Developmental Analysis Study

Early childhood and adolescence are among the most important stages of human development. These stages set the stage for adulthood. The experiences that children and youth are exposed to, determine their development and quality of life (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). For example, children who have witnessed and suffered abuse are more likely to develop challenges such as obesity in their adult life (Hemmingson, Johansson & Reynisdottir, 2014). Given the significant role that childhood and adolescent experiences play in defining development, there is need for parents to adopt approaches that facilitate healthy growth. Parents should particularly remember to provide a nurturing environment that offers security and love. My personal experiences as a child and an adolescent have influenced my development process. These experiences were mostly negative. They shaped my perspectives and beliefs and inspired me to focus on my personal growth and creating safe spaces for others.

Personal introduction to childhood 

As I have stated above, my childhood experiences were generally negative. While I grew up with both parents, my father was mostly unavailable. His limited involvement in my life denied me the protection and warmth that fathers offer their children. My mother worked tirelessly to ensure that all of my needs were met. Her commitment and undying love shielded me from some of the threats that children whose fathers are absent suffer. For example, research suggests that absentee fathers expose their children to the risk of poor social-emotional adjustment and dropping out of school (McLanahan, Tach & Schneider, 2013). My mother worked for over 40 hours every week to keep us fed, clothed and sheltered. When I was 8 years old, my parents finally divorced. Whereas I did not fully understand the nature of their relationship, their divorce left me devastated. I blamed myself for their poor relationship and their eventual divorce. I understand that my response to the divorce is unique. Scholars have observed that children tend to blame themselves when their parents divorce (Hirschfeld & Wittenborn, 2016). After the divorce, my father became even more unavailable. I only saw him occasionally. I felt that he was not interested in my wellbeing. I would envy the children whose parents were actively involved in their lives. When confronted with difficult situations, humans tend to adopt coping mechanisms. To escape the pain of my childhood, I turned to my hobbies. I played soccer and rode horses. I found that these activities offered me some sense of meaning and fulfilment. They allowed me to experience the pleasures of childhood and shielded me against the toxic environment at home. Furthermore, thanks to my hobbies, I developed my social and emotional competencies. I credit my hobbies with the tremendous progress that I have made. It is common for children who endure difficulties at home to perform poorly in class (Baqutayan, 2011). As a result of my father’s absence and the lack of support at home, my academic performance suffered.

Theoretical perspectives of development 

State of development according to Freud 

Sigmund Freud is recognized as among the most influential voices in child psychology. Through his theory of psychosexual development, he outlined the stages that children go through during their growth. The main premise of his theory is that sexual expression is an integral component of childhood development (Reed & Kipp, 2010). He identified such behaviors as urinating and thumb-sucking as demonstrations of sexuality among children. According to Freud, children go through five stages: oral, anal, phallic, latency and genital. At each of this stage, the child displays some obsession with the respective body part. For instance, at the oral stage, children derive some pleasure from such activities as sucking and chewing which involve the mouth (Reed & Kipp, 2010). Freud added that in the initial stages of development, children lack the capacity to direct their sexual energies. However, when they reach puberty, society requires them to contain their sexual expression. At the genital stage, adolescents develop the capacity to express their sexuality through approaches that are considered socially appropriate (Reed & Kipp, 2010). I sought my mother’s views of my behavior when I was a child. She told me that I engaged in such activities as sucking my thumb as is the case with all other children. While I recognize Freud’s effort, I find that his theory lacks merit or validity. I think that the behaviors that children exhibit have nothing to do with sexuality. However, I must acknowledge that the genital stage is sound. Freud held that at this stage, adolescents adopt societal conventions in their sexual expression. As a young adolescent, I understood that society expected me to conduct myself with honor and decency. I avoided all forms of reckless and unacceptable sexual behavior.

Stage of development according to Erikson 

Erik Erikson is another authority on human development that shares his perspectives on the stages that define human growth. He focused on the psychosocial processes that define human development. He identified a total of nine stages that constitute the development process (Engler, 2013). At each of these stages, an individual embraces certain values and asks particular questions. At infancy, the child embraces hope and wonders whether they can trust the world. At this stage, the infant seeks to develop a close relationship with the mother. At the second stage, the child focuses on the will and strives to get closer to the parents. Here, the child agonizes over whether they are allowed to embrace and express their true self (Engler, 2013). Some of the behaviors that represent this stage include toilet training. The search for purpose is the focus of the third stage. This stage challenges the child to explore the world. Another issue that characterizes this stage is a contest between initiative and guilt. The fourth stage is mainly concerned with developing competence (Engler, 2013). Children who are at this stage battle with feelings of inferiority and attempt to become useful. It is at this stage that children begin to develop an interest in such pursuits as sports. Fidelity and love are the values that define the 6 th and 7 th stages respectively (Engler, 2013). When in the sixth stage, individuals seek to establish relationships with their peers and role models. The 8th stage challenges adults to care and make progress in their personal and professional affairs. At the last stage, the individual adopts wisdom and reflects on their life (Engler, 2013). Overall, Erikson’s theory tracks human development from infancy to death.

