HUMAN DEVELOPMENT:
Meaning, Concepts and
Approaches
Dr. Linda Bañaga-Campopos, RGC
Human Development
it is a pattern of movement or
change that begins at conception
and continues through the life span
Understanding…
Understanding…
• Growth
• Development
• Maturity
Growth
• The progressive increase and
continuous advancement of the child
from birth to maturity
Development
• Refers to the gradual and orderly unfolding of
the characteristics of the individuals as they
go through the successive stages of growth.
• Involves changes from simplicity to complexity
and implies an increasingly progressive
maturity of behavior as well as organization of
personality and character.
Development
• Refers to the gradual and orderly unfolding of
the characteristics of the individuals as they
go through the successive stages of growth.
• Involves changes from simplicity to complexity
and implies an increasingly progressive
maturity of behavior as well as organization of
personality and character.
Difference between Growth
and Development
Difference between Growth
and Development
• Quantitative • Qualitative
Difference between Growth
and Development
• Quantitative • Qualitative
• Ends with maturity • Continuous from womb
to grave
Difference between Growth
and Development
• Quantitative • Qualitative
• Ends with maturity • Continuous from womb
• Does not depend upon to grave
maturation or learning • Depends upon
maturation and learning
Difference between Growth
and Development
• Quantitative • Qualitative
• Ends with maturity • Continuous from womb
• Does not depend upon to grave
maturation or learning • Depends upon
• Observable and maturation and learning
measurable changes • Is not directly
observable
Difference between Growth
and Development
• Qualitative
• Continuous from womb
• Quantitative to grave
• Ends with maturity • Depends upon
• Does not depend upon maturation and learning
maturation or learning
• Is not directly
• Observable and
observable
measurable changes
• May or may not bring • Is possible without
development growth
Maturation
• Refers to the part of development
that is controlled from within the
“internal ripening” aspects,
indicating that growth has
reached its optimal level.
Some major principles of human
development:
1. Development is relatively orderly.
*proximodistal pattern – the muscular control
of the trunk and the arms comes earlier as
compared to the hands and fingers
*cephalo-caudal – during infancy the greatest
growth always occur at the top – the head – with
the physical growth in size, weight and future
differentiation gradually working its way down
from top to bottom
2. While the pattern of development
is likely to be similar, the outcomes
of development processes and the
rate of development are likely to
vary among individuals.
3. Development takes place
gradually.
4. Development as a process is complex
because it is the product of biological,
cognitive and socio-emotional
processes (Santrock, 2002).
*Biological processes involve changes
in the individual’s thought, intelligence
and language.
*Cognitive processes involve changes
in the individual’s thought, intelligence
and language.
*Socio-emotional processes include
changes in the individual’s relationship
with other people, changes in emotions
and changes in personality.
Two approaches to human development:
1. Traditional Development-the belief
that there is extensive change from
birth to adolescence, little or no change
in adulthood and decline in the old age.
2. Life-span Development-the belief that
even in adulthood developmental
change takes place as it does during
childhood.
What are the characteristics of life-span
development?
PAUL BALTES, an expert in life-
span development, gives the
following characteristics:
• Development is lifelong. It does not
end in adulthood.
• Development is multi-dimensional.
Development consist of biological,
cognitive, and socio-emotional
dimensions.
• Development is plastic.
Development is possible
throughout the life-span.
• Development is contextual.
Individuals are changing beings in
a changing world.
• Development involves growth,
maintenance and regulation.
Issues on Human Development
“The interaction of heredity and
environment is so extensive that to ask which
is more important, nature or nurture, is like
asking which is more important to a
rectangle, height or width.”
- William Greenough
“The key to development is the
interaction of nature and nurture rather
than either factor alone.”
- (Rutter 2001 as quoted by Snatrock
2002)
“Without genes, there is no person;
Without environment, there is no
person.”
- (Scarr & Weinberg, 1980, quoted by
Santrock, 2002)
1. Nature vs. Nurture
Nature – individual’s biological
inheritance
Nurture – environmental
experiences
2. Continuity vs. Discontinuity
Continuity – gradual, cumulative
change
Discontinuity – distinct changes
3. Stability vs. Change
Stability – the quality that is not
easily changed
Change – becoming different
THANK YOU!😂
