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Introduction
Human development is a sophisticated and interesting field of research that seeks to understand how people grow, change, and adapt throughout their lives. The presentation will discuss basic concepts, methods, dominant theories, and research designs in the study of human development. There will be a discussion of how environmental and hereditary factors influence neonatal and prenatal development and their impact on psychological and emotional functioning among people. The presentation will explore debates associated with human development, one concerning a sensitive period in language acquisition and the other regarding the impact of violent games on children.
Discussion
Human development refers to the process of expanding an individual’s liberty and opportunities and enhancing their well-being. The human development study utilizes various cross-sectional and longitudinal research designs and correlational and experimental methods. Developmental psychologists, including Bandura, study psychological, cognitive, physical, and social changes in one’s life. Key concepts in human development include continuity vs. discontinuity, nature vs. nurture, and stability vs. evolution (Cobb-Clark et al., 2018). Bandura’s social learning and Vygotsky’s theories offer frameworks for understanding the processes and patterns of development.
Prenatal development refers to the psychological and physical development that occurs from conception to birth. Hereditary factors, such as chromosomes and genes, and environmental elements, including exposure to toxins and nutrition, can impact prenatal development. Neonatal development is the physical and psychological transformations occurring in the first few weeks and months of life after birth. Environmental factors, such as the availability of social support and responsive caregiving, can affect neonatal development (Maree, 2021). Major theorists include Jean Piaget, who studied cognitive development in infants, and Erik Erikson, who emphasized the essentiality of the first year of life in shaping trust and autonomy.
Environmental and hereditary factors play a substantial role in shaping atypical and typical physical and cognitive development across one’s lifespan. During early childhood, genetics causes disorders, such as autism, and ecological elements, such as parenting and nutrition, impact a person’s development (Miguel et al., 2019). In middle childhood, peer relationships and the school environment can impact atypical development, while hormonal changes may trigger learning disabilities. In the adolescence stage, lack of social support causes depression among youths. Early and middle adulthood is featured by menopause, hormonal shifts, and lifestyle habits that impact physical and cognitive development.
Early childhood is characterized by attachment relationship development with caregivers, which can affect an infant’s emotional regulation and the ability to create healthy correlations later in life. Socialization with teachers and peers is common during middle childhood, and the experiences of social exclusion and bullying can lower an individual’s self-esteem. In adolescence, teenagers can experience trauma and stress that can affect their long-term psychological functioning. Early adulthood is characterized by the pursuit of personal social and vocational goals, and experiences of failure or success affect one’s mental health. People face challenges involving declined physical health, loss of loved ones, and retirement, which affects their psychological well-being (Miguel et al., 2019). People in late adulthood seek social support and spirituality to maintain their emotional functioning.
The sensitive period hypothesis proposes that language acquisition is time-limited. Noam Chomsky argues that people are biologically programmed to acquire language during a critical period in early childhood. Chomsky suggests that language learned after the sensitive period may lack fluency. Michael Tomasello indicates that language acquisition is a gradual process that occurs over an extended period (Frankenhuis, W. E., & Walasek, 2020). Tomasello argues that adults can learn a language effectively. The supporters of the sensitive period suggest that language skills developed later in life may be less robust or more difficult to acquire.
Grounded on the research, I agree with Chomsky’s ideology that there is a sensitive period in language development among people as it is time-restricted. During early childhood, an individual tends to acquire more aspects of language, including grammar and phonology (Frankenhuis, W. E., & Walasek, 2020). In my life experience, I have noticed that adults who learn a second language may never reach the same level of proficiency as those who knew it during childhood. Therefore, language skills developed in later life are challenging to acquire, making a person vulnerable to pronunciation, misunderstanding, and misinterpretation of information.
The debate about the effect of violent video games on children centers on the idea that exposure to such content may result in a child’s aggressive behavior. Craig Anderson argues exposing children to violent video games causes escalated aggression, declined prosocial behavior, and desensitization to confrontations. Christopher Ferguson argues that a weak relationship exists between aggression and violent video games and that mental health and family environment trigger aggressive conduct among children (Shao & Wang, 2019). The supporters indicate that parents must limit children’s exposure to violent games, which serves as a precautionary measure to reduce the uncertainty of adverse outcomes. The critics suggest restricting toddlers’ exposure to violent video games does not reduce negative consequences as it limits their freedom.
Based on the research, I agree that exposure to violent video games can harm children’s behavior. Even though the family environment and mental health adversely affect one’s behavior, the evidence suggests that exposure to violent media can lead to increased aggression and desensitization to violence (Shao & Wang, 2019). Nevertheless, I do not believe that limiting children’s exposure to violent video games is the only solution. Guardians must communicate openly with their children about the content they consume and educate them on responsible media use. Game developers and policymakers should work together to develop and enforce responsible gaming practices.
Conclusion
Bullying and self-exclusion have a detrimental impact on self-esteem, leading to further social difficulties. The role of social support in neonatal development is crucial in improving one’s self-esteem. Language acquisition is more effective during early childhood, and adults learning a second language may struggle to achieve fluency. Policymakers should enforce responsible gaming practices to minimize the risk of negative outcomes. Mental health issues and the family environment can contribute to feelings of hostility among children.
References
Cobb-Clark, D. A., Salamanca, N., & Zhu, A. (2018). Parenting style as an investment in human development. Journal of Population Economics, 32(8), 1315-1352. Web.
Frankenhuis, W. E., & Walasek, N. (2020). Modeling the evolution of sensitive periods. Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, 41(3), 100-112. Web.
Maree, J. G. (2021). The psychosocial development theory of Erik Erikson: A critical overview. Early Child Development and Care, 191(8), 1107-1121. Web.
Miguel, P. M., Pereira, L. O., Silveira, P. P., & Meaney, M. J. (2019). Early environmental influences on the development of children’s brain structure and function. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 61(10), 1127-1133. Web.
Shao, R., & Wang, Y. (2019). The relation of violent video games to adolescent aggression: An examination of moderated mediation effect. Frontiers in Psychology, 10(5), 384-396. Web.
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