Discuss How Theories of Human Growth and Development Can Help Understand Human Behaviour.
Discuss how theories of human growth and development can help understand human behaviour.
Human growth and development is studied and researched with differing perspectives. There are many ways human growth and development can be looked at. Certain disciplines, such as, biology, psychology and sociology all have opposing viewpoints on the subject. The psychological viewpoint concentrates on the different processes of the mind, whereas, the biological approach is centred on genetics and environmental factors. The sociological viewpoint, however, focuses on individual thoughts and feelings as being socially constructed (Beckett and Taylor, 2010). Human growth and development is researched across the whole lifespan, however, for this essay I will be focusing on the early years of child development. Furthermore, human growth and development studies consist of various different theories; I will be discussing several of these theories whilst paying particular attention to Bowlby’s attachment theory. Human growth and development is important for social work practice as children and adolescence may show behaviour difficulties and when coming to assess, it is key to have an understanding of the norm development of a child of a certain age, also, what behaviours may be observed as being abnormal. It can also be seen as important for communication purposes. For example, being able to understand a child’s stage of development will make you more attuned to the understanding of how they are communicating and what the best way will be in making a response.
Firstly, I am to introduce Bowlby’s attachment theory (Bowlby 1969). Bowlby’s attachment theory was based on the idea that subject- object relations are shaped by our initial relationship with our primary care giver, this usually to be the mother (Beckett and Hillary 2010). According to Bowlby, children are biologically pre- programmed to form attachments in order to help them survive. Children have an innate ability to
Human growth and development is studied and researched with differing perspectives. There are many ways human growth and development can be looked at. Certain disciplines, such as, biology, psychology and sociology all have opposing viewpoints on the subject. The psychological viewpoint concentrates on the different processes of the mind, whereas, the biological approach is centred on genetics and environmental factors. The sociological viewpoint, however, focuses on individual thoughts and feelings as being socially constructed (Beckett and Taylor, 2010). Human growth and development is researched across the whole lifespan, however, for this essay I will be focusing on the early years of child development. Furthermore, human growth and development studies consist of various different theories; I will be discussing several of these theories whilst paying particular attention to Bowlby’s attachment theory. Human growth and development is important for social work practice as children and adolescence may show behaviour difficulties and when coming to assess, it is key to have an understanding of the norm development of a child of a certain age, also, what behaviours may be observed as being abnormal. It can also be seen as important for communication purposes. For example, being able to understand a child’s stage of development will make you more attuned to the understanding of how they are communicating and what the best way will be in making a response.
Firstly, I am to introduce Bowlby’s attachment theory (Bowlby 1969). Bowlby’s attachment theory was based on the idea that subject- object relations are shaped by our initial relationship with our primary care giver, this usually to be the mother (Beckett and Hillary 2010). According to Bowlby, children are biologically pre- programmed to form attachments in order to help them survive. Children have an innate ability to