Bi8691 Human Individual Development

Faculty of Science
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. RNDr. Miroslav Králík, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Martin Čuta, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. RNDr. Miroslav Králík, Ph.D.
Department of Anthropology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: doc. RNDr. Miroslav Králík, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Anthropology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The goal of this course is to introduce students to the theoretical approaches and study, empirical research and modelling possibilities of individual development and life cycle/history of Man and, also, to introduce the in detail to the specifics of individual developmental phases from conception to death.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course the students should be able to: explain the biological background of classification of the human individual development phases; understand growth and development mechanisms in particular phases; identify intrinsic and extrinsic factors of growth and development; know the main "tasks" and "pitfalls" of each stage of development; apply the standard methods of growth and development assessment; explain human ontogenesis from the viewpoint of the Theory of life history; interpret specifics of human life history in the context of primates.
Syllabus
  • Block I - Theoretical approach to individual development
  • Introduction
  • Life-history
  • Interconnection of developmental stages
  • Growth and development
  • Block II - Biological-psycho-social development of man from conception till death
  • Human prenatal development
  • Prenatal stress and epigenetics
  • Delivery and newborn
  • Childhood
  • Prepuberty, puberty, adolescence
  • Adolescent and young adult
  • Development of man in adulthood
  • Aging and dying
  • Course summary, students' presentations, discussion, consults
Literature
  • Bogin B. (1999): Patterns of Human Growth. Cambridge University Press (2nd edition).
  • Burgess R., MacDonald K. (Eds.) (2004): Evolutionary Perspectives on Human Development, 2nd edition, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
  • Eveleth, P. B., Tanner, J. M. (1999): Worldwide Variation in Human Growth. Cambridge University Press, New York, USA.
  • Malina, R. M., Bouchard, C., Bar-Or, O. (2004): Growth, Maturation and Physical Activity. Human Kinetics Publishers, Champaign, USA.
  • LeVine, R. A., New, R. S. (2008): Anthropology and Child Development: A Cross-Cultural Reader. Wiley-Blackwell, Hoboken, USA.
  • Vágnerová, M. (2007): Vývojová psychologie II. Dospelost a stáří. Karolinum, Praha.
  • Šmahel, Z. (2001): Principy, teorie a metody auxologie. Karolinum, Praha.
  • Flegr J. (2005): Evoluční biologie. Academia, Praha. (kapitola 12. Evoluce ontogeneze a životního cyklu).
  • Bjorklund D.F., Pellegrini, A.D. (2002): The Origins of Human Nature: Evolutionary Developmental Psychology. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.
  • Langdon, J.H. (2005): The Human Strategy: An Evolutionary Perspective on Human Anatomy. Oxford University Press, NY (kapitola: 21. Life History).
Teaching methods
The tuition in the course is in form of lectures and individual work based on scientific papers published on various topics; the outcome of individual work will be in presentation in which each student presents to colleagues results of his/her work.
Assessment methods
The course is concluded with an oral exam on condition that the student presented his/her short paper (presentation) on an agreed topic. To pass the exam successfully the student must prove good knowledge of the issues discussed during lectures and in the required reading.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2008 - for the purpose of the accreditation, Spring 2011 - only for the accreditation, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, spring 2012 - acreditation, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
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