Dynamics in Human Development, Essay Example

The study of human development involves a considerable number of factors.  As some of these factors will be examined presently, such as socioeconomic status, cultural context, ethnicity, and culture, it is clear as to the extent and reach of human development.  Certainly these factors are quite involved in the study of human development.

Socioeconomic Status

Socioeconomic status is undoubtedly linked with one’s development.  Many factors related to the wealth, occupation, and income of an individual can play roles in how they develop.  It precisely refers to the social status of one within relationship to society, such as upper or middle class, integrating the amount of money one has to gauge one’s place in society.  Decisions and opportunities are often inextricably linked in these types of considerations.

These links to development can take on many forms.  For instance, someone who places high regard to material objects and expensive items may be limited by socioeconomic status.  One with little education may not be able to obtain a desirable career.  Some may not have a high quality of life in poverty.  These associations can have significant effects, which all play different roles according to the person.  One’s socioeconomic status can have all of these types of results, often producing stereotypes and valuations based on these factors.  Some people are better suited to handle the limitations and advantages of lower and higher socioeconomic status.

Cultural Context

Cultural context can include many factors that affect development.  Issues within culture such as expectations and values often play a large role in an individual’s development.  Truly the many associations are well outside of this analysis, where elements of culture play well-defined and subtle roles in an individual’s development.

There are some common examples that can present the dynamics of cultural context.  Standards within culture often play large roles, such as in a young adult’s education.  For instance, the dangers of drinking are well-documented in one’s high school years, where peer pressure is found.  These standards get passed off as expectations by one’s peers, as a result of the surrounding culture that is present in these types of situations.

Approval is another factor that is seen within the breadth of cultural context.  The dynamics of approval by one’s peers, friends, co-workers, and family comes into play throughout one’s life.  It can often lead one towards positive and negative elements in development, such as in striving towards good grades and peer pressure in drinking and drunks, for instance.  Once again, the surrounding culture places expectations that one strives for in the form of approval, among other topics.

Ethnicity

Ethnicity most commonly plays a role in one’s development in the way of standards and culture.  Most commonly, one’s ethnicity leads to defined roles, standards, family culture, and similar factors.  Ethnicity can also account for quite negative dynamics in development, such as racism, stereotypes, and other related dynamics.

The differences between ethnicities account for substantial differences, where items like language and religion can be quite noticeable.  For instance, two children in the same city of different ethnic backgrounds may see a much different development in regards to ethnicity.  A child whose family is from India may practice Hinduism and speak a native tongue in addition to what is primary in the country, such as English in the United States.  Those in the majority population, such as a Caucasian child may only speak English and practice Christianity.  Certainly these differences produce vastly different dynamics in development.

Study of Separate Cultures

The discussion of why separate cultures are studied in regards to human development can take off from the previous point.  Most directly, there are a wide variety of differences between cultures, similar to the wide differences between ethnic groups.  The study of human development within different cultures can reveal more identifiable differences, than perhaps evident in a country.

Although subcultures take into account some differences, separate cultures have more of these dynamics contrasted in an explicit manner.  Certainly if we are to compare the culture of Chinese-Americans and those in China, we would readily see some of these vast differences.  Of course they are even more explicit when we compare two completely difference cultures, such as those in the United States and a third-world country.

The impact on human development is then quite noticeable.  With vast differences between cultures, the norms, expectancies, and practices within a culture can have substantial impact on an individual.  Truly a child growing up within one culture will encounter much different roles and expectations, along with broader elements, such as respective cultural norms.

Researchers can identify these differences better by isolating such variables.  For instance, researchers could ask how the norms within an African tribe affect a young child as he or she encounters such expectations.  Of course, researchers could identify how these explicit demands can be contrasted with those in Western culture and more developed countries.

Conclusion

Human development is truly a field of study that takes many concepts into account.  Socioeconomic status, cultural context, ethnicity, and other factors play important roles in human development.  These roles carry on to the later stages in life, where they do not cease to affect the individual.  It is important to note that these characteristics and concepts do not have to play obvious roles in order to affect human development.  The more subtle and well-defined concepts (such as a child’s immediate classroom setting with regards to expectations, etc.) can often be integral in one’s development as well.