Human growth and development occur throughout the lifetime, from conception to death. Growth refers to the quantitative increase in body mass or size measured in weight or height. Development refers to progressive changes, either qualitative or quantitative, beginning from an immature or undifferentiated state to a highly organized, mature, and organized state. The development class taught us that development occurs regarding cognitive, spiritual, behavioral, emotional, and moral well-being. Psychologists explain that infants interact with their caregivers and the surrounding environment from childhood as they learn and integrate different aspects of development. This event means that how children are brought up and the closeness to the caregivers and the environment are the key factors defining a child’s future developmental aspects. Thus, throughout the semester, I have learned a lot of important concepts about human development that I can relate to my real-life experience and the world in general.
Emotional Development
Emotional development involves learning what emotions and feelings are, understanding why and how they occur, recognizing one’s feelings and those of others, and developing the ability to manage those feelings and emotions. Emotional regulation is the ability to control one’s emotions and that of others (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2016). Understanding emotional development is essential as it helps us understand ourselves, be responsible for our actions, develop a positive self-image, improve relationships, and manage various life challenges. We learned that emotional development begins in early childhood when infants emotionally respond to new environments by either withdrawal or attraction. Children are attracted to pleasant situations through laughing or smiling and withdraw from unpleasant situations through sadness, fear, or anger. Parenting attachment style is an essential concept in children’s emotional development because children develop different emotions by learning from the surrounding environment.
Attachment Style
Attachment refers to the emotional bond exhibited by one individual to another. In the case of development, attachment refers to the existing relationship between the child and the primary caregiver or parent, purposely to make the child feel secure and safe. The attachment style is based on the concept that infants learn to thrive and trust when their caregiver consistently meets their needs. Attachment is essential to children’s future development because it influences an individual’s close relationships across the lifespan. Children who are not securely attached to their parents struggle to develop and maintain relationships during adolescence and early adulthood, leading to mental health disorders such as depression or anxiety (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2016). Thus, as future parents, we learn the importance of secure attachment to children’s future social, cognitive, and physical well-being.
Physical and Cognitive Development
Physical development refers to the growth of body size and the ability to control and use developed motor skills. From childhood to adulthood, cognitive development refers to constructing thought processes, including decision-making, remembering, and problem-solving. Cognitive development involves aspects such as language, memory, intelligence, and reasoning (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2016). Children develop cognitive and motor skills from early childhood during their play interactions with the environment and peers. Psychosocial development involves social relationships, emotions, and personality. Learning about physical and cognitive development helps us understand the importance of cognitive and psychomotor skills during childhood in shaping an individual’s future. Physical and cognitive skills help us succeed in education, career development, and social interactions with others.
Moral Development
Moral development is how individuals choose between right and wrong as they grow up and mature. Moral behaviors are influenced by the practiced cultural and social norms including established laws that define a particular community or society. Children are taught moral values and expected future responsibilities as they grow up. Interpersonal factors such as peers, family, and culture significantly influence an individual’s moral development. Positive morals include empathy, public participation, and responsibility, while negative morals include aggressive behaviors, harm, maltreatment, and violence (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2016). Learning about moral development helps us distinguish right from wrong, leading our lives to the right path. Moral development provides people with values such as respect, honesty, love, and helping others. In addition, through the knowledge of moral development, I can understand why people behave the way they do and how to respond to immoral societal pressures.
Identity Development
Identity definition in psychology refers to an individual’s sense of self, demonstrated through their unique characteristics, social roles, and affiliations. In developmental psychology, individuals develop a sense of identity during adolescence (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2016). During adolescence, self-esteem is an essential skill that people develop, which helps them improve their social interactions and relationships with others. Understanding identity allows us to learn essential behaviors and attitudes that promote social integrity. The development of self-esteem helps us become socially responsible and develop better relationships with others. In addition, understanding identity diversity helps us avoid immoral social behaviors such as discrimination and mental problems like depression.
Conclusion
I have learned a lot throughout the semester concerning human developmental psychology. Indeed, human growth and development occur throughout the life of an individual. Individuals develop various characteristics from childhood through adolescence to adulthood that help them adapt to the surrounding environment. Developmental aspects such as physical, cognitive, emotional, moral, and spiritual characteristics help shape an individual’s adulthood behavior and mental well-being. Thus, a development course is essential because it reflects our life experiences in daily activities.
Reference
Capuzzi, D., & Stauffer, M. D. (2016). Human growth and development across the lifespan: Applications for counselors. John Wiley & Sons.
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