The Big Picture
People change throughout life. Some changes involve the body, while others involve how a person thinks, behaves, functions, and relates to others.
These changes begin at fertilization and continue until death. They follow general patterns, but everyone does not develop at exactly the same rate.
Understanding these basic patterns helps you make sense of the different stages of human growth and development.
Quick tip: Tap, click, or press Enter on any term with a dotted underline and an ⓘ icon to see its plain-English definition.
Start Here If You’re Overwhelmed
Focus on these core ideas:
- Growth involves measurable physical changes, such as changes in height and weight.
- Development involves changes in how a person thinks, behaves, functions, and relates socially.
- Growth and development continue from fertilization until death.
- Skills develop from simple to more complex abilities.
- Each stage includes developmental tasks and provides a foundation for the next stage.
- People develop at different rates, so developmental stages are guidelines rather than strict rules.
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Course Notes: Key Ideas You Need to Know
Growth and Development Are Different
Growth refers to physical changes that a person experiences in a steady and orderly way.
Growth includes measurable changes in:
- height
- weight
- physical appearance
- body functions
Development refers to changes in psychological and social functioning. It includes changes in how a person thinks and behaves at different stages of life.
For example, a 2-year-old thinks in simple ways and depends on a primary caregiver for many basic needs. A 40-year-old thinks in more complex ways and usually meets most basic needs without help.
Development also includes maturation toward adulthood, physical changes, and increased ability and functioning.
Growth and Development Continue Throughout Life
Growth and development begin at fertilization and continue until death.
They do not happen only during childhood. Human growth and development involve changes across the lifespan.
Changes Move From Simple to Complex
Growth and development progress from simpler abilities toward more complex ones.
For example:
- A baby learns to sit before standing.
- A baby stands before walking.
- A child walks before running.
- An adolescent develops from dependence toward independence.
These examples show that later abilities build on earlier ones.
Growth and Development Follow Certain Directions
Growth and development occur in recognizable directions.
One direction moves from the head toward the foot. This pattern uses the course terms cephalocaudal and proximodistal .
For example:
- A baby learns to hold up their head.
- The baby later learns to sit.
- After sitting, the baby learns to stand.
Growth and development also move from the centre of the body outward.
For example, a baby gains control of shoulder movements before gaining control of hand movements.
Development Follows a Sequence and Pattern
Growth and development occur in a sequence.
A developmental task is an activity that must be mastered during a particular stage of development.
Each stage has developmental tasks. A stage cannot be skipped because each stage provides the foundation for the next one.
Children throughout the world move through each stage of development before progressing to the next developmental task, regardless of culture or living conditions.
Growth Does Not Happen at a Set Pace
The rate of growth is uneven.
Growth happens more rapidly during infancy. Children also experience growth spurts .
One child might grow rapidly while another grows more slowly.
Development Also Happens at Different Rates
Development does not occur at one fixed pace.
Each stage has its own:
- characteristics
- developmental tasks
People do not all fit the expected developmental pattern for their age.
Several Factors Affect the Rate of Development
The rate of development is influenced by many things, including:
- quality of stimulation
- nutritional diet
- environment
Because people develop at different rates, developmental stages are better understood as guidelines rather than strict rules.
Common Mix-Ups
| Wrong Idea | Better Idea |
|---|---|
| Growth and development mean the same thing. | Growth refers to physical changes. Development involves changes in psychological and social functioning. |
| Everyone develops at exactly the same rate. | Growth and development occur at uneven rates. |
| Developmental stages are strict rules for every age. | Developmental stages are guidelines because people develop at different rates. |
| A person can skip a developmental stage. | Each stage provides the foundation for the next stage. |
Fast Review
Focus on the patterns and differences that connect the whole topic.
- Growth refers to measurable physical changes, including height, weight, appearance, and body functions.
- Development includes changes in psychological and social functioning.
- Growth and development begin at fertilization and continue until death.
- Development moves from simple abilities toward more complex abilities.
- Growth and development follow certain directions, including from the head toward the foot and from the centre of the body outward.
- A developmental task is an activity that must be mastered during a stage of development.
- Development follows a sequence, and each stage lays the foundation for the next.
- Growth and development do not occur at a fixed rate.
- Growth is more rapid during infancy, and children experience growth spurts.
- Quality of stimulation, nutritional diet, and environment help determine the rate of development.
- People do not always fit the developmental norm for their age.
- Developmental stages are guidelines rather than strict rules.
Final Pep Talk
This topic has several patterns to remember, so focus on the big connections first. Once you separate growth from development and remember that development follows stages at different rates, the rest becomes easier to organize.