
• - Social: Peer pressure, identity exploration
(Erikson’s Identity vs Role Confusion).

10. Adulthood & Old Age
• - Young Adulthood: Focus on relationships,
career building (Erikson’s Intimacy vs
Isolation).
• - Middle Adulthood: Stability, raising children,
possible midlife transition.
• - Late Adulthood: Reflection, coping with
health issues, maintaining social bonds.

11. Major Theories of Human
Development
• - Freud: Psychosexual stages emphasizing
early experiences.
• - Erikson: Psychosocial stages from infancy to
old age.
• - Piaget: Cognitive stages (Sensorimotor to
Formal Operational).
• - Vygotsky: Role of social interaction in
learning.
• - Kohlberg: Moral reasoning stages
(Preconventional, Conventional,

12. Importance of Studying Human
Development
• - Understanding developmental milestones for
education and parenting.
• - Identifying developmental delays early.
• - Improving guidance and counseling.
• - Enhancing teaching strategies based on
learner’s stage.
• - Preparing for personal and social
responsibilities at each stage.

13. Summary
• - Development is continuous,
multidimensional, and shaped by many
factors.
• - Each life stage has distinct challenges and
tasks.
• - Understanding human development helps in
supporting growth effectively.

14. References
• - NCERT Psychology – Class XI.
• - Berk, L. E. (2013). Development Through the
Lifespan.
• - Erikson, E. H. (1963). Childhood and Society.
• - Piaget, J. (1972). The Psychology of the Child.