DEVELOPMENT
-It is a progressive series of changes that occur in a predictable pattern as the result of interactions
between biological and environmental factors. (Salkind, 2004).
-It is the act or process of growing or causing something to grow or become larger or more advanced.
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
-It is developing through the many changes that take place in the life of human beings because of many
factors.
-It attempts to understand how human grow in different aspects: physical, mental, emotional, social
behavioural, spiritual, etc.
THREE ASPECTS or DOMAINS of Human Development
-Physical development
-Cognitive Development
-Psychosocial Development
Physical development
-It pertains to the growth of the brain, motor and sensory skills, and even physical health
Cognitive Development
-It is capacity to learn, to speak, to understand, to reason, and to create.
Psychosocial Development
-It includes our social interactions with other people, our emotions, attitudes, self-identity, personality,
beliefs, and values
How is human development influenced?
Heredity
- inborn traits passed on by the generation of offspring from both sides of the biological parents’ families
Environment
-the world outside of ourselves and the experiences that result from our contact and interaction with this
external world
Maturation
-natural progression of the brain and the body that affects the cognitive, psychological, and social
dimension of a person.
KNOWING THYSELF
-According to Socrates, the most important thing to pursue was self-knowledge, and admitting one’s
ignorance is the beginning of true knowledge.
-According to Plato, one of Socrates’ students, the beginning of knowledge is self-knowledge.
-The ancient Hindu writings Upanishads confirmed, “Enquiry into the truth of the “Self” is knowledge.
SELF-CONCEPT
-Self-concept refers to awareness of yourself. According to Hereford (n.d.), one must do the following
tasks to be fully aware:
-to be aware of strengths, weaknesses, likes, and dislikes;
-to observe and be aware of your moods, reactions, and responses to what is happening around you;
-to become aware of how these moods and emotions affect your state of mind;
-to examine how you interact with others; and
-to observe how your environment affects you.
ACTUAL SELF VS. IDEAL SELF
Actual self
-is built on self-knowledge which is derived from social interactions that provide insights into how others
react to you. It is who we are. It is our self-image.
Ideal self
-is how we want to be. It is an idealized image that we have developed over time, based on what we have
learned and experienced. It can be coming from our parents, people we admire, and others
The Adolescent Period
EARLY ADOLESCENT STAGE (10-13 yrs. old)
Puberty begins in this stage
-Children experience considerable physical growth and increased sexual interest
-Body changes such as hair growth under the arms and near the genitals, breast development in females
and enlargement of the testicles in males, starts to occur
•These changes can start as early as age 8 for females and age nine for males
•Girls may start their period around age 12
•Body changes can cause both curiosity and anxiety
•Children may question their gender identity during this stage, and it can be a challenging time for
transgender children
Cognitive development at this stage
•Adolescents at this stage tend to have concrete, black-and-white, all-or-nothing thinking and a limited
capacity for abstract thought
•Thinking may be egocentric, and children this age may be self-conscious about their appearance and
apprehensive about being judged by their peers
•Intellectual interests expand, and early adolescents develop deeper moral thinking
Pre-teens also feel an increased need for privacy
•They explore how to be independent from their family and may push boundaries and react strongly when
limits are enforced
MIDDLE ADOLESCENT STAGE (14-17 yrs. old)
Puberty changes for both males and females continue
•Males may have a growth spurt and some voice cracking as their voices lower
•Physical growth for females slows and most have regular menstrual periods by this time
Interest in romantic and sexual relationships may start and teens may question and explore their sexual
identity
Arguments with parents may increase as teens strive for more independence
•Less time is spent with family and more time is spent with friends
•Teens become more self-involved, appearances are important, and peer pressure can peak at this stage
The brain continues to mature
During this stage, children may start to set long-term goals and become interested in the meaning of life
and moral reasoning
LATE ADOLESCENT STAGE (18-21 yrs. old)
less physical development and more cognitive developments
Most have grown to their full adult height
In this stage, young people become able to think about ideas rationally, have impulse control and
can delay gratification, and plan for the future
They have a stronger sense of identity and individuality and can identify their own values
They also experience increased independence, emotional stability, stability in friendships and
romantic relationships, and may also establish an “adult relationship” with parents, looking to them less
as authority figures and more as peers
