Question

Developmental tasks are :

• A. Random behaviors
• B. Age-related expectations
• C. Only biological changes
• D. Only emotional changes

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Age-related expectations

Concept of Developmental Tasks

• The concept of developmental tasks was popularized by Robert Havighurst, who defined them as skills, knowledge, functions, and attitudes that an individual must acquire at specific stages of life.
• These tasks are essential for successful adaptation to the environment and serve as the foundation for the individual's happiness and success in subsequent stages.
• If a task is mastered at the appropriate time, it leads to satisfaction and success with later tasks; failure leads to unhappiness and difficulty with later tasks.

Key Characteristics

• Biological Basis: Certain tasks arise from physical maturation, such as learning to walk, talk, or adjusting to physiological changes during puberty.
• Societal Pressure: Many tasks are dictated by cultural and societal expectations, such as learning to read, assuming civic responsibilities, or choosing a vocation.
• Individual Values: Tasks are also influenced by personal motives and individual values, reflecting the person's unique choices and developmental goals.

Havighurst's Developmental Stages

1. Infancy and Early Childhood (Birth to 6 years): Learning to take solid food, walk, talk, and control bodily waste.
2. Middle Childhood (6 to 12 years): Learning physical skills for games, building healthy attitudes toward oneself, and learning social roles.
3. Adolescence (12 to 18 years): Achieving emotional independence from parents, preparing for marriage and family life, and acquiring an ethical system.
4. Early Adulthood (18 to 30 years): Selecting a mate, starting a family, and managing a home.
5. Middle Age (30 to 60 years): Assisting teenage children to become responsible adults and adjusting to aging parents.
6. Later Maturity (60+ years): Adjusting to decreasing physical strength and retirement.