Lifespan Development: Comparing Psychological Theories and Stages

This report delves into the realm of lifespan development within psychology, offering a comparative analysis of key theories. It primarily focuses on contrasting the psychosexual theory of Sigmund Freud with the psychosocial theory of Erik Erikson, highlighting their differing perspectives on t...Read More

Psychology is an appropriate area of study and practice, which
is associated with a brief study and assessment of human
mind, as well as several functions performed by the same.
Furthermore, it is also appropriately related to characteristics
of different people or group, which is essential to be analysed
in order to understand the reasons for a particular behaviour.
1.1. Comparison of Different Psychological Theories of
Lifespan Development
Lifespan Development means a complete procedure in
relation to human development, from their birth to death.
Moreover, it is inclusive of a holistic approach that is related
to understanding all psychological, emotional, cognitive, as
well as, social changes related to different individuals.
Furthermore, continuity vs discontinuity is another
appropriate and effective aspect related to developmental
psychology. This is a major theory, which undertakes as to
whether the development is being smoothly, or through
predetermined steps.
However, there are different psychological theories,
associated with the same, which are appropriately and
effectively developed to understand the aspects of lifespan
development in people. However, different theorists have
distinct perspectives and studies, which contrast in terms of
belief, application and mindset. Thus, several theories are
compared below:
Erikson vs. Freud: There are several well known and
recognised theories, which are well associated with lifespan
Whereas, Erikson's point of view was related to how different
social activities shape development of competence within
children.
Adolescence: While Freud's theory paid appropriate attention to
psychosexual development and finding balance between different
areas of life, Erikson's work emphasises on how teens focus on
exploration of different roles and attitudes, which could be more
prosperous through social support.
Adulthood: In this stage, Freud's Work focused on development
between birth to teen years, where early childhood plays active
role in development of personality. However, Erikson emphasised
on a subsequent development of personality even at old age.
Psychodynamic Vs. Cognitive: There are several other theories
which are quite different from one another and are required to be
understood to further understand the lifespan development.
Psychodynamic Theory: As mentioned above, this theory is
related to how early childhood experiences have appropriate
impact on individuals throughout their remaining lives. Moreover,
according to this theory, personality, mindset and workings and
actions of a person effectively shapes up through their childhood
experiences, which acts as an appropriate element within
development of their conscious.
Cognitive Theory: On the other hand, this theory is associated
with how current information is appropriately processed by human
brain and is not related to their past history. Moreover, studies
related to this theory explains how conditioning and external
environment shapes up mind-set of individuals.
For instance, while Freud's theory covers genetic and cognitive
factors into consideration, work of Erikson focused more on the
social experiences, which have an appropriate impact on the
whole lifespan development. It could be said that Erikson’s
theory is focused more on discontinuity, as it has several stages
of development, whereas Freud’s work is focused on a more
continuous development. The difference between these aspects
are discussed at each stage below:
Birth to 1 Year: Within this stage, the focus of the work of
Freud is related to how a child could experience pleasure
through their mouth, by activities like tasting and eating,
whereas, Erikson's work called this stage as trust versus
mistrust, where, trust is a major factor which becomes the basis
of their dependency in the world in later stages, as well as
govern their activities, like eating, at this stage.
1-3 Years: Within this stage, Freud's work emphasises on how
children gain experience and sense towards controlling bowel
and bladder movements. On the other hand, in Erikson's work,
it was termed as autonomy versus shame and doubt stage,
where children develop such sense of self-sufficiency through
several controlling activities like talking, eating, toilet training,
etc.
3-6 Years: A major difference in these theories were witnessed
at this stage, where Freud's work stated that a feeling of
identification within children becomes evident from their same
sex parent, where boys and girls experience Oedupus and
Electra complex, respectively. On the other hand, Erikson's
theory stated that at this stage, children start taking control over
their environment, where a sense of purpose is developed along
Psychology for Health and Social Care
INTRODUCTION

1.2. Explanation of How Psychological Theories and
Concepts Age-Related to Specific Life Stages
There are different stages of lifespan development, as
mentioned above. However, there are several psychological
theories and concepts, which are appropriately related to
these stages. Thus, these psychological theories and concepts
are explained below in detail:
Behavioural Theory: There are several theories associated
with behavioural aspects of psychology. The most evident
one out of all the theories is Classical Conditioning Theory.
It is associated with the notion, that learning is related to a
combination of naturally occurring stimulus and external
environment. There are three stages within this theory. The
first one is Before Conditioning, where unconditioned and
conditioned stimulus have no relationship. A neutral stimulus
is thus evident in this stage, which means that there is no
response within individual regarding an activity. The second
stage is During Conditioning, where unconditioned and
conditioned stimulus is combined to cause an unconditioned
response. Furthermore, the last stage is associated with after
conditioning, where conditioned stimulus could generate
conditioned response. Thus, stimulus plays a very good role
in driving behaviour of individuals towards a certain aspect.
Cognitive Theory: Jean Piaget developed this theory, where
it was suggested that a person passes from a certain step to
another towards stimulation for change. This in this theory,
stimulation is actively required to achieve full potential. A
sequential development at every life stage is suggested by
this theory. For instance, while at the age of 2, children
develop their motor skills and symbolic representation,
within 2-7 years, they use languages and conceive
surroundings. However, they are yet to conceive the
surroundings which are not around them. Moreover, in
teenage stages of life after the age of 12, clear thinking starts
to developing after a while, with more abstract approach
towards assessing things. The last stage, near adulthood, is
the stage where more systematic thinking ability is developed
within the individuals.
Psychodynamic Theory: As stated, psychodynamic theory is related
to how personality of an individual is developed during childhood
only. Moreover, it emphasises on how past experiences are important
to be analysed to understand reasons behind a person's psychology.
Humanistic Theory: This theory considers an overall analysis of a
person as a whole. This means, that according to this theory, lifespan
development and other essential psychological aspects are analysed
through perspectives of observers as well as the individuals. There
are several stages associated with the same, which directly inclines
with lifespan development. The first stage is innocence, wherein the
infant is focused upon, having particularly no needs to conquer.
Further, rebellion is the stage considering adolescents, where needs
related to autonomy is concerned. Moreover, a rather egoistic and
demanding element within an individual towards social values is
evident at Ordinary stage. Moreover, the next stage is creative stage,
where self-actualisation is developed within adults.