Concept of Development
The term ‘development’, in its most general psychological sense, refers to certain changes that occur in human beings (or animals) between conception and death.
However, the term is not associated to just any changes, but to those that appear in orderly ways and are relatively permanent in nature. It is a change where a person develops and changes from dependency to autonomy.
Changes may also occur because of illness, tiredness or other such related causes but these are temporary. We cannot consider them as developmental changes.
Prenatal Period : Until birth
Infancy : Birth to 2 weeks
Babyhood : 2 weeks to 2 years
Childhood : 2 years to 10–12 years
Early childhood (2 years to 6 years)
Later childhood (6 years to 12 years)
Pre-Adolescence :
Girls (11 years to 13 years)
Boys (12 Years to 14 years)
Adolescence : 13 years to 17 years
Later Adolescence : 17 years to 19–20 years
Adulthood : 21 years to 40 years
Middle Age : 40 years to 60 years
Old Age : 60 onwards
Important Points:
Development is a process that includes growth, maturation and learning.
Growth denotes change in size, length, height and weight. In other words, it signifies a change in the quantitative aspect of a person.
Maturation, on the other hand, is highly related to heredity.
We can also understand maturation as accruing free from specific experiences.
The learning process of development manifests as a change in behaviour arising out of past experiences.