Clear Picture

 

             It is  often said that growing up is hard to do, but the stages of development across the lifespan can be seen as shifting further into maturation; as humans we are constantly adapting  to our life based on our current trajectory. As we progress further into the aging process, self-awareness and identity take importance into our lives.

Simply looking at a mirror will provide a reflection, while reflecting on one’s appearance has many different meanings. Self-identification, self-worth, and other adaptive qualities become more prominent as we continue to mature. Early adulthood brings with it many stereotypes, expectations, and stigmas. The age bracket for individuals in early adulthood spans from 24-34. Patricia Adkins is currently in the middle of the spectrum, experiencing early adulthood at the age of 28. The unique experiences and events in her life have helped Patricia to adapt and form an identity.

During this stage there is a desire to become independent, not only to one’s spouse but also a chosen profession. She has been married for a little over a year, but has been with her husband 8 years prior to their marriage. Patricia has been a Registered Nurse for four years,  and for the last three years she has been specializing in hospice care. She is a month away from receiving her bachelor’s degree in nursing. She has honed in on a career that she receives enjoyment from while using her selected skill set to help people.  Following Erikson’s work, intimacy versus isolation is experienced during this stage of development. Forming lasting bonds and friendships has never been an issue, but finding meaningful friends has been a challenge. The element of trust has caused some discord amongst individuals that were once esteemed colleagues and comrades. It is innate for people to be dishonest and selfish, but there is also a desire to seek approval and be close with someone. During this point, Patricia is not only defining who she is as an individual, but she the friendships and relationships that she has in her life are more meaningful and personal. It is difficult to discover the intention of people around you, but not trusting people or allowing someone to get close can be detrimental.

Over the course of her development, Patricia has come to the realization that a sense of self-awareness impacts the formation of friendships, behavior, and the impact you have on your life. The ability to take constructive criticism has helped Patricia learn from others, growing into the mature woman she is today. It is important to realize that knowledge is gained through experience and events; it is not just handed to you. The modification of behaviors and learning from past mistakes is also an important attribute to have when going through development. It is important to understand what when wrong so that the error can be avoided in the future. The act of conforming happens on a daily basis, but it is how an individual arrives at their decisions that matters. There are certain pressures (societal, environmental, parental, etc.) that play an important role in the development of our standards and identity.

Cognitive resiliency is essential during early adulthood as it impacts the knowledge, thinking, and processing that occurs further on in development. There are various factors that impact the way an individual can process thoughts and information. According to Stint-Morrow and Chui (2012), it is important to utilize and optimize the brain and cognitive thinking during adulthood. A healthy mind and body play important roles in the overall cognitive functioning. Having a specific proficiency or skill set will allow one to focus and learn to multi-task keeping brain movement high. Stress, lack of sleep, and issues with physical health often occur during adulthood, but learning regulation of emotions and responses will increase overall well-being. Learning how to buffer and respond to stress and ongoing issues will help strengthen the hemispheres within the brain.  

 

References

Stint-Morrow, E.A.L., & Chui, H. (2012) Cognitive resilience in adulthood. Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 32, 93.

Human Development Interview

 

 

Human Development Interview

 

INTEGRITY

 

Gary Thomas Anderson

 

Liberty University

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By NPS Photo [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

 

Abstract

 

Psychoanalyst Erik Erikson believed that society and culture introduce certain challenges at each stage of the developmental lifespan. In so far as this assignment is concerned I chose to interview my step-father-n-law. He asserted that he is to remain anonymous so I will call him “Frank.” Frank is in what Erikson would call late adulthood. In this stage of the developmental lifespan, Erikson’s stage of psychosocial developmental challenge is “Ego-integrity vs. despair.” Frank’s overall opinion of where he is at is in agreement with Erikson’s model. That is, he sees himself as positively sensing unity in his life accomplishments. He has a sense of integrity. He also related some of the challenges during his earlier stages of development that have served to bring him where he is at today.

 

 

Integrity

            I interviewed my step-father-n-law. He is in what Erikson would call “late adulthood.” In his words, “I am content with who I am and where I am at this stage in my life.” I learned that Frank has a sense of integrity. I could not sense any despair.

I did pick up on the fact that he had some regrets but I noticed he had a way of not allowing these regrets to affect his current status in life. I noted that even though he may not have resolved the challenges at some points in his life he managed to eventually resolve the crisis. For example, Frank had many jobs during his middle adulthood stage. I knew this prior to the interview. Frank has always spoke of his adventurous career. But this interview is the first time that we have directly attempted to fit them into a formal developmental stages model.  

