MODULE 1: BASIC CONCEPTS & ISSUES ON HUMAN
DEVELOPMENT
Human development- refers to the pattern of growth
and change that begins at conception and continues
until maturity.
-includes growth (positive) and decline
(negative).
-involves biological transformation,
psychological, social, and intellectual changes
(Pressley and McCormick (2007).
Dr. Mahboob-ul-Haq- a Pakistani economist and
development theorist, introduced the human
development concept and the human development
index as statistical measures for economic growth.
Human development index- a statistical measure to
quantify the indicators of economic growth with
human development.
DOMAINS IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Physical development- encompasses the growth and
changes in the human body, brain, senses, motor
skills, and overall health and wellness.
Cognitive development- encompasses various aspects
such as learning, attention, memory, language,
thinking, reasoning, and creativity.
Psychosocial development- involves emotions,
personality, self-esteem, and social relationships.
MAJOR PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
predictable patterns of human growth and
development which enables people of all genders to
predict how and when certain characteristics will
develop during certain periods of life span.
1. Development proceeds from the head downward.
- from the center or midline of the human body
outward. Spinal cords before the outer parts of
the body
Proximodistal Principle- proximo; “near”. Distal;
far.
2. Development proceeds from the center of the
body outward. - (Noggle & Santos, 2011)
development occurs from the head (top) to the
feet (bottom). Gain physical control of their head
first.
Cephalocaudal Principle- cephalic; head. Caudal;
tail.
3. Development depends on maturation and
learning- Maturation- a process of all genders
changes, grow, and develop throughout life.
Maturing could help improve the Thinking
(cognitive) and motor (physical) skills of the
children.
Readiness-maturity has to occur to a certain point
before they can progress to new skills
Orthogenetic Principle- Ortho-directions(orthodontist)
; Genetic- origins (genesis) and development. This
describes all developmental stages, from lack of
differentiation to increasing differentiation,
articulation, and hierarchic integration (Heinz Werner,
1975). The development of simple skills is one type of
this principle.
4. Development proceeds from the simple (concrete)
to the more complex.
5. Growth and development is a continuous process-
As a child develops, they add to the skills they
already acquired and the new skills become the
basis for further achievement and mastery of
skills.
6. Growth and development proceed from the
general to specific- growth occurs from large
muscle movements to more refined (smaller)
muscle movements.
7. There are individual rates of growth and
development- children has individuality when it
comes to rates on the developmental stages they
reach. There is no validity to comparing one child’s
progress with or against another child. Rates of
development also are not uniform within an
individual child.
THERE ARE INDIVIDUAL RATES OF GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENT.
Heredity – the transmission of genetic characteristics
from the parents to their children of all genders.
Environment – effects on development include
reduction in IQ from exposure to heavy metals such as
lead, changes in puberty from exposure to endocrine
disrupting chemicals, birth defects, and fetal loss;
plays a vital role in the sociological, physical, and
psychological development.
“One of the times when we are most susceptible to the
influences of our surrounding environment is when we
are developing as a fetus in our mother’s womb.”
-Dr Pampa Sarkar
Maturation –the process by which people of all
genders develop, grow, and change throughout the life
stages. In children, being able to do tasks and things
they could not do previously. Therefore, with maturing
there is an increase in competency and adaptability.
Major Contextual Influences
-Family -School -Socio-economic status -Media -
Culture, Race and ethnicity
 Development is contextual- people of all genders are
changing over time in line with the changes happening
CONCEPTIONS OF AGE in the world.
Chronological age- measured by the number of years Development involves growth, maintenance, and
that have elapsed since a person’s birth. It is regulation- Growth, maintenance, and regulation (3
considered synonymous with the universal concept of goals of human development) development.
age. Individual goals vary among developmental stages. As
Biological Age- health and well-being as determined individual reaches middle and late adulthood, concern
by the capacity of their vital organs to function at with growth is set aside and regulation is prioritized.
optimum level. HUMAN LIFE SPAN
Psychological Age- measured by the adaptive capacity
Age Period Period of Development
of the person compared to the majority of people of Conception to PRE-NATAL PERIOD
all genders with identical chronological capacities. Birth
People of all genders who can adopt effectively the Birth to 2 years INFANCY
changes in their life patterns are said to be
“psychologically younger” than those who cannot. 2 years to 6 years EARLY CHILDHOOD
(Pre-School years)
Social age- a numerical scale unit expressing how
mature a person is in terms of his or her interpersonal 6 years to 12 years MIDDLE AND LATE
skills and ability to fulfill the norms and expectations CHILDHOOD
related to particular social roles. (Schoolers)

APPROACHES IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT 13 years to 18 ADOLESCENCE

Traditional Approach- emphasizes extensive change years
19 years to 29 EARLY ADULTHOOD
from birth to adolescence, little or no change in
years
adulthood, and decline in late old age.
