Chapter 1 An Introduction to Lifespan Development 13
Checkpoint
1. Name the four basic guidelines about how people develop. Give an example
of each.
2. How can understanding the orderly stages of development help you
deal with people in a manner that is appropriate to their abilities and
understanding?
3. According to Maslow, what are the fi ve levels of human needs?
4. List two factors that cause human development to vary among individuals.
Key Issues in Development
Human development takes a life-
time. Many milestones along the way
mark the journey from newborn to old
age, 1-8. A fascination with how people
grow and change over time is evident in
people’s interest in those around them,
especially celebrities or newsmakers.
Movie stars and other news generators
are all sources of interest and specula-
tion. How does a child dreamer actually
become a professional baseball player,
a gifted teacher, or a brain surgeon?
How does a young child develop into
a criminal? People want to know.
People are fascinated and curious
with newsmakers. As a person becomes
famous, people have questions. What are
this person’s likes and dislikes? Where
does the person live? Is the person mar-
ried? Does the person have children?
How articulate is this person? Curiosity
often does not stop there, however.
As a person’s fame rises, the questions often increase. How did this person
become who he or she is today? What was the person like as a child? Who are the
person’s parents? Where did the person grow up? Which schools did the person
attend? Who were the major influences in his or her life? How will the rise to
fame impact this person?
This example highlights three important issues in human development. First,
is the nature versus nurture debate. How much of who people are relates to genetics
and how much relates to environment? Are there some traits that are genetic and
others that are created by environment?
Second, and very much related, is the issue of continuity versus discontinuity.
Do changes in development occur because of the slow progression of change or
do they occur as a result of something abruptly changing?
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1-8
From grandchild to grandparent, many changes
take place along the way.