When I revealed Erikson’s “Generativity vs. Stagnation” that is attributed to middle adulthood Frank was able to pinpoint negative experiences that led him from one job to the next one (Feldman, 2014).  Overall, Frank looked back at his career as a roller-coaster ride and he concluded that he did sense a contribution to the continuity of life as Erikson would put it (2014).

In my interview with Frank I noticed that he kept going back to his career and his life work. He framed each stage of his development in how he either contributed or failed to contribute based on his view regarding his career challenges. The fact that Frank spoke at length pertaining to his career was interesting. He did speak of family and his faith but not as much as he spoke about his work. In an article from the Journal of Counseling and Development entitled Work-Life Balance for Men: Counseling implications, authors Amanda M. Evans, Jamie S. Carney, and Morgan Wilkinson state that “many men find that when life events do not go their way, they are good at compensating behaviorally” (Carney, Evans, Wilkinson, 2013). This supported Frank’s ability to look back over his career with the ability to compensate for the various challenges that he had during his middle adulthood stage.

 

In the article from the Journal of Counseling and Development entitled Work-Life Balance for Men: Counseling implications, authors Amanda M. Evans, Jamie S. Carney, and Morgan Wilkinson go on to offer that “Integrity, a virtue often associated with men, focuses on the client’s ability to live honestly through authentic living” (Carney, Evans, Wilkinson, 2013) Frank has reached this stage in his life. I would conclude that he has achieved a balance. A work-life balance. Even though Frank may have had difficulty in his middle-adulthood stage of development he was able to finally resolve the crisis.

In my research I noted that according to the article from the Journal of Counseling and Development, as cited above, the authors wrote about “Emotional Closure” (Carney, Evans, Wilkinson, 2013).  This is where I ended up at with my interview with Frank. Emotional closure, occurs when an individual engages in an honest dialogue and thereby identifies problem solving techniques which can then aide the individual in alleviating distress that can be related with balancing multiple roles (2013). It is my concluding opinion that Frank has found a way to alleviate stress along the way in his life which has led him to his current stage of a sense of unity in life’s accomplishments(Feldman, 2014). He has reached the stage of integrity as Erikson would have it (Feldman, 2014).

References

Feldman, R. S. (2014). Development across the life span (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ:

Pearson Education, Inc.

Carney, S. J., Evans, M. A., Wilkinson, M. (2013). Work-life balance for men: Counseling

implications. Journal of counseling & development. Vol. 91, Number 4.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prodigal son Sam

Prodigal Son-  Sam

Abstract

Adolescence is a time of experiencing  role and identity confusion, also describes as the identity formation process of adolescence; it is a slow process of ego growth. This paper documents the interview with my friend Sam, who has been struggled with confidence since childhood. Though Sam was brought up by Christian parents, they are very strict with him .I have discovered that parenting are linked with development of adolescence. During darkest moment  of  Sam’s life, God  intervened; he is now a totally new person in Christ. Hormones changes affects the neurobiology  development  in Adolescence. This link to experimentation with alcohol.

 

I interviewed one of my friends-Sam, who is in later adolescence stage. He is 21years old  and is in his sophomore year. According to Erikson, major developments of this stage are the identity formation and role confusion . He  suggested that every adolescent experiences an identity crisis during which he or she has to find an answer to the basic questions: “Who am I?” “Where did I come from?”, and “What do I want to become?”. Identity confusion develops when an adolescent fails to develop a coherent and enduring sense of self, experiencing significant difficulties regarding his or her roles, values and choices.( Erikson,1968,page156)

Understanding how the brain is changing during this period and how these changes impact individuals.

Sam was cooperative and was very open about what his life is like at different stage. He grows up in Christian family, surrounded by all these lovely people. But Sam always feels lack of confidence in a lot of things he does, especially in front of his parents. This is the biggest challenge that he has to deal with since childhood. Apparently ,parenting and identity formation are dynamically interlinked. Parents are important source of socialization for their developing adolescents.  He described himself as a prodigal son in early-adolescence. He drank, slept in class never seriously studied and often fought with friends and did all the things  pleasing his flesh which sinned against God. It is empty in his heart though he knows God is there. Sam is lost and confused about himself, and wondered where is his future. Then came a turning point in his life when he was in the senior year of high school. Parents decided to send Sam to a missionary school for 2years before starting college . At this school, he touched by teacher’s unconditional love and a living example of Jesus Christ. He saw so many broken people like him: alcoholism, drug abused ,porn addicted . And how everyone’s life  has been transformed by God.  Bible became a living book for Sam,   he encountered God. Sam realized that he has a new identity ,he is a God’s child. There is a purpose in the life. He remembered what God  promised. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here.(2Corinthians 5:17,NIV)

Sam is now a God-fearing young man, and he loves the Lord. He shared his passion that he wants to be a pastor in the future which can help people just like him. He still struggles with confidence problem, but he believes that God is healing and equipping him. It’s a exciting journey ahead for Sam.

