Life-span Development

Do Now What do you think are the major milestones in a human’s life?

Objectives Explain what adolescence is and how our culture affects it. Discuss how Jean Piaget’s cognitive developmental theory and Lawrence Kohlberg’s moral reasoning theory describe adolescent thinking. Discuss how developmental psychology’s three major issues apply to adolescence.

Life-Span Development: Adolescence Adolescence: The transition period from childhood to adulthood; it extends from puberty to independence. Puberty: The period of sexual maturation during which a person becomes capable of reproducing. Primary Sex Characteristics: The reproductive organs—the testes in males and the ovaries in females. Secondary Sex Characteristics: Nonreproductive sexual characteristics, such as breast and hip development in girls and voice quality and facial hair in boys. Sexual Orientation: An enduring sexual attraction toward people of the other gender or people of your own gender.

Reasoning & Morality Formal Operational Stage: Jean Piaget’s theory for when we develop adult thinking and reasoning. (Ex. Formal logic, Abstract thinking, and hypothetical reasoning. This is an age when one tends to focus on the self, often imagining that one’s own feelings are particularly unique. Morality: Lawrence Kohlberg’s theory that our way of thinking about moral situations (what is right and wrong) changes with our level of development. Moral Ladder: Development of reasoning into three stages. Preconventional moral reasoning: Avoid punishment & gain reward. Conventional Moral Reasoning: To fit in and play the role of a good citizen. Postconventional Moral Reasoning: Reference to universal ethical principles that represent the rights or obligations of all people.

Erik Erickson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development

Identity & Intimacy Identity: A strong, consistent sense of who and what you are. Experimentation: Exploring and taking advantage of a variety of school opportunities, observing various adult role models, or imagining life in a variety of careers. Rebellion: Testing the limits parents set or adopting styles of fashion and grooming that adults may not accept or understand. “Self”-ishness: Relationships during adolescence tend to be selfish. Learn about yourself when moving in and out of friendship cliques and romances. Optimism & Energy: Armed with their new and more powerful cognitive skills, teenagers view the world with a fresh perspective. Intimacy: The ability to form close, loving, and open relationships with other people. Doesn’t have to be sexual and even married couples may not reach this level.

Partner Assignment You and a partner will research coming-of-age rituals (rites of passage). how adolescence is viewed in native American, African, African- American, Muslim, Hispanic, Indian, Eastern European, Western European, or Asian cultures. You and your partner only have to research one cultural perspective and coming-of-age ritual. Write a 1-page paper to explain your findings. You may use your phone to conduct the research or the computers in the back.