Assignment:
Discussion: Theories of Human Development Across the Life Span
As a social worker, you will never have the privilege of seeing a client grow and evolve over the entire length of their life. Even if you do work with a client for a long time, you won't witness their evolution firsthand; rather, the client will convey to you what they are experiencing. For the purposes of the HBSE I and II courses, though, you have gotten this front-row seat into someone else's life. You have seen Ray navigate hardship in childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, middle adulthood, and now later adulthood. You have seen him find a sense of joy and meaning.
Through Ray's case, you can refine your application of human development theories in the context of an aging client who has lived a full life. For this Discussion, you do just that, selecting a theory and examining how it illuminates Ray's life.
To Prepare:
- Review the case of Ray, as presented in animated videos throughout this course and HBSE I. Consider the trajectory of Ray's life, key life events, and his biological, psychological, social, and spiritual development. Select one area of his life on which to focus your post.
- Select a theory of human development throughout the life span to apply to Ray's experience. This may be a theory described in this or other weeks' Learning Resources, or you may select a theory based on personal research.
- Post your application of a theory of human development to Ray's life. How does the theory deepen your understanding of Ray's experience? How might this application of theory assist you as a social worker engaging with Ray? Finally, what does Ray's example tell you about the human spirit, resiliency, and the capacity to evolve?
Required Readings
Hutchison, E. D. (2019). An update on the relevance of the life course perspective for social work. Families in Society, 100(4), 351-366.
Smith-Osborne, A. (2007). Life span and resiliency theory: A critical review. Advances in Social Work, 8(1), 152-168
Zacher, H., & Froidevaux, A. (2021). Life stage, lifespan, and life course perspectives on vocational behavior and development: A theoretical framework, review, and research agenda. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 126.