Reference:

Demir, B., Kaynak-Demir, H., & Sönmez, E. I. (2010). Sense of identity and depression in adolescents. The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics, 52(1), 68-72. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/216281616?accountid=12085

Ernst, M., Romeo, R. D., & Andersen, S. L. (2009). Neurobiology of the development of motivated behaviors in adolescence: A window into a neural systems model. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 93(3), 199-211. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pbb.2008.12.013

Generations: Leading the Future with Integrity

 Generations: Leading the Future with Integrity

Susan Tyree

Liberty University

Caption: Deciding to Make a Difference
http://www.teachercertificationdegrees.com/

Abstract

Generativity versus Stagnation is one of the eight stages described in Erik Erikson’s psychosocial developmental stages of the life span. In an interview with my mom, I was able to learn more about this stage in the real life example of my mom. It was interesting to be able to learn how this stage is very true to how a person continues to grow and learn throughout their life. The following describes the interview I had with my mom and the different aspects of her stage that she is going through and how she is affected by it. We discussed different coping mechanisms from her past that she will use in the present and then in the future. This post also describes how research supports some of the coping strategies that my mom uses and how it promotes healthy brain functioning. This activity was very interesting to be able to ask firsthand about the different stages of life and how everyone goes through similar crises just in different ways. 

Generations: Leading the Future with Integrity

            Erik Erikson describes eight different stages of development that individuals go through throughout their entire life span. When the assignment was given to interview someone who is within a different lifespan and discuss with them the different facets of the stage they are currently in and the issues and how they overcame those issues of past stages, I thought that it would be an excellent idea to gain knowledge from someone older than me. I chose to interview my mom who is 49 years old and currently in the middle adulthood category. This category Erikson named Generativity Vs. Stagnation. During this stage, the success would be generativity, which could be described as a person’s contribution to society and guidance to the next and future generations. Stagnation then would be the negative side where they kind of sit back and unwilling to assist society and give back.

            When I told my mom about this stage that she was in I asked her if she felt that this stage is true to where she is in her life, she said that she does see how this fits. She said that she is willing to help those who help themselves and that as a teacher she sees herself as a generativist in a way because she is constantly guiding younger generations to move forward. I asked her if the decline of the younger generation in consequence to the decline of our country’s morals and values is ever discouraging and in a way feel like falling into the more stagnant role. She answered that she feels like no matter how our country might be, she thinks she would still care and guide for the younger generations. However she did say that sometimes she does feel like giving up or holding back sometimes because younger generations often feel that they deserve help and reward whether they earned it or not.

            I then began to ask her about her past stages and the crises that go along with each and discussed with her how she was able to overcome each and what coping strategies helped her within each. She answered that with each stage she learned that if you work hard at what you want then you will achieve success. She also stated that it is important to try your best and think about the outcomes of each situation. She talked about how with each crisis when she needed some way to cope it would sometimes help her to walk or work out as a physical mechanism to dealing with stress and hard times. I asked her if she could see herself using these same coping skills in her current or future crises and she said that yes, she would, she found them very helpful in achieving successful outcomes.  

            In an article by Ryan Wessell and Carla Edwards entitled Principles of Longevity and Aging: Interventions to enhance older adulthood it dsicusses different ways to promote healthy aging and longevity in adulthood. Although it focuses on older adulthood, it still has some important elements that can be applied to any age including middle adulthood. The authors stated in a section about physical exercise “regular exercise may [also] reduce anxiety and depression and increase cognitive activity (Wessell & Edwards, 2012).” This is especially applicable to my mom because she often exercises especially during stressful situations or when she is dealing with a specific stage crisis. The article goes on to discuss many ways in which it is important to be active in your community in order to remain healthy and keep your brain active. All of these are applicable to the stage of life my mom is in because it talks about being active in the community and sharing your knowledge and experiences to help guide the younger generations.

Questions for Readers:

1)      Do you think this stage will be difficult to go through, how often do you think people successfully age through this stage?

2)      What sort of issues do you think might cause a person to want to be more stagnant than generative?

