Class 1 - Introduction to Human Development Theories in Social Work

What is the focus of lifespan development?

Lifespan development helps us to answer how individuals change throughout their lives.

What are the four aspects of development considered in this course?

Physical, cognitive, socio-emotional, and relational aspects of development across the lifespan.

What dimensions of social location are considered in human development?

Gender, identity, socio-economic status, ability, race, and culture.

What is the significance of land acknowledgment in this course?

Lakehead Orillia is located on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, which includes the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Pottawatomi nations.

What are the three types of influences that shape development?

Normative age-graded influences, normative history-graded influences, and nonnormative life events.

What is an example of normative age-graded influence?

Retirement or beginning school.

What does normative history-graded influence refer to?

Influences common to people of a particular generation due to historical circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

What are nonnormative life events?

Unusual occurrences that have a major impact on an individual, like the death of a parent in early childhood.

What are the central questions in developmental science?

Continuity versus discontinuity, nature versus nurture, stability versus change.

What does continuity in development refer to?

Gradual cumulative progression.

What does discontinuity in development refer to?

Abrupt changes, such as the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly.

What is the debate between nature and nurture in development?

Whether innate biological tendencies (nature) or the surrounding world (nurture) has a greater influence on development.

What are the four conceptions of age?

Chronological age, biological age, psychological age, and social age.

What is chronological age?

Years since birth.

What is biological age?

Age in terms of biological health and functional capacities of vital organs.

What is psychological age?

Adaptive capacities compared with those of the same chronological age.

What is social age?

Connectedness with others and the social roles individuals adopt.

What is a key takeaway regarding age and individual capacities?

We cannot make assumptions about an individual's capacities or experience based on their age.

What is the Western bias in developmental psychology?

Most developmental psychology is based on studies of WEIRD populations, which are not representative of the world's population.

What are the implications of the Western bias in developmental psychology?

Culturally specific findings are often represented as universal traits, missing insights from other cultures.

Why is understanding diverse cultural perspectives important for social work practice?

It strengthens Western scientific approaches and addresses elements that are missing, such as Indigenous knowledges.

What is the role of culture in development?

Culture plays a key role through customs, values, and traditions inherent in one's environment.

What is the purpose of the Creating a Supportive Learning Community activity?

To foster an environment where students can share their learning challenges and preferences.

What time does class typically start and end?

Class starts at 9 am and ends by 4 pm, with some days ending earlier.

What is expected of students regarding readings?

Students are responsible for doing the reading in advance to be prepared for each class.

What types of interactive opportunities are included in the class structure?

Small and large group discussions, experiential activities, and time for working on assignments.

What is the significance of the course's focus on developmental theory?

It applies to examples of current social work practice issues at different stages of development.