A human being begins life as a single cell. This cell changes throughout its life time to develop into a unique individual. Human development is the scientific study of the patterns associated with this change in accordance with the internal and external conditions of its existence (Papalia, Olds & Feldman, 2009). In exploring human development, there are three key areas that need to be addressed. These comprise of physical development, cognitive development and finally psychosocial development. Within each of these areas, it is apparent that most address three key issues. Firstly, is the development process continuous or a series of discontinuous stages? Secondly is there one path of development characteristics or does the individual take an active or passive role resulting in several possible paths and directions? Thirdly how do the genetic or environmental factors influence development? “Theorists such as Erikson and Piaget assume that developmental change occurs in distinct, discontinuous stages and all individuals follow the same sequence and order”(Hoffnung, Seifert, Smith, Hine, Ward & Quinn, 2010, p.34). While Brofenbrenner’s, ecological systems theory emphasises the broad range of situations and contexts in which development occurs making it a continuous process guided by the individual (Hoffnung,et al., 2010, p.35). The purpose of this paper is to present a developmental profile of a 17 year old middle class white girl living in Brisbane, Australia. This person will be referred to as Jane. She is very slight in her build weighing 50kg and standing 170cm tall. Jane is currently studying a science degree at university, with the intention of studying medicine. She lives at home with her parents who have been happily marr... ... middle of paper ... ...nce Ltd. Papalia, D. E., Olds, S. W., & Feldman, R. D. (2010). Human development (4th ed.). NY: McGraw Hill. Reiss, D. (1995, August 1). Implications for development. Journal of Marriage and Family, 57(3), 543-560. Rogoff, B. (1991). Apprenticeship in thinking: Cognitive development in social context. NY: Oxford University Press. Rosenthal, D. A., Gurney, R. M., & Moore, S. M. (1981). From trust on intimacy: A new inventory for examining Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 10(6), 525-537. Rutter Michael, & Rutter Marjorie. (1993). Developing minds: Challenge and continuity across the life span. NY: Basic Books. Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. Wertsch, J. V. (1985). Cultural, communication and cognition: Vygotskian perspectives. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
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There are three main concepts in the theory of Biological human development. Gesell’s maturation theory is that a child will develop according to a predetermined biological schedule. “There is an inner timetable that determines the readiness to do things” (Crain, 2011, p. 24). Despite efforts of parents trying to push their child into developing more quickly, the child will begin to develop cephalocaudaly (head to foot) when their nervous system has adequately matured. Although most children develop through the same sequences there may be a variance in the speed of growth (Crain, 2011). Gesell also believed that babies have the ability to self-regulate, given the opportunity they will be able to work out a stable schedule (Crain, 2011). Babies will cry when they are in need and tending to those needs on their organic time clock versus the caretakers’ own preconceived agenda will reassure self-regulated growth (Crain, 2011). In addition to biological maturation is the study of behavior within an evolutionary perspective. Ethology, most influenced by Darwin, studies the tremendously slow changes that transpire over many generations (Crain, 2011). Darwin’s theory on natural selection determines which species are fittest to live long e...
Craig, G. J., & Dunn, W. L. (Ex.: 2010). Understanding human development (2nd Ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.
Child growth and development is a process that consists of some building blocks, which are components that combine in an infinite number of ways (Cherry, n.d.). As a result of the variations of building blocks in a child’s development, educators, psychologists, and philosophers have been constantly engaged in the debate of nature versus nurture debate. Many researchers agree that child development is a complex interaction between his/her genetic background (nature) and his/her environment (nurture). In essence, some developmental aspects are strongly affected by biology whereas other aspects are influenced by environmental factors. From the onset of an individu...
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Adolescence the most important life course in the adolescent’s human development, during this stage many juveniles experience different emotions, transitions and cognitive dissonance. Juveniles experience many changes thought this age especially many physical changes in which their might experience confusions. One important theory concern is Erik Erikson theory of human psychosocial development. This theory states that human development must meet eight stages in order to transition into the next stage. According to Cvanaugh, and Kail (2014) argued that “adolescents face a crisis between identity and role confusion.” (p.240). In addition, adolescent’s experience many biological, physiological and cognitive changes that affect thee adolescent’s
Goldstein, E. (2015). Cognitive Psychology: Connecting mind. Research, and everyday experience (4th edition). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning