Principles of the Life-Span Developmental Approach: Part 1

Paul B. Baltes identified seven key principles of life-span development. This lesson explains the first four principles.

First, development is lifelong, with previous experiences building each stage and shaping later stages.

For instance, children who hear more words in their early years tend to develop stronger 
vocabulary and reading skills in school.

Second, development is multidimensional and involves the interaction of biological, 
psychological, and social factors.

For example, the biological changes happening during puberty may bring hormonal shifts that influence mood, a psychological factor, and alter peer relationships, which is a social factor.

Third, development is multidirectional, where individuals may advance in some areas while 
declining in others.

For instance, adolescents often gain physical strength but may find it harder to learn new 
languages.

Fourth, the relative influences of biology and culture shift over the life span.

For example, as older adults experience reduced vision or hearing, age-friendly technology like speech-to-text apps may help maintain independence and function.