HDFS 201 Week 1 Slides: Chapter 1

what is human development?

study of how humans change and maintain some characteristics from conception to senescence

what is family studies?

study of a variety of family forms and how families function

the field of HDFS is inherently _______, meaning that is often involves taking college courses from faculty and professionals with some training in psychology, education, and other fields in one program

multidisciplinary

what are two professional organizations associated with HDFS?

1. Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD)

2. National Council on Family Relations (NCFR)

what do the SRCD and NCFR do?

• promote multidisciplinary research and practice

• emphasize the advantages of it

complex view of HDFS

individuals within families + families comprising individuals = HDFS

developmental stages

• prenatal— starts with conception until birth occurs

• infancy and toddlerhood (0-2 years)

• early childhood (2-6 years)

• middle childhood (6 to 11 years)

• adolescence (11-18 years)

• emerging adulthood (18-25 years)

• adulthood (25 to 65 years)

• late adulthood (65 to death)

waht is the average life expectancy?

78 years

what are teh 3 domains of each life stage?

• physical

• intellectual

• emotional

physical domain of life stages

biological aspects such as..

• genes

• brain and body development

• nutrition

intellectual domain of life stages

cognitive aspects, such as….

• language

• cognition

• intelligences

emotional domain of life stages

socio-emotional aspects, such as…

• relationships

• emotions

• motivation

dimensions of marriage behavior

• companionship

• affective tone of the relationship

• involvement with friends and the like

components of family studies knowledge

• marriage

• family and relationships

• multidiscplinary/interdiscplinary approach to studying individuals and families

• focus on multiple perspectives

  • such as family systems, family strengths, life span, and ecosystem

• ten content areas of family life education

family forms

• nuclear

• single parent

• extended

• blended

nuclear family form

mother and father and their biological child or children

single parent family form

parent and one or more children

extended family form

encompasses relatives that live together in a household or in close proximity

blended family form

results when a person remarries another person

• if either has children, it is classified as a step-family

family _____ is overall more important than family form

function

what is family function?

how a family operates to meet the needs of and care for eachother

what is an example of a family process that is essential to family functioning and wellbeing?

caring and problem solving

what is the primary focus of family life education?

teaching individuals and families skills about healthy family functioning to strengthen individual and family development

what does the NCFR provide certification for and what are the requirements?

provides certification for emerging professionals and professionals in family life education, which is the Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE)

• requirements include a passing score on the national exam, completed coursework, and documented work experience

Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) content areas

1. Families and individuals in society

2. Internal dynamics of families

3. Human growth and development

4. Human sexuality

5. Interpersonal relationships

6. Parent education and guidance

7. Family resource management

8. Family law and public policy

9. Professional ethics and practice

10. Family life education methods 

what are other areas related to human development and family sciences?

• family therapy

• child life profession

• early childhood education

• human/social services