Anthropological perspective for understanding human beings through time and space holds importance. In contrast to most other fields that have humans as their focal point. the anthropological approach to humankind draws on and integrates research about people from all parts of the globe, from past as well as contemporary cultures. An anthropological viewpoint on the course of life with respect to human growth and development patterns, will serve as a way of further illustrating the strength of this approach. There have been social motivations for growth studies. Examinations of the physical and physiological development of children began as a reaction to child labor reform movement during the nineteenth century. At this. tage the emptionof second molar was con trued a a signal of puberty and considered old enouul: to work. Growth tudies are also influenced because of medical concern which would include the monitoring the physical and developmental. progress of children nutritional requirement for normal growth and environmental effect on growth and medical aspects of growth and it abnorrnalitie .The evolutionary studies of growth facilitates in understanding the interaction of growth and evolutionary biology of ‘ human species. One of the be t ways to explore the interaction of biology and culture in the human life cour e is by appreciating how humans grow, mature and develop in their own niches, because it is only in this pha e, that human beings experience and reflect both biology and sociocultural environments. Ifwe consider how a human develops from an embryo into an adult and examine the forces that operate on that process, only then we can have a better perspective fhow both biology and culture influence our own lives.
There is variation in the degree to which cultural factors interact with genetically determined biological characteristics. It is the e variable interactions that reflects the characteristics expre sed in an individuals. There i no doubt that some genetically based haracteristics will express themselves irrespective of the cultural context of growth and development. Features such as intelligence, body shape, and growth reflect the interaction of environment and genes. Each one of us carries certain genetic makeup right from birth that influences the maximum tature we can achieve in adulthood. But to attain that maximum stature, we must be properly nouri hed during our growing years and escape many childhood diseases and other stresses that inhibit growth. Socioe onomic statu, a cultural factor, is probably one of the primary determinants of nutrition and health. The intricate effects of all these factors in singularity or in unison can be understood only by understanding the human growth course, tracing its trajectories and understanding its development either by comparison or on its own. Likewi e, to understand human growth and development from an evolutionary angle, with an interest in how natural selection has operated on human life cycle from conception to death, a perspective known as life history theory, it is essential to know human life cour e. Is it a fact that humans have longer periods of infancy and childhood in contrast to other primates? What is that makes differences in such closely related species as humans and chimpanzees? Life history researches try to find answ.er to such questions. The whole life course characterize a eries of life history traits such as length of gestation, age at weaning, time spent in growth to adulthood, adult body ize, and length of life span. Life history theory offers the foundation for appreciating many queries like how fa t an organism will grow and to what size, how many offspring can be produced, how long gestation will last, and how long an individual will live. Nearly all mammals have at least three phases: prenatal, infancy, and adult and most primates have four phases: prenatal, infancy, juvenile (usually called childhood in humans), and adult. Humans add a phase between the juvenile phase and adulthood referred to as the subadult period (adolescence). Yet, among women there is an addition of a sixth phase – the post-reproductive years following menopause. Most of these intricate detail can be appreciated only through a clear understanding of all aspects of human growth and development.
Majority of these life cycle stages portray biological transitions-the prenatal phase starts right from conception and end with birth; infancy is characterized by nursing; childhood, or the juvenile pha e, represent period from weaning to sexual maturity (puberty in humans); adolescence is the period from puberty to the end of growth; adulthood is marked by the birth of the first child and/or the completion of growth; and menopause is documented as having occurred one full year after the last menstrual cycle. For humans, these biological markers are not only growth milestones but hold cultural significance also. For example, puberty has different meanings in different cultures. In many cultures a girl’s first menstruation (menarche) is often marked with ritual and celebration; a change in social status typically occurs with this biological transition. It is also suggested that an adolescent stage of growth offers advantages in terms of learning social skills before reproduction, denoting that the girl has grown. Thus, evolution of human adolescence is distinct in having both biological and social dimensions. To understand the complex social connotations engaged in purely biological processs, it becomes imperative to know why, when and how these processes initiate. In non-western societies menopause is often associated with a rise in status for women whereas it is commonly seen as a negative transition for women in many Western societies. Collective and individual attitudes toward these life cycle transitions have an effect on growth, development, and health. Therefore these processes are to be known and understood in their time, intensity and space to understand human life cycle. Studies in human growth and development also include nutritional status which may reflect the health status of an individual.
Sample Questions
- 1) Explain the importance of studying growth.
- 2) Mention the different techniques and methods of studying growth.
- 3) Write about the different stages of growth.
- 4) Briefly discuss about genetic and non-genetic factors that control the growth process.