Understanding Theories of Lifespan Development

This report examines different theories of human development across the lifespan. It compares stage theories with open-ended theories, analyzing their perspectives on human growth and development stages. The report further explores continuity and discontinuity theories, highlighting how gradual and abrupt changes shape individual development. Finally, it delves into Jean Piaget's cognitive development theory and Sigmund Freud's psychodynamic perspective, illustrating their impact on psychological well-being and behavior.

Different theories of life span development
This report will give a comparison of
different life theories of an individual's
development and the relation of
psychological theories to human
development stages.
Stage theories vs. open ended theories:
The first one that is stage theories says that
every human goes through similar
development levels. Whatever the path
human chooses is based on choices that can
determine its future whereas open ended
theory says that humans are inherently
different and responds either negative or
positive according to their social, biological
or psychological factors.
Continuity and discontinuity:
one needs to understand that
human changes step by step
with time or these changes are
more abrupt. The issue of
continuity and discontinuity
focuses on the changes of
people are dramatic or gradual.
Continuous theory tells that
these changes happen gradually
and by small steps. For
instance, children gain weight
in schools with year after year
and not suddenly. On the other
hand discontinuity theory tells
that these changes occur more
like a stair step series just like a
teenage boy suddenly grows up
to 6 inches and starts growing
beards.
Besides this, the
various theories are been taken
into the consideration by the
various theories that helps the
individual to gain better
productivity and sustainability
in the society by improving its
psychological well-being. The
different types of the theories
that have been taken into
Jean Piaget's Cognitive
Development theory:
According to Piaget's, a child
underwent various sort of the
psychological changes that
leads to the better development
of the child. He focuses on the
mental structure of the children
and focuses on the various sort
of learning processes that leads
to the better development of the
children all over his life span. It
is based on two principles:
Assimilation: It includes the
various processes that help the
individual to develop a better
way of thinking and incorporate
it to gain a better ideas to
improve the psychology of the
child. It leads to the rise in the
cognitive skills and develop
better logical thinking.
Accommodation: It involves
the various existing ways of the
thinking that result on the better
development of the new
response to a stimulation that is
been provided to the child. It
may include the adoption of
new thought processes and

consideration are
Psychodynamic and the
cognitive approach of life span
development.
experiences that helps the
individual to gain a better share
of psychological growth.
Sigmund Freud
Psychodynamic perspective:
It is basically based on the
various unconscious forces,
conflicts or the memories that
the person can't control and has
a deep impact on an
individual's psychological and
mental well-being, and affects
his personality and behaviour
on large scale. It includes the
ID, EGO and Superego.