Course ObjectivesAfter completing this course, you will be able to:
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Define key issues, stages, and theories in developmental science from a lifespan perspective.
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Discuss the biological, physical, cognitive, emotional, and social factors that influence human development across the lifespan.
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Explain major methods of data collection and research design in lifespan developmental psychology.
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Apply key concepts from lifespan developmental psychology to personal experiences
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Compare and contrast major developmental theories as they explain key tasks in each stage of human development.
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Integrate reflective thought and scientific reasoning to develop novel and relevant research questions.
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Critique exemplars of current developmental science in terms of strengths and areas for improvement
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Predict / hypothesize potential outcomes of research questions on the basis of existing knowledge.
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Topics
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Topic
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Subtopics
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Objectives
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1
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The Life-Span Perspective
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- Introduction to LIfe-Span Development
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- Discuss the distinctive features of a life-span perspective on development.
- Identify the most important processes, periods, and issues in development.
- Describe the main theories of human development.
- Explain how research on life-span development is conducted.
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2
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Beginnings
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- Biological Beginnings
- Prenatal Development and Birth
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- Discuss the evolutionary perspective on life-span development.
- Describe what genes are and how they influence human development.
- Identify some important reproductive challenges and choices.
- Explain some of the ways that heredity and environment interact to produce individual differences in development.
- Describe prenatal development.
- Describe the birth process.
- Explain the changes that take place in the postpartum period.
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3
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Infancy
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- Physical Development in Infancy
- Cognitive Development in Infancy
- Socioemotional Development in Infancy
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- Discuss physical growth and development in infancy.
- Describe infants’ motor development.
- Summarize the course of sensory and perceptual development in infancy.
- Summarize and evaluate Piaget’s theory of infant development.
- Describe how infants learn, focus attention, remember, and conceptualize.
- Describe the nature of language and how it develops in infancy.\
- Discuss the development of emotions and personality in infancy.
- Describe social orientation/understanding and the development of attachment in infancy.
- Explain how social contexts influence the infant’s development.
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4
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Early Childhood
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- Physical and Cognitive Development in Early Childhood
- Socioemotional Development in Early Childhood
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- Identify physical changes in early childhood.
- Describe three views of the cognitive changes that occur in early childhood.
- Summarize how language develops in early childhood.
- Evaluate different approaches to early childhood education.
- Discuss emotional and personality development in early childhood.
- Explain how families can influence young children’s development.
- Describe the roles of peers, play, and media/screen time in young children’s development.
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5
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Middle and Late Childhood
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- Physical and cognitive Development in Middle and Late Childhood
- Socioemotional Development in Middle and Late Childhood
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- Describe physical changes and health in middle and late childhood.
- Identify children with different types of disabilities and discuss issues in educating them.
- Explain cognitive changes in middle and late childhood.
- Discuss language development in middle and late childhood.
- Discuss emotional and personality development in middle and late childhood.
- Describe developmental changes in parent-child relationships, parents as managers, attachment in families, and stepfamilies.
- Identify changes in peer relationships in middle and late childhood.
- Characterize aspects of schooling in children’s development in middle and late childhood.
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6
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Adolescence
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- Physical and cognitive Development in Adolescence
- Socioemotional Development in Adolescence
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- Discuss the nature of adolescence.
- Describe the changes involved in puberty, as well as changes in the brain and sexuality during adolescence.
- Identify adolescent problems related to health, substance use and abuse, and eating disorders.
- Explain cognitive changes in adolescence.
- Summarize some key aspects of how schools influence adolescent development.
- Discuss self, identity, and religious/spiritual development in adolescence.
- Describe changes that take place in adolescents’ relationships with their parents.
- Characterize the changes that occur in peer relationships during adolescence.
- Explain how culture influences adolescent development.
- Identify adolescent problems in socioemotional development and strategies for helping adolescents with problems.
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7
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Early Adulthood
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- Physical and cognitive Development in Early Adulthood
- Socioemotional Development in Early Adulthood
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- Describe the transition from adolescence to adulthood.
- Identify the changes in physical development in young adults.
- Discuss sexuality in young adults.