3)      Do you think exercise is a good enough coping mechanism?

References

Wessell, R., & Edwards, C. (2012). Principles of longevity and aging: Interventions to enhance

older adulthood. Journal of Educational and Developmental Psychology, 2(1), 108-121.

Interview Blog: Intimacy vs. Isolation in Early Adulthood

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Woman_crying_in_bathroom.jpg

Interview Blog: Intimacy vs. Isolation in Early Adulthood

Jenny is a very good friend of mine. She is 30 years old and is currently in the Early Adulthood stage of life. Erikson states that during this period, the focus is on developing close, intimate relationship with others. And those who experience difficulties during this stage are often lonely, isolated, and fearful of relationships with others (Feldman, 2014). This is very true in the life of Jenny. In this stage individuals can develop a really close, faithful, and loyal relationship. People tend to be unselfish and care about others more than their own selves. On the other hand, those who experience complications in this stage will encounter themselves really lonely, isolated, and afraid of getting involved in relationships.

Jenny is the oldest of three siblings. In her family, she was the first one to finish college and earn a bachelor’s degree in Nursing. Now she is working as a Pediatric Nurse in one of the hospitals in Manila, the capital of Philippines. She finds her career the most rewarding at this stage of her life.  Her two other younger siblings have already settled down and had a family of their own.  She works to support the studies of some of her nephews and nieces and the needs of her parents who are both in the retirement age. She finds joy and fulfillment whenever she gets her salary and sends it to her family back home.   Jenny and her siblings are more than 8 years apart. She grew up as the only child for the first few years of her life. When her brothers were born, she felt like she was their mother because she took care of them until she moved out of the house for college when she was 20 years old. The separation from them did not affect her much because she learned from her mother in a young age to be really independent. In the stage of Late Adolescence, self-autonomy is so important, and in the case of Jenny it was reinforce by her mother at an early age in her life. This reinforcement has allowed her to view independence from a different perspective than many individuals. Jenny might have also developed her independency from the experience of raising her brothers as if they were her children instead of her brothers. Her experience has forced her to mature at a young age.

When I asked Jenny what she found the most challenging, she was a bit hesitant answering this question. She mentioned that she has been successful in her career but finds it difficult maintaining a relationship with the opposite sex. She blames her ex-boyfriend, the only boyfriend that she has, for this problem. They were together for over 5 years and she cared for him so much. Her ex-boyfriend physically abused and accused her of cheating in different occasions and as a result, this makes it difficult for her to associate with men on a level of intimacy and to build trust with them. She finds this experience very traumatic. Bernstein, in his article, he states that “traumatic events generally violate the autonomy of the person at the level of basic bodily integrity - the body is invaded, injured, defiled’’(Bernstein, 2011, p. 395-416).

Reflecting on previous stages of her life, she finds peace in the word of God and attending a local church and a bible study group. She feels safe and very happy whenever she’s around her brothers and sisters in Christ. However, Jenny is stressed having to work 6 days in a week and sometimes depressed. She said that after the break up between her and her ex-boyfriend, and being away from her family, it has been a big challenge for her. Dr. Lupien mentioned in his book that stress involves one of the following experiences: exposure to novelty, unpredictability, threats to the ego, or a sense of lost. These factors strongly contribute to the development of aversive responses to environmental stimuli. He added that providing young adults with strategies to control their environment and cope with adversity will prevent life stress- and aging-related cognitive decline (Koenig, Walker, Romeo, & Lupien, 2011).

Aside from her joy going to church regularly as her coping mechanism, she also loves cooking, so she cooks whenever she feels down and invites her church friends over. Feldman in his book mentions that in the stage of early adulthood, coping through social support and turning to others whenever they are stress can provide an emotional support in the form of a “shoulder to cry on” (Feldman, 2014). Jenny has also found social media such as Skype and Facebook very useful in connecting with her family and friends. She is hoping that one day she’ll be able to overcome her fear to commit to a new relationship as she has dreams too of building a family of her own.

 

References 

Bernstein, J. M. (2011). Trust: On the real but almost always unnoticed, ever-changing foundation of ethical life. Metaphilosophy, 42(4), 395-416. doi:10.1111/j.14679973.2011.01709.x

Feldman, R. S. (2014). Development across the life span (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.

