Please answer the following questions using at lease 3 paragraphs:
- One of the most important themes that I want you to consider as you go through this course is the fact that there is rarely a simple explanation for someone’s behavior. Bronfenbrenner’s theory of development provides an excellent model for considering all of the different types of variables that can impact our lives. We are affected by personal variables (such as gender, appearance, intelligence, personality, etc.), our immediate environments (such as school or work), and the broader context (culture, government policies, etc.). Your task for this discussion question is to generate at least 2-3 explanations as to why so many pregnant women in the United States do not get adequate prenatal care. For each explanation, explain which level(s) of Bronfenbrenner’s theory are applicable.
- Does society’s interest in protecting fetuses justify coercive and/or punitive measures against pregnant women who use alcohol, nicotine, or other drugs? If no, then why not? If yes, what form should such measures take? What might be some of the potential drawbacks or unintended consequences that might arise if we were to enact such penalties or sanctions?
