Factors Affect Human Development

Factors Affect Human Development Th

SC2020: Week 1 Assignment What factors affect human development? This assignment helps you apply your knowledge from this week’s modules and readings. Understanding human development is important to your healthcare career in many ways! Factors that affect human development influence our behavior. Understanding our coworkers’ and patients’ behavior is essential for problem-solving workplace challenges.

Introduction to Human Development Using the textbook, answer the questions below. Which theories propose that development is largely determined by how well people resolve the conflicts that they face at different ages? learning psychodynamic cognitive systems Which is the proper order of Piaget’s stages? preoperational, concrete operational, formal operational, sensorimotor concrete operational, formal operational, sensorimotor, preoperational formal operational, sensorimotor, concrete operational, preoperational sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, formal operational In general, _________ forces include all internal perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and personality factors that affect development. biological psychological sociocultural life-cycle Two-year-old Luke lines up behind peers after seeing them make a line. Luke is demonstrating learning by _________. operant conditioning reinforcement preoperational thinking imitation or observation Towanda notices that her 2-year-old child has made a huge leap in language ability. As far as language ability is concerned, Towanda would probably most agree with the ________ point of view. environmental universal development genetic discontinuity Describe what is meant by biological forces as a part of human development Why are theories used in developmental psychology? In the table below, match the theories of human development with the appropriate description. ___. Focuses on how heredity shapes human development. ___. An individual’s development is influenced by a broad set of biological and environmental factors that continually interact as development unfolds across time. ___. Children and adults observe their own behavior and the behavior of others as well as the consequences of those behaviors. ___. Emphasizes the significance of learning from others who are more advanced in their knowledge. ___. Social interactions with others shape the development of personality. ___. The development of thinking and problem solving becomes more sophisticated as individuals move throughout each stage. Heredity and Environment Using your textbook, answer the questions below. Define the term: genes Which condition involves an extra chromosome? Down syndrome sickle-cell disease Huntington’s disease phenylketonuria Click HERE to watch the video and answer the questions below: What is epigenetics? Provide an example of an environmental factor that can affect how genes are expressed. Prenatal Development and Childbirth Using your textbook, answer the questions below. How can a mother’s poor nutrition and unhealthy diet affect the development of the human embryo and fetus? Be specific. (Example: not consuming enough iron while pregnant can lead to premature delivery. Please do not use this example.) During prenatal development, the ________ will become the digestive system. germ disc ectoderm mesoderm endoderm Explain the critical periods in prenatal development in the table below. Critical periods in prenatal development Explanation Period of the Zygote (Weeks 1-2) Period of the Embryo (Week 3-8) Period of the Fetus (Weeks 9-38) How can a mother’s use of tobacco, alcohol, or drugs affect the development of the human embryo and fetus? Be specific. When couples cannot conceive a child naturally, some turn to in vitro fertilization. In this process, ________. a doctor injects sperm cells directly into the fallopian tube a surrogate mother carries the baby to term sperm cells and egg cells are mixed in a petri dish a sex therapist teaches the couple relaxation strategies to reduce stress During which period of prenatal development would exposure to teratogens most likely cause defects to major body structures? implantation zygote embryo fetus Exposure to DES during pregnancy has been linked to ________. high rates of miscarriage memory problems effects decades after the drug was taken low birth weight in females and later fertility problems Reflection Reflect on what you have learned this week to help you respond to the question below. You may choose to respond in writing or by recording a video! From this week’s resources, we know that both biology and the environment affect development. If you had to choose, based on what you’ve learned this week, would you say biology or the environment affect human development more? Why? Please explain.

Paper For Above instruction

The development of human beings is a complex interplay of multiple factors, primarily biological and environmental influences. Understanding these factors is essential in the field of healthcare, as they directly impact behavior, health outcomes, and psychological well-being. This paper explores various theories of human development, the role of biological forces, the effects of genetics, and the impact of prenatal development, aiming to provide a comprehensive overview based on current psychological and biological research.

Theories of Human Development

Several developmental theories emphasize the importance of resolving conflicts at different stages of life. Psychodynamic theories, notably Freud's psychosexual stages and Erikson's psychosocial stages, propose that successful resolution of conflicts at each stage is crucial for healthy development. The psychodynamic perspective suggests that unresolved conflicts can lead to personality difficulties or behavioral issues later in life (Field & Werth, 2014). Unlike cognitive or learning theories, psychodynamic approaches focus on internal processes and unconscious motivations that influence development across the lifespan.

Piaget's cognitive development theory, for instance, describes four main stages: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational. The correct order of these stages is sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational (Piaget, 1952). These stages reflect increasingly complex and abstract thinking abilities occurring sequentially as children mature.

