HUMCTR 220: The Life Cycle & the Environment

To understand human behavior in real-life situations, you must have a working knowledge of the life-span developmental process and the impact of systems in the environment on those developmental processes. All human behavior, whether it is physical, social, or cognitive, comes into being through the processes of development. Developmental changes result from the interaction of various influences. These influences can range from the heredity prenatal environment to the broadest social and cultural factors. Basic concepts and theories are used to explain these life-long developmental changes. Familiarity and concepts and theories of development are essential tools of an effective human services worker. This course will examine life-span development and the role of the human service worker in helping individuals and families respond to the challenges in productive ways. Students will conduct field observations of a life stage and apply theory to explaining their behavior.