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Unit 1: Introduction to Human Development

1. List down the four phases of Indian psychology . 

1. Pre-independence phase (before 1947)
2. Early post-independence phase (1947- 1960) 
3. Late post-independence phase ( 1960-1970) and 
4. An indigenisation phase (1970-present)

2. List down the major goals of the discipline of human development. 

The major goals of the discipline of human development are: 

i) Description, 

ii) Explanation, 

iii) Prediction, and 

iv) Modification. 

3. List the major characteristics of human development. 

The major characteristics of human development are: 

i) Development is life long, 

ii) Development follows specific sequence in the tonn of: 

    a) Cephalo-caudal development, 

    b) Proximo-distal development, 

iii) Development is irreversible, 

iv) Development proceeds from general to specific, 

v) Child develops as a whole, 

vi) Development is cumulative in nature, 

vii) Development varies from one child to another, 

viii) Biological and environmental contexts strongly influence development, and 

ix) Development is multidimensional and multidirectional. 

4. What are the major domains of human development?

The major domains of human development are: 

i) Physical and motor domain, 

ii) Language and cognitive domain, and 

iii) Socio-emotional domain. 

5. What are the main periods of human life span according to Indian view? 

The main periods of human life span according to Indian view are: 

i) Brahmacharya (stage of apprenticeship), 

    a) Balpan 

    b) Ksheerda 

    c) Ksheerannada 

    d) Bala 

    e) Kumara 

ii) Grahastha ashram (stage of family), 

iii) Vanaprastha (stage of extrication from attachment), and 

iv) Sanayasa (stage of renunciation).

6. List the major biological and environmental influences on human development. 

The major biological influences on human development are: 

i) Gender and 

ii) Maturation 

The major environmental influences on human development are: 

i) Family, 

ii) Socio-economic status, and 

iii) Culture 

7. Describe how the field of human development evolved as a science. 

1. Darwin’s Theory of Evolution (19th Century)

2. Baby Dairies and Biographies (late 19th, early 20th centuries) – William Preyer

3. The Normative Approach – Hall and Gesell

4. The First Intelligence Scale – Alfred Binet

5. An Early Developmental Theory – James Baldwin

6. Development of Human Development as a Scientific Discipline in India in four phases

8. Explain the nature of human development in your own language. Give examples from your daily life experiences. 

i) Development is life long, 

ii) Development follows specific sequence in the tonn of: 

    a) Cephalo-caudal development, 

    b) Proximo-distal development, 

iii) Development is irreversible, 

iv) Development proceeds from general to specific, 

v) Child develops as a whole, 

vi) Development is cumulative in nature, 

vii) Development varies from one child to another, 

viii) Biological and environmental contexts strongly influence development, and 

ix) Development is multidimensional and multidirectional. 

9. Discuss the basic perspectives of human development. 

We can categorise the researchers' theories on the basis of four basic issues which we can say are the basic perspectives of human development. These are: 

i) Continuous versus discontinuous development, 

ii) Nature versus nurture, 

iii) Active versus passive child, and 

iv) Stability versus change. 

10. Describe the importance of various influences on human development

1. Biological Influences on Human Development
1. Gender
2. Maturation: 
2. Environmental Influences on Human Development 
1. Family
2. Socio-Economic Status (SES)
3. Culture
3. Normative and Non-normative Influences 
4. Critical and Sensitive Periods 

Important Terms

• Preformationism: It is believed that, in medieval times, European people had no concept of childhood as a separate stage of human life. Children after infancy were considered as miniature adults. This view regarding children is known as preformationism.
• Original sin: According to Puritan (Christian) doctrine, children's souls were tainted by original sin and children were required to be civilised. Children were believed to be stubborn and born evil.
• Tabula rasa: 'Tabula rasa' term was given by John Locke. According to him, the child was a 'blank slate' at birth and the external experience from the surroundings shaped her or his personality characteristics.
• Noble savage: According to Jean Jacques Rousseau, children were active and 'noble savage', meaning they were born with the sense of right and wrong, and had unique ways of thinking and feeling. Rousseau believed that adult training could harm the innate goodness of the child.
• Baby biographies - William Preyer 
• Normative period - Stanley Hall 
• First intelligence scale - Alfred Binet 
• Early development theorist - James Baldwin 
• Continuous - Development is smooth and gradual process 
• Discontinuous - Development occurs in stages 
• Nature - Biological inheritance
• Nurture - Environmental influences 
• Stability - Characteristics persist throughout lifespan
• Active child - Curious information seeker 
• Normative influences: Normative influences can be defined as the influences experienced in the same way by a large number of people in a group. 
• Non-normative influences: Non-normative influences can be defined as influences that have a major affect on an individual. 
• Critical period: Critical period can be defined as a specific time when the occurrence or absence of certain events has a great impact on human development.
• Sensitive period: Sensitive petiod is a particular expe1ience which can be best incorporated into the maturation process for proper development. 

Points to Remember

1. A counseller and family therapist needs to be oriented towards the client's needs and problems. 
2. The whole family is involved in each member's development in the sense that each influences and reacts to the other member's phase of life