Human Development: Theories and Applications

This assignment delves into various aspects of human development, examining theories like behavioral, social-cognitive, and cognitive development. It explores how insecure attachments in infancy can lead to relationship problems later in life and contrasts Piaget's stages of cognitive development. The paper also analyzes the intersection between parenting styles and discipline, comparing how preschoolers and school-aged children cope with divorce, and differentiates adolescence from emerging adulthood. Finally, it discusses Baumrind's theory as a tool for preventing adolescent issues and provides guidance on helping adolescents and emerging adults navigate career choices.

Running head: HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Human Development
Name of Student
Name of University
Author Note

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HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Table of contents
1. Comparing and contrasting theories of development.............................................................2
2. Explaining the reason for insecure babies to have relationship problems.............................2
3. Comparing and contrasting Piaget’s cognitive development.................................................2
4. Showing intersection between parenting styles and discipline..............................................3
5. Comparing and contrasting ways in which preschoolers and school-aged children cope
with divorce................................................................................................................................3
6. Explaining the difference between adolescence and emerging adulthood.............................3
7. Explaining the use of Baumrind’s theory to stave off problems of adolescence...................4
8. Explaining ways to guide an adolescent and an emerging adult for a career.........................4
Reference....................................................................................................................................5

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HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
1. Comparing and contrasting theories of development
Behavioral theory refers to the changes that are brought about in a person owing to
the interaction with the environment and the experience gained from it. The social-cognitive
theory stated that learning is caused in a social context. This is done due to the dynamic and
reciprocal interaction of the people and environment. On the other hand, cognitive theory
sheds light on the fact that maturity is developed with the biological change that occurs in a
person (Crain, 2015).
2. Explaining the reason for insecure babies to have relationship problems
According to Pegoraro, Setz and Dalgalarrondo (2014), security in babies is required
in order to provide a safe and secure adulthood. The ethological theory is concerned with the
adaptive and behaviour of the people. In the case of babies, lack of insecurity may grow in
their mind and the fear of commitment or attachment to a person arises due to this. The
trauma suffered during the childhood stage can hinder the development of the mind of an
individual. Thus, it is needed that the parents provide a secure childhood to the babies.
3. Comparing and contrasting Piaget’s cognitive development
The first three stages include:
 Sensorimotor: This is the age in which babies the basic activities that need to be
performed. The actions of the babies are impulsive and not guided by any external
force (Moore, 2014)
 Preoperational: It is considered as the development stage in which children develop
the ability to think and talk in a clear manner.

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 Concrete operational: At this stage, children develop self-thoughts and emotions.
They remain aware of the environment that exists in the world.
4. Showing intersection between parenting styles and discipline
The analysis of the Baumrind's theory states that the discipline of a child is affected
by the style of parenting provided to the children. Usually, the four parenting styles include
authoritative, neglectful, permissive and authoritarian. It has been seen that the parenting
style of neglect affects the discipline of the children in a negative manner, as proper guidance
is not provided about the rights and wrong in the society. On the other hand, children grown
up with an authoritative style of parenting ends up with more social skills and more self-
esteem.
5. Comparing and contrasting ways in which preschoolers and school-aged children
cope with divorce
According to Jennings & Niemi (2015), preschoolers think in a more egocentric
manner and thinks that the things that happen are due to their action. They tend to blame
themselves for a situation such as a divorce in the family. On the other school-aged, children
get to understand the situation of the divorce. They think clearly and understand the reason
behind the decisions made by the parents. They do not blame themselves for any ill activities
that do not involve direct involvement of self. Split custody can be considered as the best
method custody for the children.
6. Explaining the difference between adolescence and emerging adulthood
Emerging adulthood ranges between 18 and 25 years of age, whereas adolescence is a
stage in which an individual is given more freedom. Emerging adulthood experiences
continuous changes in the growth and development of both physical and mental state of

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minds. An individual performs various activities without a particular goal at this stage
(Arnett, 2014). Adolescence, on the other hand, gain more experience due to the independent
nature of their life. They identify possibilities of a good career and fir in the role.
7. Explaining the use of Baumrind’s theory to stave off problems of adolescence
The Baumrind's theory can be used in order to guide the parents to make the children
more disciplined. In order to refrain from unsocial activities like teenage pregnancy, use of a
harmful substance, it is necessary that the parents adopt a proper parenting style that can help
in maintaining the discipline of the children. This is an important aspect particularly given the
fact that parents are responsible for the proper growth and life choices of children.
8. Explaining ways to guide an adolescent and an emerging adult for a career
According to Kleiber, Larson and Csikszentmihalyi (2014), adolescent and emerging
adults have a different thought process and as a result, it requires the varied guidance of
career. Erikson, Marcia and Ginsberg have broken the development stage into three stages
and based on that, guidance can be provided to help children at the emerging adulthood stage
and adolescence stage to choose a particular career. This includes allowing the children to
follow their passion towards the field they want to attain.

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Reference
Arnett, J. J. (2014). Adolescence and emerging adulthood. Boston, MA: Pearson.
Crain, W. (2015). Theories of development: Concepts and applications. Psychology Press.
Jennings, M. K., & Niemi, R. G. (2015). Political character of Adolescence: The Influence of
Families and schools. Princeton University Press.
Kleiber, D., Larson, R., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2014). The experience of leisure in
adolescence. In Applications of flow in human development and education (pp. 467-
474). Springer Netherlands.
Moore, T. E. (Ed.). (2014). Cognitive development and acquisition of language. Elsevier.
Pegoraro, L. F., Setz, E. Z., & Dalgalarrondo, P. (2014). Ethological approach to autism
spectrum disorders. Evolutionary Psychology, 12(1), 147