Discussion board

Cultural groups typically have clearly defined expectations for when certain social events should occur. Some of these expectations may be clearly stated, while other expectations are unspoken. Reflect on your own beliefs about when a young adult should achieve the following transitions into adulthood:

• Moving into his or her own housing, separate from parents
• Securing a stable career or obtaining formal education
• Achieving financial independence
• Getting involved in a serious romantic relationship
• Getting married or cohabiting
• Having children
• Other transitions you consider important

What cultural values shape your beliefs? How would you know whether you have stepped outside a cultural norm with regard to the social clock? Does a specific developmental theory support your personal views of healthy development for a young adult? Please include 3 references for this discussion board.

Writing assignment

This assignment brings developmental theory to life through live observation. You will have the opportunity to practice making service recommendations for a family based on the developmental prognosis of the individual you observe.

Tasks:

Conduct a forty-five- to sixty-minute live observation of a young adult. In addition to conducting an observation, you may also choose to interview the young adult. Keep in mind the following guidelines:

• Only use first names or pseudonyms in your paper.
• Do not observe someone who is related to you.
• Do not attempt to engage in a counseling role; this assignment strictly involves only observing or interviewing.

Write a 3-page detailed description of the young adult's physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development. What would developmental theorists say about the cognitive and the psychosocial development of the young adult? In addition, include the following information:

• Date, time, location, and length of observation
• Age, sex, and race or ethnicity
• Defining physical characteristics
• Estimated socioeconomic status (SES)
• Description of interaction with caregivers
• Daily routine
• Description of other relevant behaviors exhibited during observation
• Any other information

Note that SES has a profound impact on development. You can estimate the SES level based on neighborhood, clothing, or automobiles.

Be sure to provide detailed examples and use multiple developmental theories to support your observations. Consider multicontextual influences on development. Also, provide a developmental prognosis and make service recommendations, if needed. Justify your recommendations with information from the textbook, recommended readings, and/or peer-reviewed journal articles.

If you determine no services are needed, provide a justification. For example, if the young adult you observe is not meeting the developmental milestones associated with young adulthood, provide suggestions for services that would promote healthy development.

Note: Do not share a prognosis or service recommendations with the young adult. This information is for class purposes only. Also, keep in mind that the more familiar you are with the relevant developmental theory for this age range, the more you will know what is significant during your observation.