Foundations of Human Development in the Social Environment
Foundations of Human Development in the Social Environment
Human development is something that occurs over an entire lifespan. Changes relating to human development happen in three areas including the biological, psychological, and social development. Social work programs focus gathering information relating to human behavior overtime, the social environments in which people live, ways to improve overall health and wellness, and social programs that can assist people in reaching their full potential (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2010, p. xix). Studying human development helps human service workers answer questions such as why people behave in a particular manner, is their behavior caused by genetics or nature itself, and does the environment in which people live influence their behaviors (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2010, p.1. To help understand and solve these problems, human service workers need to have a sound understanding of the developmental process. Further, clearly, basic need fulfillment in the earliest stages of life provides the foundation for the realization of one's future potential (Conrad, 2010, para. Paradigms of Human Development).
Bio-Psycho-Social Dimensions of Development
The complexities of human development require social workers to pay close attention to the relationship between the biological, psychological, and social aspects of human development (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2010, p.9). Biological refers to the physical dimensions of a person’s life. Psychological relates to the way a person feels about themselves and interprets the outside world. Social development refers to the ability to interact with others. Each of these developmental areas can have a direct impact on the overall maturity and growth level of an individual. Experiencing problems in biological development can lead to problems in social development. Just like experiencing problems in psychological development can...