Kayla Solt

Spring 2016
Psy. 1100 Lifespan Human Development Eportfolio

The perspective of development from birth to death is known as the human lifespan
perspective. This theory encompasses social, emotional, physical and cognitive development
across the entire span of a lifetime. This theory is an important view of development because it
covers so many aspects of development over an entire lifespan, which allows for a better
understanding of human behavior and how those behaviors are related to the unique
developmental stages each individual goes through during their lifetime.
The most important aspect of this course, for me, was the topic of childhood
development. This period interests me greatly because of my future goal of becoming an
elementary school teacher. The knowledge obtained throughout this course has given me a much
greater understanding of what drives childrens behavior and what they are experiencing
developmentally that drives these behaviors. This information will also be very useful in the
future should I decide to have a family of my own.
I found the concept of childhood development interesting and important because of the
relevance it has to my future career. I will be working with children in a classroom every single
day seeing the ideas and subjects found within these chapters. I feel that having been in this
course and being exposed to this material I have a much better understanding of the behaviors
that children exhibit, but also I have the underlying developmental reasons as to why they act the

way that do. This course will make me a better teacher, and prepare me to help my students
navigate through their own developmental struggles.
My love for children also means that someday would really love to have a family, this
course and the materials I was able to study in this course have helped me prepare for
parenthood, from the very beginning through the study of fetal development all the way into
them becoming adults and starting families of their own. Not only has it helped me understand
what to expect from my students, children and others but it has also helped me to come to a
greater understanding of myself.
After completing this course, I have a much better understanding of my own behavior as
well as why I do some of the things I do, from the development and changes in my personality to
my physical development and what I can expect in thru future both physiologically and
psychologically.
I believe that it is very important for one to understand themselves and their behavior
because it makes us all better people in the sense that once we are aware of ourselves we can
improve upon ourselves and strive for positive changes. Being aware of ones self is one of the
many reasons that this type of developmental study is important, and why this course could be
beneficial to everyone. With greater self-understanding, and better understanding of others I feel
that the world could be a better place where people are more inclined to care about one another.