Psychology Wiki
Don't have an account?
Register
Register
in: Human development, Humans, Developmental psychology, Physical development

Changes: Physical development

Back to page
Sign in to edit
 
(7 intermediate revisions by one other user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{DevPsy}}
  
{{DevPsy}}
  +
'''Human development''' is the process of [[growing]] to maturity and reaching one's full potential.
  +
In biological terms, this entails growth from a one-celled [[zygote]] to an adult [[human being]].
  +
The [[psychology|psychological]] study of human development is called [[developmental psychology]].
   
  +
We can conceive of human development in a variety of ways. In political-economic terms, human development has to do with stability, security and relative prosperity. In social terms, it has to do with literacy, education, social relationships, quality of life, etc. In moral terms, it has to do with the development of the conscience, moral awareness, and the will and capacity to act according to our knowledge of what is right. In psychological terms, human development has to do with mental health, self-esteem, success in significant relationships, happiness
⚫
*[[Milestones of infant and child development]]
  
   
−
*[[Motor development]]
 +
== Biological development==
  +
[[Image:Sperm-egg.jpg|thumb|right|A spermatozoon fertilizing an ovum]]
   
  +
Development begins with [[fertilization]], the process by which the male [[gamete]], the [[spermatozoon|sperm cell]], and the female gamete, the [[oocyte]], fuse to give rise to a [[diploid]] [[cell (biology)|cell]], the zygote.
⚫
*[[Perceptual development]]
  
   
  +
In medicine, pregnancy is defined as beginning when a fertilized [[zygote]] becomes [[implantation|implanted]] in a woman's [[uterus]]. This occurs when the zygote then becomes embedded into the [[endometrium]] (lining of the uterus) where it forms a [[placenta]], for the purpose of receiving essential [[nutrients]] through the [[uterus]] wall. The [[umbilical cord]] in a newborn child signifies the remnants of implantation.
⚫
*[[Perceptual motor development]]
  
   
  +
The zygote undergoes rapid [[mitosis|mitotic]] [[cell division|division]]s with no significant growth (a process known as [[cleavage (embryo)|cleavage]]) and [[cellular differentiation]], leading to development of an [[embryo]].
⚫
*[[Psychomotor development]]
  
   
  +
[[Childbirth]] is the process in which the baby is born. It is considered by many to be the beginning of a person's life, where age is defined relative to this event in most cultures.
⚫
*[[Sexual development]]
  
   
  +
=== [[Developmental stages]]===
   
  +
Terms for [[developmental age groups]] include, with their approximate age ranges:
  +
* '''[[Prenatal development]]'''
  +
** [[Zygote]], the point of [[Conception]], fertilization
  +
** [[blastocyst]] the period between conception and embryonic stages
  +
** [[Embryo]]; the embryonic period starts at three weeks and continues until the end of the 8th week of pregnancy
  +
** [[Embryogenesis]]
  +
** [[fetus]]; the fetal stage begins at the end of the 8th week and continues until childbirth
  +
** [[Childbirth|Birth]]
  +
* '''[[Neonatal development]]'''
  +
* ''[[Early childhood development]]''
  +
** [[Infant development]] (baby, newborn) (0-1)
  +
** [[Toddler]] (1-2)
  +
** [[Play age]] (3-5)
  +
* [[Childhood development]]
  +
*** [[Early Childhood]] (5-7)
  +
*** [[Middle Childhood]] (7-9)
  +
*** [[Preadolescence]] (preteen) (9-13)
  +
* [[Adolescent development]] and [[puberty]] (teenage) (14-18)
  +
* [[Adult]] (18-older)
  +
** [[Early adulthood]] (18-22)
  +
** [[Middle age]] (22-64)
  +
** [[Advanced adult]]/[[Senior citizen]] (65+)
  +
* [[Death]] (occurs at various ages, depending on person)
  +
  +
=== Physical development milestones ===
  +
  ⚫
{{Main|Milestones of infant and child development}}
  +
  +
* Ability to lift and control the orientation of the head
  +
* [[crawling (locomotion)|Crawling]] begins
  +
* [[Walking]] begins
  +
* [[Speech]] begins
  +
* [[human voice|Voice]] lowers in pitch (especially noticeable in boys)
  +
* [[Pubic hair]] appears
  +
* [[Genitals]] and reproductive organs mature
  +
* [[Menses]] begin (females)
  +
* [[Body hair]] and [[facial hair]] appears
  +
  +
Note: the [[Tanner stages]] can be used to approximately judge a child's age based on physical development.
  +
  +
==Further aspects of development linked to physical development==
  +
*[[Motor development]]
  ⚫
*[[Perceptual development]]
  ⚫
*[[Perceptual motor development]]
  ⚫
*[[Psychomotor development]]
  +
*[[Psychosexual development]]
  ⚫
*[[Sexual development]]
  +
  +
==Assessment==
  +
*[[Tanner stages]]
   
