Identify the particular things or events in your life that
helped to define or shape these values for you.

Our frames are influenced heavily by our life experiences. For example, if we grew up farming in a rural area, we would likely see the world quite differently than someone who was born in and lived his or her entire life in the city. If we went to school to study land use economics and business, we would likely see growth and development quite differently than one who went to school to study environmental biology. In other words, our training, education, upbringing, culture, and life experiences help create the frames we use to view not only the world, but particular social conflicts as well.

Think about your particular orientation to growth and development.

List what specific life experiences could have shaped your views. Identify how these experiences may lead you to see features of the dispute in a particular way.

• What kind of education did you receive?
• How would you see growth and development differently if you had:
  • taken a different major?
  • read different books?
  • joined different clubs?
  • lived in a different state or country?
  • been born of a different race or ethnicity?