Koenig, J. I., Walker, C., Romeo, R. D., & Lupien, S. J. (2011). Effects of stress across the lifespan. Stress: The International Journal On The Biology Of Stress, 14(5), 475-480. doi:10.3109/10253890.2011.604879

Human Development Interview Assignment

A Developmental Interview

Barbara Ruth Hitchcock

Liberty University

Abstract

All individuals emerge into adulthood at varying rates, and with varying results. In order to establish oneself as a contributing member of society, one must be willing to encounter a variety of circumstances, both positive and negative, along the way. This acutely unique journey provides the distinguishing basis for ones personality, as well as ones overall purpose in life. Despite that fact that no two people share an identical journey, it has been proven helpful to categorize development into a series of stages. In the following paper, the author examines the candid reflections of a young woman who is currently situated in the late adolescent stage. The author explores the personal dilemmas that this young woman has faced in her search for a life worth living. The author also briefly outlines the manner in which this individual chose to maneuver each dilemma so as to bring about a sense of resolution and inner stability. Because this individual is currently learning how to interact with other individuals in a constructive way, the author references the process of communication from a neurobiological standpoint.

Caption: Leslie Hunter's Figures in conversation, Etaples, 1914

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Figures_in_conversation.jpeg

A Developmental Interview

            The process through which one establishes one’s identity is a highly subjective one. Nevertheless, the majority of people do, in fact, progress past a predictable series of stages and obstacles in their quest for maturity. For this assignment, I was privileged to interview a young woman who finds herself in the Later Adolescent stage. Laura Wakefield is twenty-one year old student at Liberty University, and is currently single. According to famed Psychologist Erik Erikson, Laura is passing out of the Identity vs. Role Confusion stage, and into the Intimacy vs. Isolation stage. It is in this stage that Laura will determine whether or not she will be able to sustain a pronouncedly deep relationship, romantic or otherwise.

            Throughout the course of Laura’s interview, I learned that Laura is a highly disciplined and intuitive individual that feels motivated to invest in the people that surround her. Yet, although Laura possesses an unyielding sense of self, she struggles to believe that she is worthy of unconditional affection (L. Wakefield, personal communication, October 24, 2013). She rarely asserts her needs, and often fights the urge to withdraw emotionally from those that could potentially abandon her. While growing up, Laura was admired for her academic prowess, and her ability to offer insight into the troubles of others. However, whenever she experienced a lull in her relationships or a setback in her academics, she became suspicious of her potential.

In her mid-teen years, Laura’s parents were unreceptive towards the articulation of her opinions and career ideas. It was around this time that Laura was discarded by a close group of friends that had apparently lost interest in who she was. Laura responded to this disorienting experience in the way same that she did any other disappointment – by flipping open a classic novel, writing in her journal, or seeking consolation from her sisters. However, when Laura felt compelled to relinquish yet another cherished friendship a few years later, she turned to the Lord for the necessary healing. When questioned about the value of friendship on the date of this interview, Laura explained that relationships have the potential to promote ones spiritual walk, expand ones capacity for empathy, and significantly reduce ones sense of aloneness.

After reflecting on the information that was gleaned from this interview, I would propose that Laura has effectively navigated her way through the insecurity she once felt in regards to her friendships. However, it appears that Laura has yet to realize that the love of others does not depend on the usefulness of her skills, or the quality of her contributions. In an article entitled, The implicit realm in couples therapy: Improving right hemisphere affect-regulating capabilities, author Francine Lapides explains the emotional freedom that can arise when one feels that one is being genuinely cared for (2011).

In this article, the author explores a number of the relational calamities that can occur when two individuals fail to conduct themselves suitably within an argumentative context. Interestingly enough, conflicted couples often react to each other in such a way that engages a previously underdeveloped section of their brains. It is common for these individuals to have experienced a time in their childhoods when they felt dismissed or unattended to by their caregivers. This pattern of inconsistency, as instigated by an individual’s parental figure, can provoke within the individual the impulse to unconsciously seal off the frontal portion of his or her brain. This inclination to self-protect forces the individual to respond to a significant other without the use of his or her primary reasoning system.

Although it is probable that such a couple will expose themselves to increased levels of miscommunication and misinterpretation, it is possible for this neurobiological deprivation to be relearned. In fact, Laura is a reminder to all of us that the patterns of the past can be altered.

