Chapter 12 - Reflecting on life and death. The following will be discussed in this chapter: Development through the lifespan, making meaning of a life, length of life, quality of life, positive psychology, thinking about death, physiological considerations, cultural responses to death, the death of a young person,. | Chapter 12 Reflecting on life and death Development through the lifespan Development is less predictable than science would perhaps prefer. No single theory is 'right'. We can see some patterns of change through life. Individuals affect society and the social world affects individuals: a reciprocal relationship. There is no single developmental pathway that must be followed from birth to death. Making meaning of a life The modernist approaches look for 'the march of progress'. But this depends on the possibility of full control over change through life. We can never fully control what happens to us through life. Human Development studies the optimal conditions of growth and development through life. Lives are meaningful, however long or short they may be. The possibility of change through life is a hopeful approach. Length of life Life expectancy is growing through most of the world. Average life expectancy for a girl born in New Zealand in 2010 is 82 years. Average life expectancy for a boy born in New Zealand in 2010 is 77 years. Māori life expectancy is lower, but improving. Lifestyle is one of a number of factors affecting longevity. Quality of life Socio-economic factors linked with longevity include: income education. Wellbeing has become a focus of study by: psychologists local authorities health development researchers educators. Positive psychology Martin Seligman and colleagues noticed that psychology largely focuses on negative outcomes. They developed the Handbook of Character Strengths and Virtues (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). Character strengths categories include: wisdom and knowledge courage humanity justice temperance transcendence. Thinking about death Thanatology: the scientific study of death A modernist approach to science tends to support the idea that a death is a failure to live a longer life. Death comes to all of us eventually. There is increasing interest in and support for dying well. Different cultures may have very different customs and | Chapter 12 Reflecting on life and death Development through the lifespan Development is less predictable than science would perhaps prefer. No single theory is 'right'. We can see some patterns of change through life. Individuals affect society and the social world affects individuals: a reciprocal relationship. There is no single developmental pathway that must be followed from birth to death. Making meaning of a life The modernist approaches look for 'the march of progress'. But this depends on the possibility of full control over change through life. We can never fully control what happens to us through life. Human Development studies the optimal conditions of growth and development through life. Lives are meaningful, however long or short they may be. The possibility of change through life is a hopeful approach. Length of life Life expectancy is growing through most of the world. Average life expectancy for a girl born in New Zealand in 2010 is 82 years. Average life expectancy .
