Life Span Perspective

Development begins at birth and continues throughout one’s entire life.  According to Smith (1999, para.4), “The first and obvious element is change – that development involves movement from one state to another.”  Whether it’s physically, mentally, or both, all individuals experience transitions as they move through the different life spans.  The typical stages of development that humans go through include: childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, middle adulthood, and late adulthood.  As individuals progress from one stage of life to the next there are a variety of factors that influence the unique development from one person to the next.  Factors such as culture, genetics, and environmental influences all play significant roles in life span development.