Life-span perspective is a holistic approach to understanding the lifespan of an individual, which takes into account the development of an individual from birth to death. It is a multi-faceted concept that considers the various life stages, the changing environment in which individuals live, and the influence of both physiological and psychological factors on their psychological development. This perspective has been influential in the fields of psychology, education, and health care, and has been used to guide research, practice, and policy decisions.
The concept of life-span perspective was first proposed by psychologist and human development theorist Paul Baltes in the 1970s. At the time, there was a narrow focus on childhood development and a lack of understanding of how development continued into adulthood. Baltes argued that a more comprehensive approach to development was needed, one that took into account the complex interplay between biological, psychological, and social factors. He proposed a life-span approach, which focused on the continuous and dynamic interactions between individuals and their environments.
This perspective has since been expanded by other theorists, including Erik Erikson, who developed the concept of psychosocial development. This concept proposed that individuals go through eight stages of development, beginning with infancy and ending with old age. Each stage is marked by a particular challenge, such as establishing a sense of identity or understanding one’s place in the world. This concept of psychosocial development has been influential in the understanding of the life-span perspective.
The life-span perspective has been used to guide research, practice, and policy for a range of topics, including education, health care, and mental health. For example, in the field of education, the life-span perspective has been used to understand how individuals learn and develop over time. In the field of health care, the life-span perspective has been used to understand how physical and psychological health are affected by age-related changes and environmental factors. In the field of mental health, the life-span perspective has been used to understand the development of mental illnesses over the lifespan.
Overall, the life-span perspective is an important concept in the fields of psychology, education, and health care. It is a comprehensive approach to understanding the development of an individual from birth to death, taking into account the influence of biological, psychological, and social factors. This perspective has been influential in guiding research, practice, and policy decisions.
References
Baltes, P. (1978). Life-span development and behavior. New York: Academic Press.
Erikson, E. H. (1959). Identity and the life cycle. Psychological Issues, 1, 18-41.
Hoffman, L. W., & Johnson, S. D. (2009). Human development: A lifespan view. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Kail, R. V., & Cavanaugh, J. C. (2019). Human development: A life-span view. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
McMahon, M. J., & Wells, K. B. (2017). A life-span approach to mental health care. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 13, 585-610.