I have observed that there are clear parallels between my childhood experiences and Erikson’s stages of development. I remember that when I was about 5 years old, my search for individuality and purpose began. I set out to create meaningful relationships with my peers and family. When I entered school, my focus shifted to a quest for competence, in keeping with Erikson’s theory. As an adolescent, my desires centered around fidelity and social relationships. Given the harm that I had suffered as a child, I desperately desired solid and stable relationships. I turned to my friends and peers for support. I attribute the impressive transformation that I have undergone to the warmth and kindness that my peers demonstrated.

There are numerous factors that either hinder or accelerate psychosocial development. Lack of social support is among the factors that derailed my growth. My father’s absence and failure to invest in my welfare left me with feelings of regret, guilt and low levels of confidence. I understand that it is important for individuals to take personal responsibility for their actions and lives. However, I feel that the blame that I assign my father is justified and fair. While my father’s absence exposed me to harm and hampered my psychosocial growth, my hobbies offered comfort and allowed me to undergo healthy development. Through soccer and horse riding, I formed solid relationships with my peers and gained confidence.

Stage of development according to Piaget 

Cognitive function is an essential aspect of development. Jean Piaget captured cognitive growth in his theory on development. He identified four stages that constitute cognitive development. These stages are sensorimotor, pro-operational, concrete operational and formal operational. The sensorimotor stage introduces infants to the world. Here, the child interacts with the world through sensations and movements (Shaffer & Kipp, 2013). Moreover, it is at this stage that the child recognizes that their actions have outcomes on the real world. The pre-operational stage occurs in the 2-7 year interval. During this phase, the child embraces symbols and language for communication. The child who is at this stage also displays selfishness and refuses to examine the world from the standpoints of others (Shaffer & Kipp, 2013). The pre-operational stage soon paves way for the concrete operational stage which defines the behavior of children who are between 7 and 11 years old. Logical thinking and organization are the main issues that characterize the concrete operational phase (Shaffer & Kipp, 2013). The formal operational stage marks the culmination of cognitive development. Abstract reasoning and deductive logic are the key behaviors that the children at this stage demonstrate. Overall, Piaget’s theory monitors children from the time when they rely on basic tools to communicate to early adolescence where they adopt abstract reasoning and established protocols for logical thinking.

My interactions with my mother for this assignment allowed me to track my cognitive development when I was a child. My mother shared that during the first years of my infancy, I used basic approaches to communicate. I understand that cries were my main tool for engaging with the world. I also relied on movements to understand the world around me. As the years passed, I adopted more complex techniques for communicating and understanding my world. For example, when I was about 2 years old, I was able to use words to convey messages. My mother opened up about the impact that her strained relationship with my father affected my communication and overall development. She told me that even at ages four and five, I cried instead of using words to communicate how I felt. I believe that my inability to use words effectively is the direct result of the toxic conditions at home.

Nature vs. Nurture 

There is debate within the psychology community regarding the impact of nature and nurture on development. There is a camp that insists that such natural forces as genetics play a more significant role in influencing development (Keating, 2010). On the other hand, there are those who contend that the environment in which one is brought up has a more significant impact on development. The arguments that both camps present are valid. Personally, I find that both forces offer convincing explanations for how humans develop. However, I feel that nurture has a stronger influence. After examining my childhood, I have concluded that my development was mostly the result of nurture. The home environment that I was exposed to determined how I developed. For example, my father’s absence exposed me to vulnerabilities. My self-confidence suffered and I had difficulties trusting others. I feared that they would abandon me as my father had. Whereas it is true that my environment had a damaging impact on my development, there were some aspects that facilitated my growth. For example, the constant support that my mother offered allowed me to feel loved and valued. My hobbies also provided an escape and allowed me to explore new worlds. I think that nature also helped to define my development. For example, my mother is incredibly resilient. I believe that my mother passed on her resilience, energy and undying spirit.

Bowlby’s attachment 

Humans tend to seek communities and friendships. John Bowlby captured this tendency in his theory. In his theory, he observed that children have an innate desire to establish attachments (Van der Horst, 2011). He noted further that as they grow, children seek to have people to whom they are attached constantly during the first two years. For example, the mother should offer consistent love and care as the child develops. Bowlby also noted that when the attachment needs of the child are not met, the child responds in a number of ways. For instance, the absence of constant attachment may force the child into delinquency and lower their intelligence (Van der Horst, 2011). Depression and aggression are other results of inadequate or lacking attachment. Partnering with Robertson (1952), Bowlby presented the PDD model. This model captures the numerous behaviors that children display when their attachment needs are not satisfied (Hutchby & Moran-Ellis, 2005). The child adopts one of three approaches: protest, despair and detachment.

