Anxiety Disorder, Human Development, and Socialization Diversity and Cultural Factors in Psychology PSY/450 May 28, 2012

Anxiety Disorder, Human Development, and Socialization The development of an individual depends on the success of human developmental stages and his or her exposure to positive socialization. The following will present the relationship between human development and socialization. Then explain what an anxiety disorder is and how the relationship between human development and socialization is affected by this disorder. Human development, socialization, and anxiety disorder have one common factor they relate to every race, culture, gender, and age group.
Human Development Relationship to Socialization
Human Development
The psychological, social, and physical changes that and individual experiences in a lifespan from conception to death is known as human development (Shiraev, 2010). All cultures accept and understand human developmental stages. Specialists are able to identify biological, physiological changes, and behavioral norms to all cultural norms. For instance in many developmental books common life span stages are distinguished by stages like prenatal, infancy, the two stages of childhood early and middle, adolescences, and the three stages of adulthood (early, middle, and late). These stages give a reference to what is acceptable and normal in every culture or environment (Shiraev, 2010). This is where socialization becomes important in development. For an individual to meet each stage of human development successfully he or she needs to be taught what is socially acceptable.

Socialization
For an individual to meet each stage of human development successfully he or she needs to be taught what is socially acceptable. Socialization has several interpretations but, the general interpretation is the process of interactions by which an individual learns the norms of his or her cultural group pertaining to values, attitudes, language, and beliefs (Gecas, 2011). As the individual acquires the knowledge of his or her group he or she begins to develop a sense of personality and self. “Socialization therefore addresses two important problems in social life: societal continuity from one generation to the next and human development. (Gecas, 2011, para.1).”
Socialization is a process that takes a lifetime (Gecas, 2011). While parents and family are the most influential experiences throughout life also become a part of an individual’s socialization. Erik Ericson theory on development emphasizes the thought that socialization is something that an individual experiences throughout one’s life. Erickson’s theory gives eight stages that are associated with all the different developmental life stages, “trust versus mistrust, autonomy versus shame, initiative versus guilt, industry versus inferiority, identity versus identity confusion, intimacy versus isolation, generativity versus self-absorption, and integrity versus despair (Gecas, 2011, para. 28).” Human development and socialization are used to define what is normal in human development and how abnormal behaviors are recognized.
Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety disorder is a common disorder that affects children, adolescents, and adults. The exact cause of this disorder is relatively unknown and has nothing to do with upbringing or weakness (WebMD, 2012). There are many different types of anxiety disorders that include panic, social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, post-traumatic, specific phobias, and generalized anxiety disorders. Symptoms of these disorders may vary but share many of the same emotional and physical symptoms like fear, uneasiness, obsessive uncontrollable thoughts, flashbacks of traumatic experiences, nightmares, repeated ritual like behaviors, problematic sleeping, muscle tension, inability to stay calm, nausea, and palpitations. Research on anxiety disorder takes the stance that a combination of factors like environmental stress and changes in our brain chemicals may be the cause. This conclusion is taken from the study that long periods of stress can change the chemicals in our brains that control moods changing the way that an individual handles stress. In Addition those who suffer from certain anxiety disorders have brain structures that show changes in the control of mood or memory. This disorder may have a slightly larger occurrence in women than men but, it is seen equally in Hispanic, Whites, and African Americans. Other studies have shown that anxiety disorder are inherited and run in families from parent to child (WebMD, 2012).
Anxiety Disorder Relationship to Human Development and Socialization
Anxiety disorder cause a person to react in an abnormal way to any given situation. This disorder affects children, adolescence, and adults and equally effects different cultural back grounds. Anxiety disorder is a social disorder because no matter a person’s race, age, gender, or culture stress is something that is felt. Long term exposures to stressful situations or stress that is introduced at any developmental stage could cause this disorder. A child changing schools, an adolescent losing a parent, or an adult experiencing a car crash are all stressors that could develop into an anxiety disorder.
A child experiencing anxiety disorder socially may want to avoid what they are afraid of. “This can make anxiety disorder very isolating for children, just at that time in their development when socialization with peers can make such a difference in their lives. (Children's Anxiety Intstitute, 2009, para. 1).” Adolescent suffering from this disorder cannot function normally and may feel worried, uneasy, and afraid. If this is not treated then the disorder could cause them to miss school, effect peer relationships, drug use, and low self esteem. This then carries on to adulthood where the individual may not be able to cope with social situations that are needed for a job and family (Child Development Institute, 2012).The human development stages child, adolescent, and adulthood can be affected because the individual is not able to develop socially. For example a person suffering from social anxiety may experience a paralyzing fear of being humiliated in a social situation this then effects his or her day to day experiences are (Tythan, 2009). The individual will experience psychological fears of being criticized, physical signs of sweating, and behaviors that will make them avoid social situations all together (Tythan, 2009). Socialization then becomes hinder affecting the stages of development that are needed to define what is considered normal.
Conclusion
In conclusion the relationship between human development and socialization is that the stages of human development define what is normal through various stages of life no matter the culture and socialization is what happens when we learn what is normal in our societal groups. If a society is able to define what is normal then society is able to recognize what is abnormal. A disorder like anxiety disorder affects all human developmental stages, and runs in families. The effects of the symptoms like fear, physical ailments, and avoidance then hinder socialization by causing the person to avoid situations that cause anxiety. Human development, socialization, and anxiety disorder have a relationship in the fact that they all deal with humanity. As human’s we need to define what is normal and then socially belong. The problem is that societal stressors can then cause universal disorders like anxiety.

References
Child Development Institute. (2012). Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents. Retrieved May 28, 2012, from Child Development Institute Parenting Today: http://childdevelopmentinfo.com/child-psychology/anxiety_disorders_in_children.shtml
Children's Anxiety Intstitute. (2009). Children with Anxiety: Understanding The Social Impact. Retrieved may 28, 2012, from Children's Anxiety Intstitute: http://childrenwithanxiety.com/articles-resources/children-with-anxiety-understanding the-social-impact
Gecas, V. (2011). Socialization. Retrieved May 28, 2012, from edu.LearnSoc.org- An insight to Human Social Relations: g/Chapters/4 key concepts in sociology/9 socialization.htm
Shiraev, E. B. (2010). Cross Cultural psychology: Critical Thinking and contemporar application (4th ed.) . Boston: Pearson/Allyn Bacon.
Tythan, L. J. (2009, Novemeber 30). Signs of Social Anxiety. Retrieved May 28, 2012, from Live Strong The Limitless Potential of You: http://www.livestrong.com/article/41460-signs social-anxiety/
WebMD. (2012). Anxiety& Panic Disorders: Anxiety. Retrieved May 28, 2012, from WebMD Better Information. Better Health: http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/mental health-anxiety-disorders?page=2