References

Lapides, F. (Janu 01, 2011). The Implicit Realm in Couples Therapy: Improving

Right Hemisphere Affect-Regulating Capabilities. Clinical Social Work Journal, 39, 2,161-169. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/ehost/detail?vid=8&sid=25350355-91be-48f2-b7e1

Experiencing Young Adulthood

Caption: Human brain with mechanical cogs separating the left and right hemispheres.
http://quest.eb.com/images/132_1217547?subjectId=0&collectionId=0&keyword=cognitive+function&localizeMetaData=false 

Abstract

This paper first begins by explaining the development process of a 23-year-old adult male who is currently in the stage of early adulthood. Therefore, he is faced with the psycho-social crisis of intimacy vs. isolation. This paper goes on to explore the rewarding and challenging experiences that this particular adult is experiencing in this stage, along with coping skills and strategies they have used to overcome difficulties in previous life stages. Finally, an article regarding age-related declines in cognitive functioning will be examined. This article describes how neurobiological and cognitive aspects begin to decline in the stage of early adulthood.

Experiencing Young Adulthood

            The person I chose to interview for this assignment was my husband, Jordan. He is 23 and currently in the early adulthood stage. Erikson’s psycho-social crisis associated with this stage is intimacy vs. isolation. He is finding several aspects both rewarding and challenging during this stage. One thing that he mentioned to be rewarding is seeing the fruits of his labor. He explained how recently, he has been able to notice outcomes of his actions, in his own life and other people’s lives. One example he gave was helping classmates with problems or studying questions. Although this tends to be quite rewarding for him, he also faces challenges when those classmates come to him for help and he is unable to assist them. Another thing that he finds encouraging and difficult are achievements in his life. He feels a sense of fulfillment when he does these things well or right, but they can also be challenging to accomplish and go through. Finally, Jordan shared how balancing all the different aspects of his life poses a challenge. These aspects include school, marriage, family, and spiritual growth. Difficulty also arises when there are unexpected events, such as a death in the family, that throw off his routine and normal daily living, especially when these occurrences are monumental and influence many aspects of his life.

            When questioned about coping skills that he has utilized to overcome challenges in previous stages, Jordan alluded to a number of different spiritual strategies, such as reading the Bible and doing Bible studies specific to the current difficulty, praying, and fasting. He has also worked planting trees for a few summers, which is painstakingly hard work, and he talked about how he turned off all pain in his body by mentally shutting down his pain receptors. He explained how this was helpful for him as he was able to mask the physical pain in order to get the job done. Despite the fact that Jordan and I are currently in the same stage of development, our past experiences and coping skills are quite different. Although I also utilize my faith to overcome challenges, I often turn to family and friends for support. In previous stages, Jordan was also more involved in risky behavior, whereas I tended to play it safer. Jordan’s past experiences have helped him become more autonomous and trusting of others, as well as helped him gain a better identity than I have. I believe this to be the case partially because I was bullied, which caused me to become quite self-conscious and insecure.

            Although there has been relatively little published regarding the age at which cognitive decline begins, Salthouse (2009) believes that “some aspects of age-related cognitive decline begin in healthy educated adults when they are in their 20s and 30s” (p. 507). The article explains how a major discrepancy exists concerning the time course of cognitive aging, mainly due to inconsistent age patterns found in longitudinal and cross-sectional studies. One major reason for these contradicting trends is a result of masking age-related declines “by large positive effects associated with prior test experience” (Salthouse, 2009, p. 507).

            The article goes on to discuss a variety of neurobiological factors that are associated with cognitive functioning in young adulthood. Salthouse (2009) states, “among the variables that have been found to exhibit nearly continuous age-related declines in cross-sectional comparisons beginning when adults are in their 20s are measures of regional brain volume, myelin integrity, cortical thickness, serotonin receptor binding, striatal dopamine binding, accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles, and concentrations of various brain metabolites” (p. 507). Determining when age-related decline in cognitive functioning begins is essential for many reasons, and answering this crucial question “may also indicate which period in adulthood is likely to be most informative for learning about causes of age-related cognitive decline” (Salthouse, 2009, p. 507). According to Salthouse, the answer to this question is clear: Cognitive declines have been proven to begin in early adulthood.

 

Questions for Readers

1.     In your current stage of development, are you able to relate to any of the rewarding or challenging aspects Jordan is experiencing in early adulthood?

2.     What are some coping strategies you have personally used to overcome previous challenges?

3.     Salthouse believes that cognitive decline begins in young adulthood. Do you agree or disagree?

4.     Why do you think the age at which cognitive functioning begins to decline can vary from person to person?

References

Salthouse, T.A. (2009). When does age-related cognitive decline begin? Neurobiology of Aging, 30, 507-514. doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2008.09.023

Facing The Past- Intimacy vs. Isolation

 Caption: Man and Divorce

Photo Credit: Elena Cavinato

 

Abstract

 

Overcoming each developmental crisis in the psychosocial theory as developed by Erik Erikson, is critical in healthy development throughout the lifespan of an individual. In the case that a crisis is not properly resolved, one must confront the related stage of development in order to prepare him or herself for the next stage of life. Although many people will go through certain stages of development in a similar timeframe, circumstances may arise that cause a person to revert to a previous stage that was not adequately resolved. In an interview done with “Paul”, separation in his marriage caused him to regressed back to an earlier stage of intimacy vs. isolation. The negative effects that caused Paul’s regression to a previous stage not only generated conflict with initiating new relationships, but also uncovered the lack of self-identity that was present in his life.

