Life Span Development Thoughts

For the final week of the class, the reading was chapter 13 of the LifeSmart text, Lifespan Development in Action. Throughout the chapter, discussions mentioned include topics such as the two types of concepts putting theory in to practice, inquiry and action research (300), and the development of lifespan psychology from its roots as a field dedicated to the study of developmental psychology (300) to addressing the stages of human development and society’s effect on it (300). Also discussed are current concerns and controversies surround human development (I/e standardized testing) (303), how history has changed the way society views human development – most notably, the way government has changed their view on developmental programs such as Head Start as not what the program does for the participants lives, but rather to the visible outcomes from the participants, such as comparable math and literacy scores (303). Change agents, leadership opportunities, professionalism in the lifes...

In the seventh week of class, we had to read chapter 12 of our Lifesmart text, Dying and Spirituality. In this chapter we read about death, the four types of death (clinical, brain, biological, and social), grief and the three types unresolved grief (delayed, distorted, and complicated), the role of funerals, dealing with one’s own death and the five stages of grief, death with dignity and the Death With Dignity Act (289), hospice, suicide and gender influence, and spirituality.             Growing up the son and grandson of funeral directors, my life has been revolved around the death and the funeral industry for as long as I can remember. I have had the ability to see the inner workings of the funeral industry, and the effect death can place on family and loved ones, whether sudden or expected. As a result, I have been raised to understand that life, at some point, will end, at any time in any way. Therefore, even at 33 years ...

In week six our readings had us dive into the development of human beings during the early and middle phases of adulthood. In Chapter 9, early adulthood (ages 18-35, as stated by Erickson (219)) is discussed. Topics discussed throughout the chapter include the peak of physical development, healthy lifestyle and the effect of adhering to one, cognitive development, gender and sexuality, social development and the importance of building relationships, and marriage and family. In Chapter 10, middle adulthood (ages 35-60 (243)) are discussed. Topics discussed are physical development, including the external physical signs of aging and increase chance of decreasing sensory abilities such as hearing and vision, the importance of health habits on the effect of overall health, fluid vs. crystalized intelligence, generativity versus stagnation, stability versus change, middle-aged marriage and divorce, work patterns, and stress.           ...