30 years to 60 MIDDLE ADULTHOOD
Life Span Approach-the full process of human years
development from conception to death; a holistic 61 years and over LATE ADULTHOOD
approach to understanding all of the physiological,
cognitive, emotional, and social changes that people ISSUES ON HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
of all genders go through.
Nature and Nurture- The initial use of the Nature vs.
CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE SPAN HUMAN Nurture Theory was credited to Sir Francis Galton in
DEVELOPMENT 1869 (Bynum, 2002).
Development is Lifelong- development is a lifelong Nature-influenced by genetic inheritance and other
progression; it encompasses the entire lifespan, from biological factors.
conception to death. Nurture-generally taken as the influence of external
factors after conception.
Development is both multidimensional and
multidirectional- Multidimensionality consists of Early experiences and Late experiences- (Sigmund
biological, cognitive, and socio-emotional dimensions. Freud) much of a child’s personality is established by
Multidirectional, according to Paul Baltes, the age of five. In contrast, researchers found that
“Development of a particular domain does not occur childhood events don't necessarily dominate behavior
in a strictly linear fashion, but the development of throughout life, suggesting both early and recent
certain traits can be characterized as having the experiences impact human development.
capacity for both an increase and decrease in efficacy Continuity and Discontinuity
over the course of an individual’s life”. Continuous development- cumulative process, there is
Development is plastic- Human traits can be molded a gradual change.
yet people of all genders maintain a certain durability Discontinuous- development occurs in unique stages
of identity. and occurs at specific times or ages; change is more
sudden.
MODULE 2: DEVELOPMENTAL THEORIES AND OTHER
RELEVANT THEORIES
RELEVANT THEORIES IN EDUCATION
1. Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalytic theory
2. Jean Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive development
3. Erik Erickson’s Psycho-social theory of
development
4. Lawrence Kohlberg’s theory of Moral
development
5. Lev Vygotsky’s Socio-cultural theory
6. Urie Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological theory
SIGMUND FREUD’S PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORY
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) an Austrian neurologist
and founder of psychoanalysis developed talk therapy
techniques including transference, free association,
and dream interpretation.
SIGMUND FREUD’S STAGES OF PSYCHOSEXUAL
DEVELOPMENT
The 5 stages; oral, anal, phallic,latency, and genital.
Each stage represents the fixation of libido (roughly
translated as sexual drives or instincts) on a different
area of the human body.
Erogenous zone- specific area that becomes the focus
of pleasure which maybe the mouth, anus and
genitals.
Fixation- leaving individual focused on this stage and
unable to move onto the next. Occurs when needs are
not met along the area or failure to satisfy the needs
of a particular psychosexual stage, a fixation occurs,
leaving the individual focused on this stage and unable
to move on.
THE FIVE STAGES OF PSYCHOSEXUAL DEVELOPMENT
Oral Stage (Birth to 18 months)- libido is centered in a
baby's mouth.
Oral receptive-drink alcohol, overeat or become
smokers
Oral aggressive- nail-biters, fingerchewers, and thumb
suckers, to gossip and use curse words.
Oral personalities- oral behaviors, particularly when
under stress
*Infant is entirely dependent upon caretakers, led to
developed a sense of trust and comfort through oral
stimulation.
Anal Stage (18 months to 3 years old)- controlling
bladder and bowel movements; toilet training
Anal-expulsive personality- messy, wasteful,
disorganized or destructive personality.
Anal-retentive personality- stringent, orderly, rigid,
and has obsession in cleanliness, perfection and
control.
Phallic Stage ( 3 to 6 years old)- genitals; children
become interested in what makes girls and boys
different; stimulation or masturbation of his own
genitals.
Boys develop unconscious sexual desires for their
mother: Oedipus Complex
Castration anxiety- a fear that their father will punish
them for these(desire for their mother) feelings.
Oedipus Complex- after the Greek Mythology figure
who accidentally killed his father and married his
mother Jocasta.
Fixation- reckless or afraid of love, poor opposite sex
relationship, sexual deviancies (both overindulging
and avoidance), narcissistic and weak or confused
sexual identity
Girls developing unconscious sexual attraction to their
father: Electra Complex
Latency Stage ( 6 to puberty)- libido is in “do not
disturb mode.”; sexual energy was channeled into
industrious, asexual activities like learning, hobbies,
and social relationships.
