Issues in Developmental Psychology

.....theoretical perspectives to understand human development is stage theories, which postulate that human development takes place in different stages and change throughout the life span (Lerner et al., 2013, p.466). Erikson's Psychosocial Theory is an example of a theory under this perspective, which state that there are eight stages of psychosocial development that are biologically developed to manifest in a pre-determined, sequential way. Through this theory, Erikson effectively demonstrates that lifelong development involves integration of internal forces and external situations that influence development of ego. Borzumato-Gainey et al.

(2009) conducted a study on life satisfaction, self-esteem and subjective age throughout the life span of women (p.29). The study was conducted on a group of 320 women between 21 and 69 years to examine factors that affect women's life satisfaction, self-esteem, and views of appearance. A demographic questionnaire and three paper-and-pencil assessment instruments were utilized for data collection, which was analyzed statistically. The study showed that external circumstances affect psychosocial development since women's well-being is affected by relationship status, life satisfaction, and perceptions regarding aging.

Despite these findings, the study is limited on the basis that its conclusions cannot be generalized beyond the study population because of the demographic balance of its sample. Week 2 Discussion There are several issues that may influence long- and short-term physical, cognitive or psychosocial development in a child including prenatal development issues. The impact of prenatal development issues like antenatal stress has been the subject of extensive research in recent years.

Talge, Neal & Glover (2007) found that antenatal maternal stress has long-term effects on the neurodevelopment of a child since they increase vulnerability to neurodevelopmental disorders (p.245). O'Donnell, O'Connor & Glover (2009) found that prenatal stressors like partner relationship issues, anxiety, and natural disasters enhances the likelihood of neurodevelopmental disorders, cognitive development issues, and behavioral issues (p.285). In an earlier study, Dipietro (2004) found that prenatal maternal stress has negative effects on long-term motor development, learning, and behavior of an infant (71).

Based on existing literature, prenatal development issues, particularly stress and anxiety, affect the long- and short-term physical, cognitive or psychosocial development of an infant. The findings in these studies support the long-held belief across the globe that a woman's psychological well-being has considerable impacts on an infant. Week 3 - Discussion 1 Technology has positive and negative impacts on human development across different age groups including children and adolescents.

For children, the positive impacts of technology include improved social development through better collaboration and interactions with their peers, development of multiculturalism, and better family relationships and adult-child interaction (Hsin, Li & Tsai, 2014). In addition, technology helps in learning through preparing children for schooling, improved physical and motor skills development, and language development (Kirkorian, Wartella & Anderson, 2008). However, the negative effects of technology on human development during childhood include health related issues because of less physical activity, behavioral problems, and changing social norms.

Hatch (2011) conducted a study to examine the effects of technology on children in relation to physical, cognitive or psychosocial development. This study found that technology has positive impacts on a child's cognitive development, particularly in relation to learning. In addition to providing educational products on learning, technology enhances a child's cognitive development through enhancing visual reasoning. This visual reasoning contributes to improved learning through stimulating a child's emotional, social, and visual abilities (Hatch, 2011).

Week 3 -- Discussion 2 The government has always attempted to deal with behaviors that are regarded detrimental to health such as smoking through enacting public policy to regulate behaviors. These initiatives have helped in dealing with such behaviors through generating desired behavior change and effectively regulating private behavior. While public policy measures have been relatively effective in this regard, more effective measures/policies are still needed to regulate potential harmful behavior. One of the issues that have attracted significant public policy initiatives in the recent past is second hand smoking.

For instance, recent studies have indicated that parental smoking has negative effects on children and adolescent. Pattenden et al. (2006) found that parental smoking affects children's respiratory health (p.294). Similarly, Moshammer et al. (2006) found that parental smoking generates respiratory problems among children and contribute to reduced lung function growth. Public policies have been developed and enacted to help deal with parental smoking given its effect on children. The main public policy to address this issue is tobacco control policies to regulate smoking behavior.

Despite being beneficial in dealing with the problem, additional policies should be enacted such as Strict Smoke-free home policies for smoking parents in pediatric environments (Ossip, 2013, p.517). Given the health effects of parental smoking on children, public policy is necessary in this area and ethical. Based on the ethical principle of utilitarianism, public policies should be enacted to help protect the health of children while ensuring parents maintain their right to smoke i.e. the greater good for all.