- Characterize cognitive changes in early
- Explain the key dimensions of career and work in early adulthood.
- Describe stability and change in temperament, and summarize adult attachment styles.
- Identify some key aspects of attraction, love, and close relationships.
- Characterize adult lifestyles.
- Discuss making marriage work, parenting, and divorce.
- Summarize the influence of gender on communication styles and relationships, and discuss gender classification.
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8
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Middle Adulthood
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- Physical and cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood
- Socioemotional Development in Middle Adulthood
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- Explain how midlife is changing, and define middle adulthood
- Discuss physical changes in middle adulthood
- Identify cognitive changes in middle adulthood
- Characterize career development, work, and leisure in middle adulthood
- Explain the roles of religion, spirituality, and meaning in life during middle adulthood
- Describe personality theories and socioemotional development in middle adulthood
- Discuss stability and change in development during middle adulthood, as reflected in longitudinal studies
- Identify some important aspects of close relationships in middle adulthood
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9
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Late Adulthood
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- Physical development in Late Adulthood
- Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood
- Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood
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- Characterize longevity and discuss the biological theories of aging
- Describe how a person’s brain and body change in late adulthood
- Identify health problems in older adults and describe how they can be treated
- Describe the cognitive functioning of older adults
- Characterize changes in language skills in older adults
- Discuss aging and adaptation to work and retirement
- Describe mental health problems in older adults
- Explain the role of religion and spirituality in the lives of older adults
- Discuss four theories of socioemotional development and aging
- Describe links between personality and mortality, and identify changes in the self and society in late adulthood
- Characterize the families and social relationships of aging adults
- Summarize how ethnicity, gender, and culture are linked with aging
- Explain how to age successfully
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10
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Endings
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- Death, Dying, and Grieving
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- Describe the death system and its cultural and historical contexts
- Evaluate issues in determining death and decisions regarding death
- Discuss death and attitudes about it at different points in development
- Explain the psychological aspects involved in facing one’s own death and the contexts in which people die
- Identify ways to cope with the death of another person
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11
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Review
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There are no prerequisites to take Life-Span Development.
The required eTextbook for this course is included with your course purchase at no additional cost. More information on StraighterLine eTextbooks
Prefer the hard copy? Simply purchase from your favorite textbook retailer; you will still get the eTextbook for free.
Santrock, John W. Life-Span Development. 19th edition. McGraw-Hill, 2024. ISBN 9781266347344
Your score provides a percentage score and letter grade for each course. A passing percentage is
70% or higher. There are a total of 1000 points in the course:
| Topic |
Assessment |
Points Available |
LOs
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| 1 |
Reflective Response: The Life-Span Perspective |
10 |
1, 5
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| 1 |
Autobiographical Developmental Essay |
50 |
1, 2, 4
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| 2 |
Reflective Response: Beginnings |
10 |
1, 2, 4, 5, 7
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| 3 |
Reflective Response: Infancy |
10 |
1, 2
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| 3 |
Graded Exam 1 |
50 |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
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| 4 |
Reflective Response: Early Childhood |
10 |
1, 2, 4, 5
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| 5 |
Reflective Response: Middle and Late Childhood |
10 |
1, 2, 4, 5
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| 5 |
Graded Exam 2 |
50 |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
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| 6 |
Reflective Response: Adolescence |
10 |
1, 2, 4, 5, 7
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| 6 |
Midterm Exam |
75 |
1, 2, 4, 5
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| 6 |
Theory Essay |
175 |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
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| 7 |
Reflective Response: Early Adulthood |
10 |
1, 2, 4, 5
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| 8 |
Reflective Response: Middle Adulthood |
10 |
1, 2, 4, 5, 7
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| 8 |
Graded Exam 3 |
50 |
1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8
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| 8 |
Research Paper |
200 |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
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| 9 |
Reflective Response: Late Adulthood |
10 |
1, 2, 4, 5
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| 10 |
Reflective Response: Endings |
10 |
1, 2, 4, 5, 7
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| 10 |
Graded Exam 4 |
50 |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
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| 11 |
Final Exam |
200 |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
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| Total |
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1000 |
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