42 Part 1 Foundations of Human Development
are added before the root word and suffixes
are added after the root word. Tell students
that knowing how to analyze words can
help them fi gure out the meanings of those
they do not know. Have students review
the terms list and identify words that have
roots and affi xes.
Critical Thinking
1. Analyze. Quietly observe your
classmates. Why do you think they
behave the way they do? With a
partner, discuss your fi ndings.
2. Identify. Observe children at play. Give
an example of social learning theory in
action.
3. Assess. Can you change someone’s
impatient behavior by always giving
the same kind response? If so, could
this cause lasting change?
4. Determine. Which family member
are you most like? Is this due more to
heredity, environment, or your social
interactions with that person?
5. Predict. If a child has a parent who is
very outgoing and one who is quiet
and reserved, how might this impact
their child? Would gender make a
difference? Would it matter who spent
the most time with the child?
6. Draw conclusions. Think about your
emotional and social interactions with
family and friends. What factors (such
as sleep, stress, excitement, nutrition)
have affected your interactions with
others today?
7. Evaluate. If given a choice, would
you choose to be extremely intelligent
or extremely beautiful or handsome?
Why?
8. Compare and contrast. Create a table
comparing and contrasting the research
methods commonly used to study
human development.
Summary
In trying to understand the precise
nature of human development, researchers
and scientists conduct numerous
observations, experiments, and studies.
They form theories from their work.
Theories provide an explanation for
observations made over time and both
explain and predict behavior.
Psychosocial theory, advocated by
Erikson, addresses the stages of social and
emotional development in humans from
birth to old age. Learning theories include
behaviorism, operant conditioning, social
cognitive theory, cognitive theory, and
social learning. All of these theories are
valuable in the fi eld of human growth and
development. No one theory, however,
should be regarded as the absolute truth.
What makes humans develop specifi c
traits? Researchers and scientists continue
to explore the impact of heredity and
environment on development. This
includes the effects of family, peers,
community, economic resources, media,
and health issues such as nutrition and
physical activity.
Researchers use a variety of ways to
observe and understand behaviors using
the scientifi c method. Hypotheses are
tested and theories formulated. Conducting
ethical research is of utmost importance.
Through careful and diligent analysis,
understanding of human development
increases.
Vocabulary Activity
Remind students that many words can
be divided into parts. Those that can be
divided into two or more parts have a core
word, or root and an affix—something that
is attached to the word. There are two types
of affi xes attached to root words: prefixes