Policies in this area enhance the physical, cognitive and psychosocial development of affected children through safeguarding their health and well-being. The efficacy of public policy in comparison to self-enforced restrictions is determined on the basis of the extent of enforcement and the subsequent outcomes with regards to enhancing the health and well-being of affected individuals. Week 4 -- Discussion An aspect of Mila's life that needs change is her seeming inability to fit in because of struggles to develop her own identity.

This is evidenced in the failure to reach out for help for constant depression and limited social interactions with those outside her religious affiliation. Mila's problem occurs during the fifth stage of psychosocial development i.e. adolescent, which is sometimes characterized by identity versus role confusion problems. Changing Mila's identity/role confusion issues during her adolescence would entail giving her opportunities to explore greater independence.

In this case, I'll encourage Mila to engage in different social situation beyond her religious upbringing and increased interactions with people from different backgrounds. This will have considerable impacts on Mila's psychological development into adulthood by enabling her to develop her own beliefs and make choices for her life. Moreover, the change will help Mila become more self-confident as she becomes an adult. The change will affect Mila's development across the lifespan through greater independence.

The three additional outcomes in Mila's lifespan include poor career choice, poor choices in relationships, and poor educational achievement due to greater independence that could have contributed to disregard of limits established by her parents and religion. Poor career choice could be addressed through developing her competence during schooling years. Poor choices in relationships could be addressed through communicating the significance of good choices in relationships and dangers of bad ones.

Poor educational achievement could be addressed through constant reminders of the value of education and providing necessary educational resources for better academic achievements. Since learning is a social process as shown by Vygotsky, these changes would change outcomes by providing necessary social support that enables Mila to make right choices despite having greater independence. Generally, life events create differences in human development by affecting one's psychosocial development through determining social structures and support systems that affect an individual.

Week 5 -- Discussion 1 Elder abuse has emerged as one of the growing concerns in today's society given that 1 in every 10 older Americans is affected by it (Roberto, 2016). Despite the lack of a uniformed definition of elder abuse, this term is used to refer to maltreatment or mistreatment of the elderly. There are five types of elder abuse i.e. physical abuse, psychological and emotional abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse and exploitation, and neglect and abandonment.

Age is one of the risk factors of elder abuse as those aged between 60 and 69 years and those aged 75 years or more being more vulnerable to maltreatment or mistreatment, particularly physical and financial abuse. Aging adults can achieve successful aging and prevent elder abuse through maintenance of social roles and activities and caregiving (Lerner et al., 2013). Two resources that could help active caregivers avoid elder abuse are National Aging Resource Center on Elder Abuse and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Sengstock, 1996).

Week 5 -- Discussion 2 The best course of action for Geri's situation is to involve a clinician or counseling psychologist to help in making a suitable end-of-life choice. Such experts are knowledgeable in palliative care and can assist in enhancing communication, explaining various options in end-of-life situations, and identifying resources to help the patient (American Psychological Association, 2014). The need to incorporate such an expert in the decision-making process is because it's not clear what Geri exactly wants i.e. life-saving treatment s or death.

Culture is playing an important role in this situation and recommendation since African-Americans are part of ethnic groups that do not provide advance directives on the belief that physicians or family can know their wishes. My recommendation is based on the need to promote suitable end-of-life situations for Geri and the fact that his cognitive state makes it difficult to make a suitable decision.

The developmental stages of Geri's family could change my recommendation if they have the capacity to make informed decisions to grant Geri his current wish i.e. death. I will present this recommendation through holding a meeting with the patient, family members, and a lawyer. The major consideration that could affect my presentation manner is the discrepancy between Geri's desire as stated in the will and his current wishes. Currently, it's difficult to process Geri's exact desire because of his inability to communicate effectively.

In light of APA's Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, the ethical considerations relating to the scenario include beneficence and nonmaleficence, fidelity and responsibility, and respect for individual's rights and dignity. Week 6 Discussion One of the contemporary issues or problems associated with developmental psychology that has become prevalent in today's news is the impact of alcohol consumption during pregnancy on the child's long-term health. This issue has received considerable attention given the fact that even experts have expressed different opinions regarding the issue.

Some of the risk factors for alcohol consumption during pregnancy include relationship problems, poverty, substance abuse problems, and homelessness. According to Bhuvaneswar (2007), alcohol use during pregnancy has significant health effects on the child by increasing the risk of fetal alcohol syndrome. Some of the most common effects of alcohol use during pregnancy on a child.