Development Across the Lifespan: Adulthood

My full name is Christina Kaysone Chantharavongsa and I was born March 23, 1995 in Bridgeport Hospital located in Bridgeport, Connecticut. It was a little city and a small world since a ton of people would know each other. My parents were in an arranged marriage and were both moved to the United States from Laos during their high school years. But I’m actually half Laotian and Thai since my mom’s side is Thai from Thailand although she was born in an Asian Southeastern country called Laos. I’m the second oldest out of four children with two sisters and one brother. The order goes from Sarah, Christina (me),

An environment always affects a man and his destiny. In the book "Of Mice and Men" John Steinbeck greatly shows that. The relationship between man and his environment is reflected by three different, yet very similar types of conflicts. Those three conflicts are :- man vs. man, man vs. society and, man vs. self.

The sociocultural perspective focuses on the impact of social and cultural context on an individual. The theory stresses the interaction between developing people and the culture in which they live. This theory suggests that human development is largely involved with social process (“Contemporary Psychology: Sociocultural Perspective,” n.d.). That can produce variation or proliferation without any seemingly significant changes in complexity. Through time, producing a form of structure can be qualitatively different from the ancestral form. For example, if someone grew up kissing each other goodbye, they will most likely pass that onto your children.

Cognitive Development refers to the construction of the thought process that includes problem solving, remembering and the ability to make decisions, from childhood up to the adulthood stage. Cognitive/Intellectual Development is the ability to learn, reason, and analyze the fact that a process begins from infancy and progresses as the individual (Educational Psychology). Cognitive Development contains events that are logical, like thinking and remembering. Some factors remain the same throughout many of the theories on cognitive development. All theorists agree that people go through specific steps and/or

Cognitive development is the way a child sees, thinks and gains understanding of the world through interaction, influence, learned and genetic factors. There are four areas of intelligence and child brain development. They are: biological approaches to intelligence, cognitive succession of stages, knowledge, and intellectual ability.

The following essay will use a lifespan perspective to discuss how major transitions can influence both occupational and personal development. Using occupation as a coping strategy during stressful transitions will also be explored. The narrative discussed was derived from an informal, semi-structured interview. Occupational development will explore how the meanings associated with occupations can change and how this can be reflective of their current life-stage. The essay will begin with an outline of the precautions taken to maintain the interviewee’s confidentiality. This will be followed by a brief explanation of the lifespan and occupational models that will be used throughout the essay. A summary of the interviewee’s narrative will then be provided. This will be expanded upon by using lifespan theories.

Everyday our environmental factors continue to influence our individual personality development. It is important note that even though a group of people share an environment each person can have different experiences. Our environmental influences consist of any outside influences and conditions that affect of life and development. Some examples of environmental influences that shape who we become are authority figures, family members, communities, and our peers.

Cognitive development can be defined as a field of study in neuroscience and psychology revolving around the growth of the brain (Schacter & Woods 2009). This development is the evolution of skills such as, information processing, perceptual skills, conceptual resourcing, language knowledge and other brain development traits (ibid).

Development encompasses more than just the changes the body and mind goes through, and many psychologists study the relationship between physical, cognitive, and social development. Physical development begins at conception, whereas cognitive development does not begin until the fetal stage. During this time, the brain becomes much more sophisticated, the hemispheres grow rapidly and the interconnections between

Later adulthood is the time in life when changes in marriage, families, and peer relationships are affected the most by the loss of someone close to that person. “Most people 70 years of age or older are widowed, divorced, or single” (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2010, p.619). Losing a spouse or close friend can create a sense of loneliness, which causes depression, anxiety and the emptiness feeling can become overwhelming. Depression also leads to psychological effects that will deteriorate a person’s health causing the chance for a terminal disease to become much higher. The weaker appearance of older adults causes family and remaining peers to step up in the role of making sure the person’s wellbeing is being met. (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2010). Living accommodations and healthcare needs

In my first developmental assessment, Nicole (client) was 17 years old and identified as female, Caucasian and bisexual. She was seeking treatment to address issues related to anger, fear of abandonment, and impulsive and destructive behaviors (i.e. physical aggression, cutting, purging, sexual reactivity, and suicidal ideation). During adolescence, she received ADHD and bipolar diagnoses and showed borderline personality traits. She had been hospitalized on numerous occasions and at the time of the initial assessment, Nicole resided in an adolescent treatment center. This paper will identify normative developmental milestones from young adulthood to late, late adulthood and will analyze Nicole’s life according to these milestones. Therapeutic interventions for Nicole during young adulthood, middle adulthood, late adulthood, and late, late adulthood will also be discussed.

1.1 The stages of a lifespan is infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and older adult. Infancy is before childhood when they are babies, describes the growth and development of the child from about the fourth week through the second year of life. (reference FROM http://www.education.com/reference/article/infant-development-stage-period/) . Childhood is the time before you turn 13, childhood is the stage between infancy and puberty. Adolescence is between the age of 13 – 18 this is the transition before people develop into an adult. Adulthood is where a person is fully developed physically, mentally, intellectually etc. The adulthood stage is at the age ranges of 18 – 40. An older adult is the final stage in a person’s life, this is where a person is at an advanced age where their health might start to deteriorate the age ranges of an older adult is 65+.

As people grow older, they develop dental problems which lead to nutritional intake issues. Cognitive function declines affecting memory, decision making, conversing, and problem solving. In addition, falls can occur with mental status disturbances. Lack of social interaction, depression, and anxiety also crop up in the elderly. Sleep patterns are altered by restless legs, snoring, and disrupted breathing sequences. At times, pain can be constant from arthritis, osteoarthritis, or other medical issues (Tabloski, 2014).

There are three known major areas of study in Lifespan Development which are the Physical, Cognitive, and personal and social development. These groups have to do with age and range of Lifespan Psychology. Lifespan literally connotes from cradle to grave, in other words from conception to death. Lifespan is divided into these following age periods; prenatal, infancy, toddlerhood, middle childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, middle adulthood, late adulthood and death.

Throughout the Human Behavior and the Social Environment course, we have encompassed the many stages of the life cycle process. Now that I am twenty two years old, I found the early adulthood stage to be the most influential, and the most sensible one to relate to given the point that I am at in my life. More importantly, I decided to research and apply this life cycle stage to a variety of milestones, experienced by my interviewee, Chelsie. Living just houses apart, being raised by single fathers, Chelsie and I found that we had many things in common. We have remained friends since we were children, and have only grown to be closer into our early adulthood years.