Fixation- lifelong immaturity, inability to have and
maintain happy, healthy, and fulfilling sexual and non-
sexual relationships as an adult and lack of close
friends
Genital Stage ( Adolescenece onwards)- like “Grey’s
Anatomy,” never ends. Strong sexual interest in the
opposite sex.
If success: folks have heterosexual intercourse and
develop loving, lifelong relationships with someone of
the opposite sex.
Fixation- Guilt about sexuality, feelings of inadequacy,
poor sexual relationships, and anxious feelings
regarding the opposite sex.
SIGMUND FREUD’S PERSONALITY COMPONENTS
Human personality is complex and has more than a
single component. (Freud)
Personality is composed of three elements; id, ego,
superego.; work together to create complex human
behaviors.
 ID EGO SUPER EGO “The Mind is like an iceberg; it floats with one-seventh
Instinct Reality Morality of its bulk above water”- Sigmund Freud
-source of all -develops from -begins to
MODULE 3: DEVELOPMENT OF LEARNERS AT
psychic energy; the id emerge at
VARIOUS STAGES
primary -ensures that around age
component of the impulse of five. HUMAN LIFE BEGINS AT CONCEPTION
personality. the id is -internalized
-only component acceptable in moral From conception the zygote, the embryo and the fetus
that is present the real world. standards; are undeniably human life.
from birth. -functions in the sense of right THE STAGES OF PRE-NATAL DEVELOPMENT
-unconscious, conscious, and wrong
includes preconscious, (acquire from Pre-natal stage- remarkable change that helps set the
instinctive and and our parents stage for future psychological development. Brain
primitive unconscious and society) develops over the course of the prenatal period, but it
behaviors. mind. -guidelines for will continue to go through more changes during the
-driven by the -responsible for making early years of childhood.
pleasure dealing with judgments. PROCESS OF PRENATAL DEVELOPMENT OCCURS IN
principle reality -tries to THREE MAIN STAGES
-fulfilling these -based on the perfect and
needs is not reality principle civilize our 1. Germinal stage- first two weeks after conception
always realistic or -reality principle behavior 2. Embryonic period- third through the eighth week
even possible. weighs the costs -suppress all 3. Fetal period- ninth week until birth
and benefits of unacceptable
GERMINAL STAGE
an action before urges of the id
-sperm and egg cell unite in one of the two fallopian
deciding to act and struggles
tubes
upon or to make the
-fertilized egg is called a zygote
abandon ego act upon
-a few hours after conception, the single-celled zygote
impulses idealistic
begins journey down the fallopian tube to the uterus.
-ID: HORSE; standards
-Cell division begins approximately 24 to 36 hours
EGO: HORSE rather that
after conception
RIDER (Freud) upon realistic
Mitosis-zygote first divides into two cells, then into
principles
four, eight, sixteen, and so on.
-present in the
During eight-cell point
conscious,
-cells begin to differentiate and take on certain
preconscious,
characteristics that will determine the type of cells
and
they will eventually become.
unconscious.
-Two separated cell. Outer; placenta. Inner; Embryo.
-has two parts;
(1) conscience- -After a week-long journey from fallopian tube to
about things uterus wall cell develop as blastocyst that is made up
that are of three layers, each of which develops into different
viewed as bad structures in the body.
by parents and
society. (2) ego 1. Ectoderm: Skin and nervous system
ideal-rules and 2. Endoderm: Digestive and respiratory
standards for systems
behaviors that 3. Mesoderm: Muscle and skeletal systems
the ego aspires -Afte blastocyst arrives at the uterus and attaches to
to the uterus wall implantation occurs (occurs when the
cells nestle into the uterine lining and rupture tiny
PERSONALITY COMPONENTS AND PERSONALITY blood vessels.)
ADJUSTMENTS -connective web of blood vessels and membranes
between will provide nourishment for the next 9
months
-Implantation is not always an automatic and sure-fire
process. 60% of all natural conceptions never become
properly implanted in the uterus results new life
ending before the mother is ever aware she is
pregnant.
-When implantation is successful, hormonal changes
occurs.
EMBRYONIC STAGE
-the mass of cells is now known as an embryo.
-beginning of 3rd week, the mass of cells becomes
distinct as a human
-4th week, the neural tube forms, will later develop
into the central nervous system including the spinal
cord and brain.
-Around the 4th week, the head begins to form, quickly
followed by the eyes, nose, ears, and mouth. The
blood vessel that will become the heart start to pulse.
-Neural tube begins to form at neural plate. The
emergence of two ridges that form along each side of
the neural plate, is the earliest sign.
-Over the next few days, more ridges form and fold
inward until a hollow tube is formed. Tube begins to
close and brain vesicles form which will eventually
develop into parts of the brain, including the
forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain.
