ABSTRACT
Life-span developmental psychology studies cognitive, social and emotional changes during the lifetime of the individual. Four main stages are identified: prenatal, childhood, adolescence and adulthood. The study of this life-span development encompasses physical, cognitive, social and emotional changes. It must be noted that developmental progress shows high individual variability. Particularly in adulthood, economic, social and cultural changes over the years have reduced the extent to which it is possible to describe a ‘normal’ pattern of development. Most types of development have features in common. Development involves differentiation, orderly progression, and cumulative change. The mechanisms of development include genetic factors. Malnutrition in infancy restricts physical growth, and can have far-reaching effects on brain development, and consequently on cognitive and social development. These factors all interact to produce individual variation in the rate and extent of development.
