Child Development Essay, Research Paper

Is development the result of genetics or the result of the love, guidance and

the upbringing one receives? That is a very interesting and personal question.

In reviewing Table 4.1 in the textbook regarding where the main developmental

theories stand on the six themes in development, it appears that most of the

theorists involved believe that both nature and nurture have an impact on the

development of the child (Child Development: A Thematic Approach (3rd. ed.) (Bukato,

Daehler, 1998, p.29). The Ethological theme reports that although behavior is

biologically based the environment has an impact and influences behavior

patterns. Most of the other themes such as the Learning Theory and the

Socioculture Theory are based on nurture or environmental experiences with some

biological experiences. An article on the Internet titled Quotations about

Nature, Nurture, and Nature via Nurture (1998), reports that there are in fact

three ‘nature vs. nurture’ issues rather than just one. They concern what is

innate, what is inherited, and what is important? What is innate to the species,

in this case, Homosapiens? Features of human behavior and experience arise from

the genes that are shared and without most of which a human child is unlikely to

be born with? What is inherited? We can look at genetically similar or even

identical twins that grow up in different environments, thus allowing us to

learn whether environmental differences, between families, contribute to final

observable differences in behavior and personality. Not all physical factors

appear to be genetically inherited. For example, the best-known example of this

is the case of eye colors in Homosapiens; two brown-eyed parents can have a

blue-eyed child if each of them carries the recessive gene for blue eyes as well

as the dominant gene for brown eyes. Finally, what is important? With genetic

cloning a fact, not a possibility, a society has to determine what is important

to them in today▓s culture. Discussion such as ⌠Is it more important

to have smart or good-looking children?■ Or, ⌠As a society will we

allow genetic defects such as dwarfism?■ There is much controversy

regarding this developing topic and I am sure much more to come. The previously

cited article reports that most current psychologists admit that it is

impossible to prove nature vs. nurture outcomes because there are such complex

interactions that effect all development processes in a child. Growing up within

the larger scheme of things is the concept of the Socioculture theme. This

theory indicates that the community one grows up in has a great impact on what

experiences, beliefs and values they will have. Every society changes over time.

Some change rapidly; others seem to stay virtually unchanged for generations.

But, however slowly, change does occur. Communication and language are two

important aspects that play major roles in the socioculture development.

Functions of communication such as, actions, words, behaviors, settings, topics

and/or events all envelope the different forms and styles of communication that

members of the group or culture utilize. Factors such as proximity, the space

people need or use for themselves within a community, and the poverty cycle are

very important in the development of an individual and a culture. Children are

biologically predisposed to develop language and the environment triggers rather

than serves as a stage of development. A child learns most and is most

impressionable during the first five years of his life. Therefore, a child in

poverty is exposed to his environment, and that is what they know, even before

entering into the educational system. This has a lot to do with the continuation

of the poverty cycle. An example that I am familiar with at work is with

families involved with Child Protective Services (CPS) and the subject of

discipline or communicating through the use of corporal punishment. In some

cultures spanking is perfectly acceptable. When a person is CPS involved because

of neglect due to addiction, it is not conducive to the goal of reunification to

hit or spank child. Teaching CPS participants can be challenging because it is

sometimes very difficult for them to understand different concepts when corporal

punishment is what their culture and society has deemed the norm. A child plays

an active role in his or her development by the way he responds to being taught.

In each of the theories described in the textbook it is apparent that the child

plays an active role. Even in the learning theory where the child is not active

in behavior analysis but engages the environment to determine what is learned in

social cognitive theory (Child Development: A Thematic Approach (3rd. ed.) (Bukato,

Daehler, 1998, p.33). In contextual theories the child is biologically equipped

to deal with the environment yet actively engaged with the environment. The

relationship between the biological and environment are always influencing each

other. I am inclined to favor Piagot▓s theory that a child▓s

knowledge is constructed; that the child is always thinking therefore, always

active in its development. Is development continuous or discontinuous?

Continuous is flowing and discontinuous is stages. When children get better with

each task so that it becomes natural for them to move on to the next task that

is continuous development. A child is going to go through puberty; that would be

identified as a stage. The textbook shows that the learning, information

processing, socioculture and ethological theories are all continuous (Child

Development: A Thematic Approach (3rd. ed.) (Bukato, Daehler, 1998, p.33). The

smooth transitions in the Learning theory is when a child enters school or is

able now able to complete algebraic problems. In the Psychosocial theory, the

stages are set but individuals can go through the stages in their own pace.

Piagetian theory describes four stages as Sensory Motor Period, Preoperational

Period, Period of Concrete Operations and Period of Formal Operations. Each

stage is set and although can be individualized (time frame), it is not

individual as to expectations of what will happen. It is important for parents

to know what stages a child may go through so they may be sure the expectations

they have for their child at a given age are realistic. In reviewing the chart

it appears that most theories report that individual differences are not playing

a major role in the theories. Even in the socioculture theory it reports that

although unique events contribute to how the individual behaves there are many

other factors influencing the child▓s development. In Erikson theory where

he describes set events and outcomes on Table 1.3 in the textbook (Child

Development: A Thematic Approach (3rd. ed.) (Bukato, Daehler, 1998, p.33), these

stages are common to every individual in every culture. He reports that at in

each of his eight stages, individuals must adapt to the demands of their own

society and culture that are placed on them. Child development is the study of

all aspects of human growth and change. It is an interdisciplinary, scientific,

and applied field of study. Researchers often divide the subject of development

into three broad domains, physical, cognitive, and emotional and social.

Social-moral includes interpersonal and intrapersonal goals. Cognitive includes

logical-mathematical, physical, and conventional knowledge including symbolic

and language development. Physical includes motor skills, health, and safety.

All have a direct impact on all areas of child development. There is

considerable current debate concerning what society know about these domains as

well as how and when they develop. There are many areas in which a child me be

slow at developing which would increase the chances that it would effect any of

the other domains. I have always believed that what a child learns results in

what they think and feel. In the learning theory, it is apparent that situations

have much to do with learning ability. For example if a child is overweight, it

will definitely affect their social and emotional development. They may not want

to risk embarrassment by participating in groups, therefore, not socializing as

often as another child that did not have this problem. On an emotional level

this would lower self-esteem and decrease self worth. On a learning level they

may become quiet or shy and decrease their chances of speaking up in class,

possibly decreasing the chances for intellectual learning. In conclusion, it

appears that components of each theme influence how we view, parent and educate

our children. Many theories, especially modern ones, take a balanced point of

view and recognize the merits of all sides of these issues. Each theme discussed

brings it own perspective on children and how they develop. In recent years, the

field of child development has become increasingly concerned with applying its

knowledge to the solution of pressing social problems faced by children and

adolescents. Public policy, laws, and government programs designed to improve

current conditions are essential for protecting children’s development as well

as ongoing research in this area.

Author Unknown, (1998) Child Development Institute Web Page. Stages of

Intellectual Development in Children and Teenagers. Pieget`s Stages of Cognitive

Development Retrieved July 7, 2000 from the WWW Available: http://childdevelopmentinfo.com/development/piaget.shtml.

Brand, Chris. (1999) Personality, Biology & Society. Quotes V Quotations

about NATURE, NURTURE, and NATURE via NURTURE. Retrieved July 8, 2000 from the

WWW Available http://www.cycad.com/cgi-bin/Brand/quotes/q05.html?nochoice=y

Bukatko, D., & Daehler, M.W., (1998). Child Development: A Thematic Approach

(3rd ed.). Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin Company