To what extent and in what ways are people ?fixed? and ?open to change?

Charles Darwin was not only a pioneer in evolutionary psychology, also todays theories of modern life information pee-pee on and are influenced by Darwins ideas. His functionalist perspective primarily pore on the reason for development of specific human characteristics over legion(predicate) generations, and because an enormously long timescale. However, inspired by the observations in the development his cause son, Darwin also acknowledged that an individual is the result of a delaying sequence of prior changes, both in a broad evolutionary sense and within individuals own lifetime and promote development and changes lies ahead (Cooper and Roth, p.50, 2003). This notion provided the basis for other researchers to further look for the development of humans over a lifetime period. The human lifespan development rouse be explored in umpteen distinct ways, e.g. in terms of biological maturity of the body from a new-born to a physically to the full-grown adult, physical d eterioration in later stages of live and how that effects the great unwashed psychologically. Individual physiological and psychological characteristics are potential factors that have different impact on severally individual, they accordingly are considered as inseparable influences (Cooper and Roth, p.5, 2003). The development of cognitive abilities, specific historical circumstances or the fond and cultural environments of each person present external influences (Cooper and Roth, p.5, 2003). It has to be state that both internal and external factors can influence each other. We therefore we have to look at these transactions rather than just taking single factors into consideration.Initially, researchers considered the observation of children as a very instructive bureau in investigating at what pass of time certain changes in human behaviour evolve. Through identifying a pattern of changes that incur mooring in the development of a new born into a fully grown adult, re searches developed the organismic approach. They believed that in order to achieve adulthood, sight go through different phases and that a later stage incorporates and expands on the experiences from an earlier stage in life (stage theory). bit adulthood was considered as the end-stage, external factors were identified as potential causes for a delay, acceleration or slowing-down in certain stages of development, but it was suggested that the pat... ... we can consciously change, e.g. getting rid of what we sometimes define as bad habits, or unconsciously after powerful, sometimes traumatic life-events. Human development therefore should be seen as the complex construct of interactions between age-related factors, historical factors and ergodic environmental occurrences that only relate to one individual (Cooper and Roth, p.59, 2003). While proto(prenominal) experiences in life might predict certain characteristics that define each individual throughout his/her life, life event s and experiences are considered to be major factors that can enhance and undoubtedly change these characteristics. Human development over a lifetime can be seen as a constant journey, with many possible routes, turns, cross-points and sometimes dead-ends. We, as the drivers of the vehicle that takes us through our own individual journey can often chose which road we want to take out of all routes available. Sometimes our choices are limited, but the end point of our journey is the end of our lives, rather then the achievement of adulthood.ReferencesCooper, T. and Roth, I. (eds) (2003) Challenging psychological Issues, Milton Keynes, The Open University.