Interview

I recently had the opportunity to interview a gentleman about the stage of life that he currently finds himself in. For this interview, we will conceal the identity of the man by naming him, “Paul”. After briefing Paul on the different stages of the psychosocial theory, he came to the understanding that in middle adulthood, generativity vs. stagnation is the common crisis that people will face. In this stage of development, a person is presented with the ability to care for and contribute to a future generation. However, in his current situation, Paul found himself not so much worried about his contribution in life, in that he had already raised three children, but realized that he had regressed to a previous stage of intimacy vs. isolation. Although regressing in the psychosocial theory would seem abnormal for some, at this point in his life, Paul was faced with the unfortunate circumstance of being divorced and alone. He described his situation as being one of “starting the process of life all over”.

            When Paul began to tell me about his journey in developing new relationships in his life, it became clear that having to go through this stage of development for a second time resulted in the formation of a new identity and a new self-confidence. Being married for over fifteen years, Paul had not only found a partner to live and share the rest of his life with, but had succeeded in overcoming the developmental crisis of intimacy vs. isolation. However, because of the divorce, not only was the relationship severed between him and his wife, but the very foundation of who Paul had established himself to be was stripped away. Facing the reality of broken trust and a negative view on relationships, Paul began to understand that through the unfortunate event of divorce in his life, the formation of new relationships would come to be more difficult than ever before.

Throughout the interview, we were able to draw parallels in Paul’s life with many of the different stages of the psychosocial theory. Probing into the stage of early adulthood, I asked Paul to reflect on the idea of intimacy vs. isolation and how it correlated with the development of the initial relationships established in his lifetime. Specifically, we focused on questions that dealt with the struggles, fears or accomplishments in certain relationships. These relationships eventually led up to the marriage of his first wife.

 After hearing Paul discuss this stage of his life, it was revealed that what he lacked in the full development of his personal identity role, he replaced with the idea of a relationship and a companion. In fact, Paul stated that he believes that he never fully overcame the previous crisis of identity vs. role diffusion. Thus because of the lack of personal identity in himself, Paul moved from one stage of development to another, causing a sort of “hang-up” that would later be masked over and unfortunately revealed. Paul believes that it was through the relationship with his wife that he found his identity; not because of himself.

Now, that Paul is divorced, the separation from his wife has not only caused a loss of intimacy but has also caused a loss of identity. Everything that he once knew was stripped away in an instant. He was left all alone, searching to fill a void that he didn’t know how to fill. During the interview, he asked himself over and over, “where do I go from this point in my life”, “how do I repair all of the damage that has been done because of the divorce” and “how can I trust again”. He was not only struggling with the idea of finding his “new way” in life, but was also striving to reconnect and reconcile the idea of relationships and intimacy with others.

Research

Understanding the difficulties that Paul was facing in his current stage of life, I had the opportunity to research and look at the correlation between personal identity and the affects that it has on the stage of intimacy vs. isolation. One study that I found to be helpful was in the Turkish Psychological Counselling and Guidance Journal. In the study, researchers used a scale originally created by a team from UCLA, to study the idea of romantic intimacy vs. isolation and how it relates to emerging adulthood. Using a sample of participants who were considered to be in the development stage of intimacy vs. isolation, the researchers studied the ability to initiate romantic relationships, while also corresponding those relationships with loneliness and the lack of identity that many of the participants faced.

The study recognized that through the development of relationships, a person may experience desperation and rejection in their love affairs. Therefore, these negative experiences can have negative effects on the individuals’ self-perception and identity. (2010)   As related to the interview that I had with Paul, it became clear that through the negative experience of divorce and loss of relationships in his life, his personal identity was compromised. Although according to the psychosocial stages, Paul should be facing a different crisis, negative effects in his marriage had caused him to revisit the stage of intimacy vs. isolation.           