-5th week, buds that will form the arms and legs
appear.
-8th week, the embryo has all of the basic organs and
parts except sex organs. Embryo weighs just one gram
and is about one inch in length
-at end of the embryonic period, basic structures of
the brain and central nervous system have been
established. Basic structure of the peripheral nervous
system is also defined.
-production of neurons, begins around day 42 after
conception and mostly complete sometime around
the middle of pregnancy.
-As neurons form, they migrate to different areas of
the brain. Once they have reached the correct
location, they begin to form connections with other
neural cells, establishing rudimentary neural
networks.
FETAL STAGE
-Once cell differentiation is mostly complete, embryo
becomes fetus.
-This period marks more important changes in the
brain.
-begins during 9th week and lasts until birth.
-The development from embryonic stage continues to
develop
-Neural tube develops into the brain, spinal cord and
neurons continue to form.
-Neurons begins to migrate in their correct location.
Synapses also begins to develop (connections
between neurons)
-Between the 9th and 12th week of gestation (at the
earliest), fetus begins to make reflexive motions with
its arms and legs.
-3rd month (1st trimerster) of gestation, sex organs
begin to differentiate. By the end of the month, all
parts of the body will be formed. Fetus weighs around
3 ounces. The fetus continues to grow in both weight
and length, although the majority of the physical
growth occurs in the later stages of pregnancy.
-During the 2nd trimester (4-6 months), the heartbeat
grows stronger and other body systems become
further developed(Fingernails, hair, eyelashes, and
toenails form), the fetus increases about six times in
size.
-Brain and central nervous system become more
responsive during the second trimester. Around 28
weeks, the brain starts to mature faster, with an
activity that greatly resembles that of a sleeping
newborn.
-from 7 months until birth (3rd trimerster), the fetus
continues to develop, put on weight, and prepare for
life outside the womb. The lungs begin to expand and
contract, preparing the muscles for breathing.
-While development usually follows this normal
pattern, there are times when problems with prenatal
development occur. Disease, malnutrition, and other
prenatal influences can have a powerful impact on
how the brain develops during this critical period.
TERATOLOGY AND HAZARDS TO PRENATAL
DEVELOPMENT
TERATOLOGY- field that investigates the causes of
congenital (birth) defects.
Teratogen-which causes birth defects. It comes from
Greek word ”tera” =“monster”
THE HAZARD
1. Prescription and nonprescription drugs-
prescription as well as non-prescription. Antibiotic
is an example of a prescription drug that can be
harmful.
2. Psychoactive drugs- nicotine, caffeine and illegal
drug such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroine.
3. Environmental hazards- radiation in jobsites and X-
rays, environmental pollutants, retained placenta,
hemorrhaging after birth, and breech deliveries.
4. Other maternal factors such as Rubella (German
Measles), syphilis, genital herpes, AIDS, nutrition,
high anxiety and stress, age (too early or too late,
beyond 30)
Rubella- contagious viral infection a.k.a red rash. Also
called German measles/ three-day measles. This
infection may cause mild symptoms or even no
symptoms in most people, it can cause serious
problems for unborn babies whose mothers become
infected during pregnancy.
Syphilis- bacterial infection usually spread by sexual
contact. Starts as a painless sore — typically on your
genitals, rectum, or mouth. Spreads from person to
person via skin or mucous membrane contact with
these sores.
STRESS AND PREGNANCY
Stress- natural reaction to changes and challenges.
Good or exciting changes can be stressful. Some can
be helpful, since it gives you the motivation and focus
to face challenges and get things done. But too much
can be overwhelming, making it difficult to cope with
everyday tasks. Too much stress can affect your body,
thoughts and feelings. It can also affect your behavior.
Sometime pregnancy itself can be stressful;
-For example, waiting for and getting the results of
antenatal tests can cause stress. If you’ve gone
through fertility treatment or experienced a previous
miscarriage or death of a baby, pregnancy can be
physically and emotionally demanding for you and
your family.
-Pregnancy can also mean many physical and
emotional changes. The changes of pregnancy can be
even more stressful if your pregnancy was unplanned,
because you might have had less time to prepare for
these changes.
-You might also be feeling overwhelmed by
information, advice and stories from family, friends
and others.
-Other events and situations;
*financial problems
*relationship problems and/or break-up
*the need to move house or the process of moving
house
*unemployment or the need to change your job or
work hours
*other children who need help adjusting to the
pregnancy
*family illness or death of a family member
*grief
*trauma
*family violence
*problems with alcohol and other drugs
*history of mental illness, anxiety or depression.