Life Span Development Essay Example

feeling bloated, mental and emotional changes. But some women can go through menopause without any symptoms whereas some women suffer from hot flushes. Now thanks to new research Hormone Replacement Therapy is available. This helps reduce the effects of the menopause. Men also go through a similar process called male menopause but their testosterone levels only reduce.

Later AdulthoodAs the body ages it loses it sensitivity to cold. Older people are more likely to get hypothermia in the cold weather. Blood capillaries become more fragile, this increases bruising. Breathing and circulation system becomes less efficient causing difficulty with stairs and hills. Focusing power of the eye weakens from 45 years by the age of 65 there is little focus left in eye. A number of nerve cells in the Central Nervous System gradually decreases (these are irreplaceable).

This results to loss of memory, difficulty in learning new skills and their senses become less acute. Presbyocusis is known as the progressive loss of hearing which comes with aging.Social DevelopmentEarly Childhood - BabiesBabies have an innate desire to build an emotional bond with their caregiver which later helps them process in life socially and intellectually. Many psychologists believe that bonding is vital for the child's well - being and any child that rejects to build that mutual bond will ding a lot of difficulties in relationships later on in life.

At two months a baby are able to recognise their caregivers smell voice and face. They are able to respond to what the caregiver says or their caregivers' facial expressions. Babies also learn how to attract attention by smiling or making noises.Later Childhood - InfantsThis social development is

known the primary socialisation.

Attachments between a child and his/her caregivers are just as strong in infancy but children don't need to cling to them as much. As they grow up they start to make relationships with children and learn to become more independent. Although they still depend on their carers they need emotional bonds with their family. These emotional bonds provide the foundation for exploring in relationships with others.

Children learn attitudes and beliefs by watching the behaviours of parents, brothers or sisters. Children who grow up within a family group usually learn a wide range of ideas about how to behave. At the age of 2 children understand that they're gender and also learn how to act in their masculine or feminine ways. For examples girls play with Barbie while boys play with Action Man. From the ages of 3 children often show a need to be with a caregiver to act as a 'safe base'. This is a phase the children go through when they tend to seek affection and assurance more than usual.

AdolescentsThis social development is known as the secondary socialisation. Teenagers become more independent from their family and they become very involved in their groups of friends. From 13 between 18 years teenagers are usually involved in major changes in social behaviour as they learn to take on adult roles and independence. They also begin to explore relationships with potential sexual partners.

Early Adulthood ; Middle AgeEarly Adulthood is usually known to be the time where people continue to develop more friendships, sexual relationships and partnerships. Major social issues that are often associated with early adulthood are marriage, parenthood and maintaining

a job. Stress starts to play its part because of the demands of being a parent and a worker. Many adults now are balancing more than on job to maintain the amount of money that comes home and as well of trying to cope looking after your spouse and children it creates a lot of emotional and social problems. When their children then grow and leave the family home to start an independent life of their own.

The parent will feel sort of relieved because some of the pressure of, for example feeding for four mouths has been reduced to two mouths. But then they will also feel that they are losing touch with their social purpose because their children no longer need their support.Later AdulthoodMany retired people have more opportunity to go out and explore the world than they did when they were working. They try to keep close with family and friends should that they can rely on them to provide emotional and practical support. But some retired people become socially isolated because of close friends or their spouses have died.

They may have physical illnesses like arthritis that limits them from exploring as much.Intellectual DevelopmentEarly Childhood - BabiesTo begin with babies rely on inbuilt patterns for behaviour in order to explore different objects. For example their sucking toys, clothes and fingers. In this way they develop an understanding of the objects. A Psychologist called Jean Piagent suggested that babies think that once an object is out o their reach and sight the object does not exist anymore. For example when the baby's caregiver leaves the room they become distressed because they believed

that they are gone forever.

Unfortunately modern research has contradicted this theory proving it wrong because babies at the age of 8 months were observed when their caregiver left the room and they did not show any sign of being distressed.Later Childhood - InfancyChildren start to speak at the age of 2 years and by the age of 6 children can speak fluently. Between the ages of 2 and 7 years children learn how to count and recite their alphabets. From the ages of 7 to 10 children can only understand logic when they can see what is involved, (for example if Sophie has 20 sweet and Tanya has 10 sweets less how much does Tanya have?) rather than younger children who look at what looks alike rather than the logic. For example they will say that there are more toys that are in a line rather than the toys in a heap.AdolescentsTeenagers are able to imagine their future and how they wish to achieve it.

Teenagers are able to reason in an adult way but they don't have enough experience to always make the right decisions. They also continue to develop their problem - solving skills during adulthood.Early Adulthood ; Middle AgePractical skills and abilities maybe increased during adulthood if they are exercised. Reactions start to decrease in older adults but knowledge can balance out the reaction decrease because they can use their knowledge in different aspects in their work.

Older adults are also better at problem - solving than the young ones. Older adults are also considered as wise.Later AdulthoodIn later life some older people who have lived a good life and have

exercised their minds don't find difficulty in solving problems and coping with intellectual challenges and continuing learning new things. But with older people who are suffering from Alzheimer's disease experience difficulty in learning new things, remembering things and even with every day necessities like getting dressed.