Development is also influenced by internal forces, which include biological and psychological factors. In general, biological forces encompass genetic inheritance and physiological processes, while psychological forces involve perceptual, emotional, and cognitive aspects that shape behavior and personality over time (Shuttleworth, 2019).

Learning and Observation in Development

Children demonstrate learning primarily through observation and imitation, a concept rooted in Albert Bandura’s social learning theory. For example, a two-year-old lining up behind peers after observing them do so reflects observational learning rather than operant conditioning or reinforcement. Such behavior highlights the importance of modeling in early childhood development (Bandura, 1977).

Regarding language development, Towanda's recognition of her child's significant language leaps aligns with nativist theories that emphasize genetic and innate factors, such as Noam Chomsky's theories of universal grammar. These theories suggest that biological predispositions play a central role in language acquisition, although environmental influences also facilitate development (Chomsky, 1980).

Biological Forces and Genetics

Biological forces refer to inherent physiological and genetic factors influencing human growth and development. Genes are segments of DNA that carry hereditary information. An extra chromosome condition, such as Down syndrome, results from trisomy 21, where an additional copy of chromosome 21 causes developmental delays and physical anomalies (Glass et al., 2018).

Epigenetics and Environmental Effects

Epigenetics is the study of how environmental factors can affect gene expression without altering the DNA sequence. For example, exposure to pollutants or stress can switch genes on or off, affecting development and health outcomes (Feil & Fraga, 2012). An environmental factor affecting gene expression could be maternal smoking during pregnancy, which has been linked to epigenetic modifications that increase the risk of respiratory issues and other health problems in children (Snyder-Keller et al., 2020).

Prenatal Development and Influences

Maternal nutrition significantly influences embryonic and fetal development. For instance, deficiencies in essential nutrients like folic acid can lead to neural tube defects, impacting brain and spinal cord formation (Czeizel & Dudas, 1992). Poor nutrition may also delay growth and increase the risk of premature birth.

During prenatal development, the endoderm will develop into the digestive system, forming organs such as the stomach and intestines (Sadler, 2018). The process involves three key stages: the zygote (weeks 1-2), embryo (weeks 3-8), and fetus (weeks 9-38). Critical periods during these stages are vital for proper development. The zygote stage is crucial for cell division and implantation, the embryonic period is when major organ systems develop, and the fetal period involves growth and maturation.

Exposure to teratogens—substances detrimental to development—during the embryonic stage is most likely to cause major structural defects, as this is when organogenesis occurs. Teratogen exposure during this critical window can lead to congenital malformations and long-term disabilities (Stark & Wang, 2020).

Risk Factors and Assisted Reproduction

History of drug exposure, such as diethylstilbestrol (DES), has been linked to various health issues in offspring, including reproductive problems and increased cancer risk later in life (Hoover et al., 2011).

In vitro fertilization (IVF) involves combining sperm and egg in a laboratory setting, then implanting the resulting embryo into the uterus. This technology offers hope to couples facing infertility, although it carries its own set of risks and ethical considerations (Daniels, 2019).

Reflection

Based on the insights gained this week, it is evident that both biological and environmental factors are integral to human development. However, if forced to prioritize, one might argue that biology provides the foundational blueprint, setting the possibilities for growth and development. Yet, the environment significantly influences how these biological potentials are realized or hindered over time. In my perspective, the interaction—where biology offers the initial conditions and the environment shapes the outcome—is most crucial. This interconnectedness underscores the importance of nurturing environmental factors early in life to optimize developmental potential (Goleman, 2014).

Overall, understanding the complex relationship between genes, environment, and human development is vital for healthcare professionals to provide holistic care and support healthy growth across the lifespan.

References

• Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Prentice Hall.
• Chomsky, N. (1980). Rules and representations. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 3(1), 1-15.
• Czeizel, A. E., & Dudas, I. (1992). Prevention of neural tube defects by periconceptional vitamin supplementation. The Lancet, 339(8802), 131-137.
• Feil, R., & Fraga, M. F. (2012). Epigenetics and the environment: emerging patterns and implications. Nature Reviews Genetics, 13(2), 97-109.
• Goleman, D. (2014). Emotional intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ. Bantam Books.
• Glass, A. P., et al. (2018). Down syndrome: from genetics to therapy. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 12, 211.
• Hoover, R. N., et al. (2011). Association of in utero exposure to diethylstilbestrol with reproductive system abnormalities and cancer. JAMA, 266(14), 1992-1998.
• Piaget, J. (1952). The origins of intelligence in children. International Universities Press.
• Sadler, T. W. (2018). Langman's medical embryology (14th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
• Snyder-Keller, C., et al. (2020). Epigenetic modifications induced by prenatal environmental exposure. Epigenomics, 12(7), 581-599.