Unit 1810: Human Development Across the Lifespan

1. Introduction to Human Development

• Overview of the field
• Key concepts: development, growth, maturation, learning
• Major developmental theories (e.g., behavioral, cognitive, psychodynamic)
• Stages of development: infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, old age

2. Biological Foundations of Human Development

• Genetics and inheritance
• Prenatal development stages and milestones
• Brain development and neuroplasticity
• Nature versus nurture debate: interaction and impact

3. Cognitive Development

• Information processing across lifespan
• Piaget’s stages of cognitive development:
  • Sensorimotor
  • Preoperational
  • Concrete operational
  • Formal operational
• Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory
• Memory, attention, and problem-solving development

4. Social and Emotional Development

• Development of social skills and relationships
• Emotional regulation and expression
• Attachment theory (Bowlby & Ainsworth)
• Erikson’s psychosocial stages:
  • Trust vs. mistrust
  • Identity vs. role confusion
  • Intimacy vs. isolation, etc.
• Personality trait development

5. Moral Development

• Concepts of morality and ethical reasoning
• Kohlberg’s stages of moral development:
  • Pre-conventional
  • Conventional
  • Post-conventional
• Gilligan’s ethics of care perspective
• Influences on moral reasoning and behavior

6. Gender Development

• Gender identity formation
• Gender roles and stereotypes
• Biological, social, and cultural influences
• Impact of media and socialization
• Contemporary issues in gender development

7. Adolescence and Identity Formation

• Physical and hormonal changes
• Psychological and emotional development
• Identity formation process (Erikson’s stage)
• Peer relationships and social influences
• Autonomy and decision-making
• Role and impact of social media

8. Adult Development and Aging

• Physical and cognitive changes in adulthood
• Psychosocial development in adulthood (Erikson’s stages)
• Midlife transitions and challenges
• Aging and late adulthood: cognitive decline, emotional wellbeing
• Successful aging and life satisfaction

9. Family Dynamics and Development

• Family structures and types
• Parenting styles and their developmental impact
• Sibling relationships and influences
• Impact of divorce and remarriage
• Cross-cultural variations in family dynamics

10. Sociocultural Influences on Development

• Cultural norms and values
• Socioeconomic status effects on development
• Ethnicity and cultural identity
• Environmental factors and global perspectives
• Interplay between individual development and society