Have you changed much in the last 5-10 years? I sure know I have. I’ve started to think, “man if my body feels like this at my age, what am I going to feel like when I’m 50, 60, and so on?!” Has anyone else felt that or said that? Have you been looking for your lost keys or cell phone more often? Do you interact with the younger generation and begin to wonder why in the world they can’t see the world like you?
I feel like the rhetorical questions could go on and on and on. We’ve changed haven’t we. We have grown… some may say more horizontally than vertically. 🙂 Some of us have grown to appreciate the perspective on life that we have now, versus when we were a lot younger. We still develop… yes even at your age! That is what I really love about the Life-Span perspective on Human Growth and Development; we don’t just do all of our developing up through our childhood and teen years.
The Life-Span perspective holds to the idea that we develop and continue to develop from womb to tomb. That’s right, even as a fetus our development begins; even at the moment of conception our parents’ DNA is beginning to develop who we will become. I think it is so awe-inspiring that for only a few short weeks, only God knows you exist (Psalm 139:13-16); it’s like His little secret just between the two of you, even before He lets mom know.
The song “100 Years” by Five for Fighting, invites you to view the life span of the human journey (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJN9YIOl1xE – With Lyrics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2WGGNiC8f4). This course, like the song, will invite you on a journey through the human life span. We will begin our journey before we even enter the world, looking at life in the womb and our earliest moments of development. From there, we will journey through the life-span until that final moment of our terrestrial life.
Throughout this course, you will have ample opportunity to reflect on your own developmental process and celebrate the wonder of God’s design for this special creation we call “human.”
I love learning about how we all have come to be who we are. Throughout this course we will dive into how we (humans) have developed physically, cognitively, socially, emotionally, and morally. We will also tackle the highly controversial Nature versus Nurture debate: are we genetically hardwired to become a certain way, or did our parents and life’s circumstances make us into who we are… or is it a bit of both?
Watch the following video that discusses some of the things we learn while still in the womb:
Annie Murphy Paul: What We Learn Before We’re Born
Source: http://www.ted.com/talks/annie_murphy_paul_what_we_learn_before_we_re_born
Discussion Prompt 1: Developmental Perspective: Biological vs. Teleological (must be 150 Words min.)
Throughout this class, in Discussion Topic One, you will be introduced to a different theoretical approach to development. These theories introduce different ways people can view how and why development occurs. Specifically, we will be looking at six different perspectives (Biological vs. Teleological, Cognitive, Sociocultural, Behavioral, Psychoanalytic, and Ecological). This is not an exhaustive list, but it does represent the major perspectives commonly when addressing Human Growth and Development. Throughout the next few weeks you will come across these perspectives in your reading, however, we will spend specific time each week further developing each specific perspective.
To do this, you will have the opportunity to watch a brief lecturer on the perspective and then discuss specific applications with your fellow learners. You can also use the discussion forum to ask specific questions that can be discussed further with your facilitator and fellow learners.
Week One: Biological vs. Teleological
Watch the following brief video lecture and then respond to both of the discussion prompts below:
Teleological vs. Biological
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgleL9AT33I
In this lecture you were introduced to two fundamentally different perspectives of human development. One view interprets development as series of accidental outcomes based on selection, while the other view interprets development as an outcome of design.
- Discuss your reactions to the two theories. What was good/positive or bad/negative about these theories?
2. How can you or have you seen the theories in your own life or those around you?
Discussion Prompt 2: Human Genome Project (must be 150 Words min.)
Watch the following video on the Human Genome Project:
The Human Genome Project, 3D Animation
Click on the image below to launch the video.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyObWLYcPas
However, not everyone supports the objectives or processes involved with the Project. Watch the following video that expresses a fear some have pertaining to possible negative outcomes or uses of the findings from the Human Genome Project:
Designer Babies — CNN
Click on the image below to launch the video.
Source: http://youtu.be/TNdGAFc_45A
Choose two of the following issues/topics to discuss in your discussion board this week:
- What is the value of genetic testing for someone who is not going to consider an abortion?
- Should partners be obligated to inform each other of any genetic defects in their family before getting married or having children?
- Does a child or adolescent have the right to request (or refuse) to have genetic testing done to them?
- Should insurance companies have the right to access the results of genetic tests so they can adjust the rates for an individual?
- Should employers be able to screen potential employees based on genetic tests?
- Should the government have the right to require genetic testing if it leads to healthier infants?
References
Rathus, S. A. (2014). HDEV (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
- ISBN: 9781285057224
HDEV
- Pages 9-10 (Biological Approach)
- Chapter 2
- Chapter 3