In closing, one should note that relationships and intimacy can have a positive or negative effect on identity and cognitive development. Without a firm self-identity to begin with, combining loss and negative experiences in relationships can cause a person to revert to previous stages of development. Such as the case of Paul, having to revisit certain stages of development later in life can prove to be more difficult than before. For this reason, overcoming each stage in the psychosocial theory is necessary for healthy development.

 

 References

Ercan, L., & Eryilmaz, A., (2010). Initiating romantic intimacy at emerging adulthood: Is it intimacy or isolation? Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Journal, 4 (34), pg. 126-128.

Praying to Diminish Stress

Abstract

An adult female, Rebecca, is interviewed at the age of 53. While in the developmental stage of middle adulthood, she is presented with the psychosocial crisis of generativity versus stagnation. Rebecca depends on her Christian faith to deal with the stressors in life. Reading scripture and engaging in daily cripture and pquiet time help reduce her stress levels.  to deal with the stressors in life. Reading scripture and prayer help her relieve stress. stagnWhen a problem appears, she prefers to gather information to try to solve the problem. Rebecca is facing challenges related to the physical stamina of her job and the care of her elderly mother. In her current developmental stage, she finds parts of her job, being a parent, and dating to be rewarding. The Generativity Model is discussed and can be used to explain gernerativity in middle adulthood (Ehlman & Ligon, 2012). Finally, recent research on neuroscience reports that reductions in brain activity can lead to slight reductions in cognitive functioning as we grow older (Grady, 2008). 

http://www.joy105.com/hear-some-celebrities-thoughts-about-god-and-faith-some-may-surprise-you/

Praying to Diminish Stress

Interview

            For my interview, I talked with an adult female, who will be called Rebecca. At the age of 53, Rebecca is in the middle adulthood stage of development. According to the stages of psychosocial development proposed by Erikson, middle adulthood presents the psychosocial crisis of generativity versus stagnation.

            Throughout Rebecca’s life she faced the death of her father when he was only 56, the end of her marriage, and becoming a single parent. Currently, she is dealing with the declining health of her mother after a recent stoke. In past stages of life, as well as now, Rebecca depends on God, her Christian faith, and prayer to help her cope with daily stressors and difficulties in life. When stressed, Rebecca reads scripture to relieve anxiety and gain perspective. She makes an effort to have a quiet prayer time daily to minimize her level of stress. Also, when a problem arises, she tries to gather information that will help her stay informed and find a solution to the issue.

            In middle adulthood, Rebecca faces challenges related to her job and the health of her mother. As a dental assistant, she is standing most of the work day, which is physically demanding. This work condition is becoming more tiring as she ages and her level of energy is declining. The biggest challenge that Rebecca is facing is being the primary care provider for her mother. After a stroke and a temporary stay in a nursing home, Rebecca’s mother is living with her. Her mother can no longer be by herself, so Rebecca and her brother must arrange for her care. This has changed her daily living, how she makes plans, and her amount of free time. She is also dealing with the change in the relationship between her and her mother. Although her job is becoming physically demanding, she is satisfied with her job and enjoys working with her colleagues. Rebecca had the joy of raising her daughter, who is now in college. She still finds being a parent rewarding and remains close with her daughter. Rebecca is also in a stable relationship that could lead to a successful marriage.

Generativity vs. Stagnation

            Recent research regarding the developmental stage of generativity versus stagnation includes an examination of the Generativity Model presented by Ehlman and Ligon (2012). According to Ehlman and Ligon (2012), the Generativity Model consists of seven features. Inner desire and cultural demand are the first two features, and they relate to the motivation to engage in generative behavior (Ehlman & Ligon, 2012). The next three features of concern, belief, and commitment relate to the task of contributing to society and passing knowledge to the younger generations (Ehlman & Ligon, 2012). Ehlman and Ligon (2012) report that the sixth feature is action, which is the rate of generative behaviors. Finally, narration is the seventh feature and it refers to how one incorporates generative actions into one’s life story (Ehlman & Ligon, 2012). According to Ehlman and Ligon (2012), this model can be used to explain the process of generativity in middle adulthood.

            There has also recent research on neurobiology in middle adulthood. Grady (2008) reports that as we age we seem to retain basic neural processes. However, as we age, we do seem to have reduced activity in some areas of the brain (Grady, 2008).  Grady (2008) also reports these reductions in brain functioning can lead to slight reductions in cognitive functioning as we grow older.  

References

Ehlman, K., & Ligon, M. (2012). The application of a generativity model for older adults. International Journal of Aging & Human Development, 74(4), 331-344.

Grady, C. L. (2008). Cognitive neuroscience of aging. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1124, 127-144. doi:10.1196/annals.1440.009