Introduction conception to old age. It includes both gains and losses, which interact in dynamic (change in one aspect goes with changes in others) ways throughout the life-span. . The various processes of human development, i.e.
biological, cognitive, and socio-emotional are interwoven in the development of a person throughout the life-span. . Development is multi-directional. Some dimensions or components of a given dimension of development may increase, while others show decrement.
For example, the experiences of adults may make them wiser and guide their decisions. However, with an increase in age, one’s performance is likely to decrease on tasks requiring speed, such as running. . Development is highly plastic, i.e.
within person, modifiability is found in psychological development, though plasticity varies among individuals. This means skills and abilities can be improved or developed throughout the life-span. . Development is influenced by historical conditions.
For example, the experiences of -year olds who lived through the freedom struggle in India would be very different from the experiences of year olds of today. The career orientation of school students today is very different from those students who were in schools years ago. . Development is the concern of a number of disciplines.
Different disciplines like psychology, anthropology, sociology, and neuro-sciences study human development, each trying to provide answers to development throughout the life-span. . An individual responds and acts on contexts, which include what was inherited, the physical environment, social, historical, and cultural contexts. For example, the life events in everyone’s life are not the same, such as, death of a parent, accident, earthquake, etc., affect the course of one’s life as also the positive Growth refers to an increase in the size of body parts or of the organism as a whole.
It can be measured or quantified, for example, growth in height, weight, etc. Development is a process by which an individual grows and changes throughout the life cycle. The term development applies to the changes that have a direction and hold definite relationship with what precedes it, and in turn, will determine what will come after. A temporary change caused by a brief illness, for example, is not considered a part of development.
All changes which occur as a result of development are not of the same kind. Thus, changes in size (physical growth), changes in proportion (child to adult), changes in features (disappearance of baby teeth), and acquiring new features are varied in their pace and scope level. Development includes growth as one of its aspects. Maturation refers to the changes that follow an orderly sequence and are largely dictated by the genetic blueprint which produces .