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Lifespan psychology: theory and application to intellectual functioning
P B Baltes1, U M Staudinger, U Lindenberger
1Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany. sekbaltes@mpib-berlin.mpg.de
Annual Review of Psychology
|March 12, 2004
Summary
This review explores lifespan developmental psychology, integrating evolutionary and ontogenetic theories. It proposes a meta-theory of behavioral regulation (selection, optimization, compensation) to explain human development across the lifespan.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Evolutionary Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Lifespan psychology examines human development from birth to death.
- Existing theories often lack a unified framework for developmental changes across the entire lifespan.
- Integrating evolutionary and ontogenetic perspectives offers a comprehensive view of development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a theoretical analysis of lifespan developmental psychology.
- To propose a meta-theory of behavioral regulation (selection, optimization, compensation) for understanding development.
- To examine empirical evidence supporting the proposed lifespan development architecture.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis integrating evolutionary and ontogenetic perspectives.
- Developmental resource allocation model focusing on growth, maintenance, and regulation of loss.
- Examination of empirical data on cognition and intelligence across the lifespan.
Main Results:
- A general architecture for lifespan ontogeny is proposed, detailing its directionality and resource allocation.
- A meta-theory of behavioral regulation, based on selection, optimization, and compensation, is outlined.
- Empirical evidence on cognitive and intellectual development supports the proposed lifespan model.
Conclusions:
- The proposed lifespan developmental psychology framework offers a cohesive understanding of human development.
- Behavioral regulation through selection, optimization, and compensation is key to adaptive development across the lifespan.
- This theoretical approach is supported by empirical findings in cognitive and intellectual development.
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