After applying the insights that Bowlby shared to my personal experiences, I established that his model captures my development process. I adopted the avoidant attachment style to cope with the struggles that I encountered. Instead of confronting the issues that I faced, I sought safe and comfortable spaces. For example, I embraced my hobbies in my effort to run away from the challenges at home. I avoided my father as he was a reminder of the social support that I did not receive. He represented the pain that I endured and the opportunities that I missed. I must admit that I still resent him for failing to stay involved in my life. I developed a strong attachment to my mother as she represented stability and some level of security. However, given that she had to work for over 40 hours every week, she was simply unable to be present at all times. Therefore, my attachment needs were not fully met. During my teenage years, I became rebellious and disobedient. This behavior was a deliberate cry for help and attention. In his discussion on attachment, Bowlby stated that when the needs of children are not fully met, they may resort to destructive behaviors in a bid to focus attention on their needs. I think that my rebellion was intended to challenge my mother to offer more support and love. Moreover, my behavior highlighted the inadequate amounts of support that I received and the poor relationship with my father.

Faith development 

Across different communities, individuals have been observed to seek meaning. Faith and spirituality are avenues that promise to inject meaning and direction into human life. James Fowler attempted to shed light on the role that faith plays in human development. He held that faith fuels the search for meaning (Andrale, 2014). It allows individuals to gain some sense of purpose and direction. Fowler also noted that faith shapes how individuals view the world. He outlined a six-stage process that contains the phases through which individuals transition in their quest for direction. Beginning at age two through to age seven, the first stage enables individuals to form their ideas of God (Andrale, 2014). They rely on the stories that they have gathered to form their impressions of divinity and God. At the second stage, the individual gains the ability to share narratives about their idea of God. This stage begins at seven and carries one through growth until age 10. Upon reaching the third stage, one begins to worry about how others perceive them (Andrale, 2014). This stage also sees one develop a value and belief system. The fourth and fifth stages involve the evolution of value systems as a result of exposure to new worldviews and solidifying their belief systems, respectively (Andrale, 2014). At the last stage, individuals abandon their belief systems and consider other explanations for the universe. It is worth noting that not all individuals reach the sixth stage since abandoning one’s beliefs and values is frightening.

I am a deeply spiritual person. I believe that faith in God is necessary for strength and meaning. There are many challenges that humans face. It is nearly impossible to survive these challenges without faith. Fowler’s theory accurately captures my growth process. I remember that when I was about two years old, I began asking serious questions about such issues as how things occur in a certain way. For example, I would wonder how television sets and other electronic devices functioned. I understand that these questions are not necessarily spiritual. However, I think that the questions represent my quest for meaning from a very early age. Over the years, I have grown in my spiritual journey. For example, I have established a strong value and belief system. This system dictates virtually all aspects of my life. For instance, I have embraced such values as integrity and respect for all individuals.

Challenges and successes 

My childhood and adolescence presented numerous challenges and opportunities for growth. The discussion above has examined some of these challenges and opportunities. One of the most daunting challenges that I faced was low self-esteem. I lacked confidence and had little faith in my capacity for certain pursuits. For example, I had reservations about horse riding. I felt that I lacked the skills needed to ride a horse safely. Another challenge that I faced was forming relationships. The low level of confidence made it incredibly difficult to make friends. I feared that those that I reached out to would only highlight my flaws instead of providing warmth. Thanks to the constant encouragement that my mother offered, I was eventually able to form a number of strong and rewarding friendships. Becoming a responsible and compassionate individual is perhaps my greatest achievement. Given the difficulties that I suffered, one would expect that I would go on to become a resentful and bitter individual. This is not the case. I consider myself to be a warm person who genuinely desires to help others grow. Having suffered as a result of ineffective parenting, I endeavor to create safe spaces that facilitate healthy development.

Conclusion 

The styles that parents adopt significantly influence how children develop. Styles that focus on warmth and love allow children to develop in a healthy fashion. On the other hand, parenting styles which introduce toxicity into the home hinder the development of children. Various theorists have presented models which capture the impacts that different factors have on child development. Freud, Fowler, Piaget are among these theorists. Thanks to their theories, one is able to understand that the development process is extremely complex. These theories also make it clear that childhood experiences set the stage for adulthood. My life serves as a testament to the impact that the experiences that one is exposed to as a child have on their adult life. The unhealthy environment in which I lived exposed me to harm and pain. My hobbies and the efforts of my mother helped to limit the impact of the toxic home environment. I would advise parents to treat their children with love, kindness and compassion if they truly wish to bring up healthy and productive members of society.

References

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