Details for Lifespan Development and Formation

This paper explores theories of development and influences on people of all ages from children through to the 'golden years'. Discusses the contexts of  family, community and culture and the changes that occur during the lifespan.

Awards offering Lifespan Development and Formation

This unit is offered as a part of the following awards:

• Bachelor of Contemporary Ministry

Unit Content

Curriculum Objective

This paper explores theories of development and influences on people of all ages from children through to the 'golden years'. Discusses the contexts of  family, community and culture and the changes that occur during the lifespan.

Outcomes

Students should be able to:

1. Explain major influences (biological, cognitive, social, moral, faith and emotional) on individual development across the lifespan.
2. Analyse major theories of development and their inherent strengths and weaknesses.
3. Examine the physical, cognitive, emotional and faith changes that occur during adolescence and draw-out applications for ministry applications.
4. Identify the importance of effective research techniques and the role of reliability, validity, and application in developing research questions.
5. Analyse how Christian nurture can be encouraged during the normal early and mid-adult development of emotions, personality traits, and relationships.
6. Explain how the development of the person changes during the "golden years," and the effect of these changes on the individual, family and development of relevant local church-based ministries.
7. Discuss the diversity, adaptation, and continuity of the individual within the contexts of the family, community, society, and culture. 

Subject Content

1. The study of Human Development
2. Prenatal Development, infancy and early childhood
3. School-age children and adolescent development
4. Young and Middle Adulthood
5. Late Adulthood 

This course may be offered in the following formats

Lectures, class presentations, discussion, tutorials, web-based interaction, distance learning material

Please consult your course prospectus or enquire about how and when this course will be offered next at Alphacrucis College.

Assessment Methods

To be confirmed

Prescribed Text

Robert V. Kail & John C Cavanaugh, Human Development: A Lifespan View, Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth, 2007.

Representative References

Burns, Cherie. Stepmotherhood: How to Survive without Feeling Frustrated, Left out, or Wicked. Rev. Ed. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2001. 

Demick, Jack, and Carrie Andreoletti. Handbook of Adult Development The Plenum Series in Adult Development and Aging. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum, 2003. 

eN.Z.: Tandem Press, 1993. 

Fowler, James W. Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning. 1st HarperCollins pbk. ed. New York, NY: HarperSan Francisco, 1995. 

Gilligan, Carol. In a Different Voice: Psychological Theory and Women's Development. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1982. 

Grant, Ian, and Mary Grant. Growing Great Girls. Auckland, N.Z.: Random House, 2008. 

Harris, Mary Beth, and Cynthia Franklin. Taking Charge: A School-Based Life Skills Program for Adolescent Mothers. Oxford New York: Oxford University Press, 2008. 

Johnson, Patrick B., and Micheline S. Malow-Iroff. Adolescents and Risk: Making Sense of Adolescent Psychology Making Sense of Psychology. Westport, Conn.: Praeger, 2008. 

Kail, Robert V., and John C. Cavanaugh. Human Development: A Life-Span View. 4th ed. Belmont, Calif.: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2007. 

Kohlberg, Lawrence. Adult Moral Development. sound recording. New Haven: Religious Education Association,, 1976. 

Levinson, Daniel J. The Seasons of a Man's Life. 1st ed. New York: Knopf, 1978. 

Linn, Matthew, Sheila Fabricant Linn, and Dennis Linn. Healing the Eight Stages of Life. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1988. 

Meade, Anne, and New Zealand Council for Educational Research. Cresting the Waves: Innovation in Early Childhood Education. Wellington: NZCER Press, 2007. 

Meier, Paul D. Introduction to Psychology and Counseling: Christian Perspectives and Applications. 2nd ed. Tunbridge Wells: Monarch, 1991. 

Morley, Patrick M. The Man in the Mirror: Solving the 24 Problems Men Face. 1st ed. Brentwood, Tenn.: Wolgemuth & Hyatt, 1989. 

Poole, Debra A., Narina Nunez, and Amye Warren. The Story of Human Development. Harlow: Prentice Hall, 2007. 

Wilhoit, Jim, John Dettoni, and Ted Warren Ward. Nurture That Is Christian: Developmental Perspectives on Christian Education. Wheaton, Ill.: BridgePoint, 1995.

Zigler, Edward, and Matia Finn-Stevenson. Children in a Changing World: Development and Social Issues. 2nd ed. Pacific Grove, Calif.: Brooks/Cole Pub. Co., 1993.