 
-----
  
-----
   
 
==See also==
  
==See also==
  +
* [[Age differences]]
  +
* [[Aging (attitudes toward)]]
  +
* [[Animal development]]
  +
* [[Auxology]]
  +
* [[Cognitive development]]
  +
* [[Delayed development]]
  +
* [[Developmental biology]]
  +
* [[Evolutionary developmental psychology]]
  +
* [[Evolutionary developmental psychopathology]]
  +
* [[Human development]]
  +
* [[Life history theory]]
  +
* [[Mammalian embryogenesis]]
  +
* [[Neural development]]
  +
* [[Physical maturity]]
  +
* [[Precocious development]]
  +
* [[Psychogenesis]]
  +
* [[Sex linked developmental differences]]
   
 
==References & Bibliography==
 
==References & Bibliography==
Line 34: Line 106:
   
   
  +
[[Category:Human development]]
−  
  +
[[Category:Humans|Development]]
  +
[[Category:Developmental psychology]]
 
[[Category:Physical development]]
  
[[Category:Physical development]]
   
   
  +
{{enWP|Human development (biology)}}
−
{{Psych-stub}}
  

Latest revision as of 00:30, 3 November 2013

Assessment | Biopsychology | Comparative | Cognitive | Developmental | Language | Individual differences | Personality | Philosophy | Social |
Methods | Statistics | Clinical | Educational | Industrial | Professional items | World psychology |

Developmental Psychology: Cognitive development · Development of the self · Emotional development · Language development · Moral development · Perceptual development · Personality development · Psychosocial development · Social development · Developmental measures

Human development is the process of growing to maturity and reaching one's full potential. In biological terms, this entails growth from a one-celled zygote to an adult human being. The psychological study of human development is called developmental psychology.

We can conceive of human development in a variety of ways. In political-economic terms, human development has to do with stability, security and relative prosperity. In social terms, it has to do with literacy, education, social relationships, quality of life, etc. In moral terms, it has to do with the development of the conscience, moral awareness, and the will and capacity to act according to our knowledge of what is right. In psychological terms, human development has to do with mental health, self-esteem, success in significant relationships, happiness

Biological development

Sperm-egg

A spermatozoon fertilizing an ovum

Development begins with fertilization, the process by which the male gamete, the sperm cell, and the female gamete, the oocyte, fuse to give rise to a diploid cell, the zygote.

In medicine, pregnancy is defined as beginning when a fertilized zygote becomes implanted in a woman's uterus. This occurs when the zygote then becomes embedded into the endometrium (lining of the uterus) where it forms a placenta, for the purpose of receiving essential nutrients through the uterus wall. The umbilical cord in a newborn child signifies the remnants of implantation.

The zygote undergoes rapid mitotic divisions with no significant growth (a process known as cleavage) and cellular differentiation, leading to development of an embryo.

Childbirth is the process in which the baby is born. It is considered by many to be the beginning of a person's life, where age is defined relative to this event in most cultures.

Developmental stages

Terms for developmental age groups include, with their approximate age ranges:

Physical development milestones

Main article: Milestones of infant and child development
  • Ability to lift and control the orientation of the head
  • Crawling begins
  • Walking begins
  • Speech begins
  • Voice lowers in pitch (especially noticeable in boys)
  • Pubic hair appears
  • Genitals and reproductive organs mature
  • Menses begin (females)
  • Body hair and facial hair appears

Note: the Tanner stages can be used to approximately judge a child's age based on physical development.

Further aspects of development linked to physical development

Assessment

See also

References & Bibliography

Key texts

Books

Papers

Additional material

Books

Papers

External links


This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.