Week 1 Discussion: Prenatal Development and Birth

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

• Textbook: Chapter 2, 3
• Lesson
• Minimum of 1 scholarly source (in addition to the textbook)

Initial Post Instructions

For the initial post, respond to one of the following options:

Option 1: As you have found, lifespan development research has several renowned theorists who attempted to explain human behavior with different theories. Many people would argue that some theories explain human behavior, cognition and socioemotional development better than others. After your review of the theories, which theory do you think best explains your development thus far and why?

Examples:

• Erikson's theory
• Freud's theory
• Bandura's theory
• Piaget's theory

Option 2: There is a large body of research that has been conducted on expectant mothers, and many conclusions have been drawn about what is and isn't healthy for their unborn babies. Based on these results, doctors and parents have concerns about biological and environmental factors that we know to be, "teratogens." After reading the lesson and chapters for this week, carefully choose a teratogen that you feel is often ignored, but that poses a significant risk to prenatal development. How does this teratogen impact the fetus? Why it is ignored? What should be done to address it?

Follow-Up Post Instructions

Respond to at least one peer. Further the dialogue by providing more information and clarification.

Writing Requirements

• Minimum of 2 posts (1 initial & 1 follow-up)
• Minimum of 2 sources cited (assigned readings/online lessons and an outside source)
• APA format for in-text citations and list of references