Lifespan Development - Essay Example

Question one

The clinical (case study) method and ethnography are qualitative studies utilized in social sciences and are very detailed. Ethnography focuses on the exploration of a cultural phenomenon. The case study method concentrates on describing the nature of the phenomena by first conducting an investigation on individual cases. Case study and ethnography methods have a common strength of using detailed research to gather information. While ethnography assembles information by fields’ observations, the case studies collect data by observations, analysis of recorded data, interviews, and questionnaires, among others (Anne, 2013). Therefore, the case study and ethnography provide in-depth and detailed data about a certain phenomenon.

Case study and ethnography methods have a common limitation of spending a lot of time in gathering information. An ethnographic researcher may spend more time in a community to make detailed observations. Similarly, a researcher using the case study method spends a lot of time on recorded data analysis, observing, providing questionnaires, and interviewing. To gather detailed and in-depth data, the two methods consume a lot of time.

Question two

Lifespan development focuses on the cognitive, psychosocial, and biological changes that occur in the course of a life. It also explores the constancies that occur in the entire life. There are various sources of influence on human development. They are nonnormative influences, history graded influences, and age-graded influences.

The age-graded influences are kind of influences in the course of life, which are linked with chronological age. For instance, marriage and retirement are age-graded influences. For example, when Sofie reached a particular period, she got married. Therefore, the marriage of Sofie is an age-graded influence. The influences in the lifespan that are related to historical time are referred to as history-graded influences (DR. Rosalyn, 2020). Example of history-graded events includes wars, famine, and epidemics. Most people that are born in the same year usually similarly experience history-graded events. For instance, the computer revolution, aid crisis, and Covid-19 pandemic can be viewed as history-graded events. The nonnormative influences are not correlated to any specific time of an individual's development or any historical period, and they are unpredictable. They are kind of unique biological or environmental experiences that influence or shapes an individual development process. For example, earning a degree, getting a divorce, or getting a specific job offer are nonnormative events. Sofie has abilities better than that of the average person in communication and education.

Question three

Epigenesis is a kind of change in the genetic expression influenced by environmental factors. Therefore, it is how genes change as a result of environmental influences. The environmental factors can negatively impact or positively the manner in which genetic materials are expressed on human beings' development (Christopher, 2014). Unlike other ranges of reaction and genetic environmental correlation, epigenesis focuses on the developmental environment influencing human genetics. The range of reaction concentrates on genotypes and their correlated phenotypes. The genetic environmental correlation links the exposure to conditions of the environment as a result of a person's genes. For example, epigenesis can be demonstrated on identical twins that contain similar genetic information but brought up in diverse environments. The identical twins could be sharing similar genetic code, but because of the different environments, the code could slightly differ.

Question four

For individuals to have psychological comfort in their lifespan, they require a strong relationship between family and community (neighborhoods). When neighborhoods are troubling, life becomes annoying. Attending church can foster development and act as a link between family and community. For instance, when people attend churches, different families from the same community unite for worship. Besides, when families bring the children to the church occasions, they can observe the unity and togetherness in the community at the time of the sermon. For example, children from diverse families will be exposed to some community activities such as cleaning the parks, donation of food, and help to the others and practices of volunteering. Therefore, the link between the family and the community will ensure that children have a positive perspective on the environment and people (Albert and Thrommsdoff, 2014). Besides, the link will equip the children with the skills to be a valuable citizen.

Question five

Genetic counseling is defined as a kind of communication process where personal genetic risk data is translated into practical information. Genetic counseling is conducted by healthcare professionals (genetic counselors) who are trained and have experience in the field of counseling and medical genetics. Through genetic counseling, the counselor communicates to couples about genetic disorders and the birth defects by explaining genetic testing options, patterns of inheritance, and any risk (Patch & Middleton, 2018). Besides, the genetic counselor communicates to the pregnant mothers about the risk of exposure to chemicals, radiation, or any type of toxin. An individual who has been subjected to birth control methods and couples that want to e pregnant and have genetic issues may seek genetic counseling.

Question six

In the occasion where a destructive allele is carried through the X chromosome, there is an application of X-linked inheritance. Unlike females with a matching sex chromosome, the male is more affected as a result of mismatch on their sex chromosome. When a recessive allele occurs in one chromosome on the female, it is suppressed by the other X chromosome, which contains a dominant allele (Aceves, 2017). Besides, many X-linked disorders affect more males than females. Therefore, the rate of childhood death, behavior disorder, intellectual disabilities, miscarriages, birth defects, among others, are higher for males. The females have two x chromosomes; thus, they benefit from more variety of genes.

Question seven

The period of the embryo, which is the sensational pre-birth phase, has a lot of changes happening. It is at this period of 8 weeks that implantation occurs, and at this stage, the foundations of the pregnancy are created. At this period, the three layers of the embryonic tile develop (Raul, 2019). The ectoderm changes into the nervous system and skin. The mesoderm forms the organs, circulatory system, and the muscles. The endoderm forms organs, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and the urinary tract. Therefore, the period of the embryo is the most dramatic prenatal period. The fetal period is the longest stage of pregnancy and is referred to as "growth and finishing phase” because the fetus grows and increases in size. It is at this phase when the organs, muscles, and nervous system become more connected and organized. In the 2nd trimester of the fetal stage, the mother can feel the movement of the fetus. The fetus gains weight starts getting irritated by the sounds and lights. In the 3rd trimester, the fetus develops a steady heartbeat and begins to position itself for birth.

Question eight

Young infants spend most of their time sleeping. The amount of sleep that young infants get impacts their brain ability. Rapid Eye movement (REM) sleep helps in brain development. Thus the amount of sleep that children get can affect their performances in school. Jayne (2017) noted that REM sleep accounts for about 50% of the young infant’s sleep. As REM sleep is essential for young infant brain development, it is also necessary for neural stimulation that is required for the development of mature neural connections. Therefore, REM sleep plays a significant role in the development of the central nervous system. Young infants require a high level of REM sleep. Hence, a newborn that has enough REM sleep develops a central nervous system that is more healthy and strong.