DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS

Robert Havighurst (1953) – theory of developmental tasks. Emphasized the interrelationship of physical, social, emotional, and intellectual aspects of development.

Definition: A developmental task is a task to be performed or achieved during a certain period in a person’s life. It represents culture's definition of "normal" development at different points in the life span. It consist of a set of skills and competences that are acquired as the person gains increased mastery over the environment. Many developmental tasks are related to the society in which an individual lives. Most people accomplish developmental tasks in a certain order. Successfully accomplish one task before going on to a task at the next level.

Interrelationship of the factors.

NO	LIFE STAGE	NO	DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS
1	INFANCY	1	Social attachment
		2	Sensorimotor intelligence and primitive causality
		3	Object permanence
		4	Maturation of motor function
2	TODDLERHOOD	1	Self-control
		2	Language development
		3	Fantasy and play
		4	Elaboration of locomotion.
3	EARLY SCHOOL AGE	1	Sex role identification
		2	Early moral development
		3	Concrete operations
		4	Group play
4	MIDDLE SCHOOL AGE	1	Social cooperation
		2	Self-evaluation
		3	Skill learning
		4	Team play
5	EARLY  ADOLESCENCE	1	Physical maturation
		2	Formal operations
		3	Membership in the peer group
		4	Heterosexual relationships
6	LATER  ADOELSCENCE	1	Autonomy from parents
		2	Sex role identity
		3	Internalized morality
		4	Career choice
7	EARLY  ADULTHOOD	1	Marriage
		2	Childbearing
		3	Work
		4	Lifestyle
8	MIDDLE ADULTHOOD	1	Management of the household
		2	Child rearing
		3	Management of a career
9	LATER  ADULTHOOD	1	Redirection of energy into new roles
		2	Acceptance of one life
		3	Developing a point of view about death

CHALLENGES ACROSS LIFE-CYCLE:

-Various capacity, types, duration, timing

-Various factors may influence them or influence the impact of the challenges

-Risk factors & protective factors

Factors that impede/hinder or facilitate/promote development/process of development

-Risk factors & protective factors

Factors that impede/hinder or facilitate/promote development/process of development

Individual/family/other contexts

Individual – low self-esteem, poor social skills (risk); high self-esteem, coping skill, assertiveness , resilient (protective)

-A resilient person can survive best

Ability to overcome challenges/to bounce back in the face of challenges

-Risk factors & protective factors

Factors that impede/hinder or facilitate/promote development/process of development

Individual/family/other contexts

Individual – low self-esteem, poor social skills (risk); high self-esteem, coping skill, assertiveness, resilient (protective)

-A resilient person can survive best

Ability to overcome challenges/to bounce back in the face of challenges

NO	LIFE STAGE	PSYCHOSOCIAL CRISIS
1	INFANCY	Trust versus mistrust
2	TODDLERHOOD	Autonomy versus shame and doubt
3	EARLY SCHOOL  AGE	Initiative versus guilt
4	MIDDLE SCHOOL  AGE	Industry versus inferiority
5	ADOLESCENCE	Identity versus role diffusion
6	YOUNG  ADULTHOOD	Intimacy versus isolation
7	MIDDLE  ADULTHOOD	Generativity versus stagnation
8	LATER  ADULTHOOD	Integrity versus despair

Class Activity

• Give examples of risk and protective factors for human development;
• Individual
• Family
• School/community