Running head: HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Lifespan Look On: Human Growth and Development Carly Parry Salt Lake Community College

HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT Abstract

This paper explores the human development of neuroplasticity and the effect of resiliency through research. Leah Nelson explains neuroplasticity that occurs through birth and then leads into aging years in her paper A Learning Machine: Plasticity and Change Throughout Life. Emily Bazelon stated in her article: A Question of Resilience the research she has found concerning resilience. Each individual goes through different experiences good and bad. The question is how do we deal with it? How is it going to affect our environment, people around us, and ourselves? What are we going to need to change in order have our life to be back to normal? In this essay those questions are answered.

HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT Lifespan Look On: Human Growth and Development Resilience has several different meanings to people depending what term its used in. According to nytimes.com, Emily Bazelon explained the word resilience and its everyday meaning "extends to anything that bounces back. Its the word for springing back from serious adversity" (Bazelon). Also conferring to dictionary.com resilience was given the meaning of power or ability to return to the original, form, or position or ability to recover readily from illness or depression (Harper). The definition of neuroplasticity according to medterms.com, is; "The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. Neuroplasticity allows the neurons (nerve cells) in the brain to compensate for injury and disease and to adjust their activities in response to new situations or to changes in their environment. The brain is like a puzzle, it has lots of pieces that have to fit into place in order for it to work. Without a piece functioning or fitting it is not going to function properly. It is through "selective attention control" or the ability to sort and focus on preferred input that the brain shifts into adult mode. Neuroplasticity occurs throughout the entire human life span, starting at birth and ending at death. It is through our life span that research has shown us that shaping the machinery of your brain to develop the capacities of your life (Nelson). As humans age Merzenich said, brains become nosier because they are filled with more informationwhich causes them to slow down (Nelson). The saying that is thrown around, the older you get the wiser you become, is counteracting. Simply stated, Brains simply slow down with age (Nelson).

HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT When we are born we have yearning for learning, however, when we age our brain slows down. From birth, children want instant gratification. But by stretching their brains to encompass abstract concepts and counterfactuals, they are able to train themselves to control their desires (Nelson). Our bodies and brains are programmed to start learning from the second we leave the womb. As babies develop, their brains capacity grows along with all the neurons. Young children behave like scientists exploring the world for the first time (Nelson). Children are exploring everything for the first time. It is the capacity for plasticity that makes it possible for children to learn and for the species to evolve, build, change, and grow (Nelson). For human resiliency each person has their own personality. Some of these characteristics that we gain through experiences. We all have experienced several life stresses defined as major setbacks with jobs, housing, relationships, health and money (Bazelon). Through research we have found that children who are resilient are skillful at creating beneficial relationships with adults and those relationships in turn contribute to childrens resilience (Bazelon). It is only through the good support from family and friends that we get through it. Just like LaTanya and her sister Tichelle had good supportfrom their grandmother. They said, She did everything for us. Wed rent movies, go places, do a lot of things together (Bazelon). Also through each they found strength to get through their times of trial. They had to learn how to adapt to each new situation. LaTanya had to often look after her sisters- make them dinner, and put them to sleep. Tichelle stated, LaTanya raised us. Shes more like a mom than a sister (Bazelon). When there are shoes that are not being fulfilled in a family someone has to step up and fill those shoes. LaTanya had a role to play.

HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT Genetic basis of resiliency has come a long way over time. The study of resilience is nearly fifty years old (Bazelon). Resilience research brightens a picture that is often painted in black, Bazelon stated. It is only through research that we have found that genes play a major role in influencing peoples responses to adverse environments (Bazelon). In 2003 scientists undermined the findings of, proper regulation of serotonin helps promote well-being and protects against depression in response to trauma or stress. In humans, each 5-HTT gene has two alleles, and each allele occurs in either a short or long version, (Bazelon). Now there are mixtures of short and long allele affects. Since depression has a lot of causing factors, the short allele can contribute to life going awry (Bazelon). Individuals who undergo traumatic involvements can have their depression gene triggered (Bazelon). For example LaTanya carries one copy of the short 5-HTT alleles. It doesnt mean that her genes dont doom her to unhappiness, but it does play a factor (Bazelon). Happiness is a choice and we get to choose our attitudes. But we dont get to pick our genes. I grew up in a family of three children and two parents. My parents were married very young and had me. We moved about six times before I was the age of three and I am lucky I dont remember most of the moves. I am the oldest and grew up with both my parents in my home. They were both very active in my life as I was growing up. My mom would volunteer in my elementary class rooms and throw parties. My dad would take me hunting and on daddy

daughter dates. They never missed a dance performance or sing a-long. Looking back on it, it has helped my development psychology and emotionally. Like LaTanya had her support from her grandma,

HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT I had it from my parents and extended family. But like every family there are problems. I was abused when I was little and so I suffer problems from that to this day. I have learned how to

control my emotions and how to get along with people. It is only through my support system and my inner drive that I am who I am today. Throughout my life I have learned things that most people will never get to experience. And because of my passion of wanting to become a nurse that I get the chance to help other people learn. Help them learn how to feel better or how to take care of themselves better. In life we are all still developing and it will never stop. We learn new things every day, it may slow down when we grow older; but that is just part of life.

HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT References Bazelon, E. (2006, April 30). A Question of Resilience. The New York Times. Harper, D. (2014, January 21). Define Resilience. Dictionary.com. Retrieved April 14, 2014, from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/resilience?s=t

Nelson, L. (2006). A learning machine: Plasticity and change throughout life. APS Observer (pp 27-28). Neuroplasticity Definition. (2012, June 14). MedicineNet. Retrieved April 13, 2014, from http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=40362

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