Discussion Spark: Biology Versus Environment

Culture is one of many key aspects of our environment that has been shown to deeply impact how we develop and change across the lifespan. For example, researchers set about to examine whether infant temperament varied across cultures. Rothbart & Bates (2006) found that many broad aspects of infant temperament are found across cultures, such as impulsivity, fear, and inhibitory control. However, differences based on infant culture did emerge. For example, researchers found that Chinese babies tended to be calmer, to console themselves more quickly, and to be comforted by an adult more easily than American babies. What accounts for these differences?

You begin this week by considering the universality of developmental change and growth, a topic you revisit in this week’s Discussion. By Day 2

Post your opinion about the following:

What aspects of social and emotional development unfold universally for people across the globe, and what aspects of social and emotional development do you think are influenced by one’s environment and surrounding culture? Note: Spark Discussions are intended to generate ideas and spark thoughts before you review the week’s Learning Resources or begin your Assignments. For this reason, your responses may be briefer than a regular Discussion post and are due on Day 2 (unlike regular Discussion posts, which are due on Day 4). Therefore, no APA citations of Learning Resources are required for your Spark posts. A response post is not required, although you are welcome to respond to your classmates.