Chapter 1

Development Through Life: A Psychosocial Approach, Tenth Edition, Newman/NewmanChapter 1

Chapter 1: The Development Through

Life Perspective


• Chapter Objectives– To introduce the basic assumptions that guide

the organization of the text– To introduce the psychosocial approach to the

study of development, including the interrelationship among the biological, psychological, and societal systems

– To note historical changes in life expectancy and examine the implications of these changes for the study of development over the life span

Chapter 1: Development Through Life


• Assumptions of the Text– Growth occurs at every period of life, from

conception through very old age– Individual lives show continuity and change

as they progress through time– We need to understand the whole person;

we function in an integrated manner– Behavior must be interpreted in context– People contribute actively to their

development



• A Psychosocial Approach: The Interaction and Modification of Three Major Systems Produces Human Life– The biological system– The psychological system– The societal system



• Overview of the psychosocial approach– Changes in one of the three systems

generally bring about changes in the others– Development results from the continuous

interaction of the individual and the social environment

– The meaning we make of experiences changes over the course of life



• Conditions Leading to Poverty– Decline in well-paying, blue-collar jobs– Large increases in single-mother

households– Erosion of the economic safety net for poor

children– Decline in purchasing power of minimum

wage



• The Psychosocial Impact of Poverty– African American, Hispanic, and Native

American families are over represented among poor Americans

– Chronic poverty is linked with problems with general and mental health, cognitive development, and school achievement

– Some children living in poverty are resilient escape its negative effects, and continue to develop optimally



• Case Study: Rose– Thought Questions

• How does this case illustrate the interconnections among the biological, psychological, and societal systems?

• Given what you know about the assumptions of psychosocial theory, how might Rose’s stage of development influence her perceptions of this situation and her approach to coping with this conflict?



• Case Study: Rose (cont.)– Thought Questions

• How might you frame a research question based on the information raised in this case study?

• How do the assumptions of this text influence your approach to understanding the case of Rose?



• Factors that Contribute to Longevity– High levels of education– High family income– Having no hypertension, arthritis, or back

pain– Being a nonsmoker– Having normal body weight– Consuming a moderate amount of alcohol



• Factors that Contribute to Longevity (cont.)– Well-balanced diet/vitamins & minerals– Daily activity– Social integration


Chapter 1

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