Adolescent development
Adolescent development is a period of human growth and development that begins with puberty and ends with a transition to adulthood. In this stage an individual experiences physical changes that are triggered by body hormones while the cognitive changes are associated with the improvement in both complex and abstract thought. However, the rate at which these changes occur at various part of the brain is capable of exposing an individual to risky behavior. That means an increase in sensation-seeking, as well as reward motivation, leads to the increase in cognitive control. Therefore, in order not to expose these individuals to risk the parental monitoring or peer relationships becomes salient. Although peer relationships are considered the most significant part in providing support and companionship during adolescence, it is obvious that it can also promote risky behavior.
Identity formation during adolescence
When adolescents get committed to various roles and ideological positions that is when identity is formed. Therefore, the assumption by Erickson 'the development task of adolescence is to overcome the dilemma versus role confusion' can be used to understand adolescent development. Erickson argues that this stage depends on what an individual does. Due to the changes that are in progress at the period of transition the individuals must struggle to find their identity and try to 'fit in' (social interaction). He added that the cognitive changes push them to develop a sense of morality as well as wright from wrong. Therefore, to prove what adolescents experience scholars have developed various theoretical approaches to demonstrate human growth and development.
Developmental psychology
It is an approach that aims at demonstrating growth, transition, and consistency through the person's lifespan. This approach based its argument on childhood development because it is where the most changes occur. Developmental psychology approach argues its assumption in regards to biological, social, emotions and cognitive processes. Developmental psychology has three main goals that are; to describe, explain and optimize development. In describing this approach argues that it is relevant to focus on the typical patterns of change (normative development) followed by individuals differences in patterns of change (that is idiographic development) this simply means that even though there might be a pathway where most people might follow there are specific people who will have their different way. On the second goal which is an explanation, the development psychologist must be able to explain the changes they have observed regarding the normative processes and individual differences. Finally, optimizing development this developmental psychologist has to has to put their theories into practice to help individuals in practical situations, for example, the parents who are attached to their children.
Influence of nature and nurture on lifespan development
Various psychological factors affect lifespan development. For instance, the influence of nature and nurture. According to Jean Piaget and Erik Erickson, there is some environmental influence that promotes the physical, cognitive and psycho-social development of a person. Piaget demonstrates how the environment is essential in a child development rather than other people (Barbour, 2018). However, as much as the environment is important as argued by Piaget, there have been various scholars opposing his assumption basing their discussions on the need for social contacts (Barbour, 2018). A researcher by various experts demonstrates the importance of other individuals in child development that as much as the environment affects the development of individuals what these individuals observe from others are mapped in their cognition. Therefore, if these children are at ease when associating with others and are developing a sense of social responsibility for them, it is evident that this will affect their well-being. When they undergo such transformation, they contribute to the betterment of the social world. Seemingly, when there are siblings in a child's life, their psycho-social development is improved. Nature according to Berndt (1992) is an influence of genetic inheritance. For example, this researcher explained genetic control basing his argument in various psychological areas that are personality, mental ability, attitude and interest and psychological disorder. Research also has it that the nurturing and homely environment influences exploration whereas lack of engagement in activities and other things of interest will prevent development.
Cultural factors and lifespan development
For individuals to understand what development is, it is advisable for them to take account of the diversity of the cultural factors, for instance, the orientation toward the individualism or collectivism and others such as racial, ethnic, gender differences and socioeconomic. Different cultures, as well as subcultures, have their perception of the right and wrong child rearing which bring about the influences of diversity and differences in lifespan development.
Bibliography
Barbour, S. (2018). Physical, Cognitive & Psychosocial Development. [online] LIVESTRONG.COM. Available at: https://www.livestrong.com/article/225024- physical-cognitive-psychosocial-development/# [Accessed 31 Jul. 2018].
Section B
Psycho-social approach
The psycho-social developmental theory is an approach that was developed by Erickson (1959). It is an approach that has eight distinct stages in which the first five stages encompass of individuals within the age of 18 years and below while the last three stages are individuals above the age of 18 years to adulthood. Just like other experts, Erik Erickson believes that personality develops in a pre-planned manner and the progress it builds upon in every stage, and he referred to this as an epigenetic principle. In the eight stages, individuals undergo a psycho-social crisis which can lead to negative or positive results for personality development. However, according to Erickson, these conflicting crises are brought about by the conflicting psycho-social nature whereby the psychological needs of individuals conflict with the needs of the society (HQ, 2018). Therefore, what makes this theory is that when there is a successful completion in each stage, there is a healthy personality and obtainment of basic virtues. Primary virtues, in this case, are the feature strengths which the ego can use to resolve the developmental crisis. However, when an individual fail at a given stage, then it is obvious that the person will not complete the other stages thus leading to unhealthy personality and sense of self.
The social environment has its influence on the development of a person's behavior. The relationship between individuals in a given environment participates in the modeling of a person's personality. Every relationship that people engaged in has a lesson to learn and reflects on the person's attitudes, opinions and their perception toward others (HQ, 2018). Therefore, this brings about the factors that a person has to consider when evaluating the personality of a fellow.
Behavioral outcome
These behaviors include persistent angry outbursts, iteration of self-harming attitudes, difficulty in setting boundaries in relationships, manipulation, instability in relationships, mood swings, demanding attitudes among others. These individuals find it hard to fit or adapt to a new environment. For instance, during stress time these people tend to acquire poor techniques which later land them to reckless behaviors such as sex games, teenage pregnancy, rash driving, gambling among others. At times due to poor relationships, these victims are exposed to domestic abuse which affects both their families and the victims. For instance, when one is prone to taking sedatives the addiction might be extreme to the extent of harming the victim as well as the people surrounding the victim. Secondly, consider the case of impulsivity. Impulsivity can push individuals into making wrong decisions since the person is not able to stick to one choice.
Recognition and assessment
In this situation, the caretakers or parents should be able to identify the irrational behaviors of this individuals to seek psychological assistance at earlier stages. The current study believes that behavioral reinforcement by the parents, teachers, guardians and other stakeholders are the immediate people to help in dealing with poor conduct as well as the defiant attitudes (Gadsden, Ford & Breiner, 2016, p56). However, they take action it is advocated that social, environment and development factors should be considered. For instance, still on the domestic abuse on the victim when handle with adequate care can lead to a positive impact on both the family and the victim. It means that a correction to an upcoming triggering attitude by a family member can help in eliminating the bad behavior in a teen. In most cases, these unbearable behaviors are as a result of the response to stimuli, and therefore behavioral management is better than medication alone.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this approach based its assumption on the social environment which means that in such a situation of children and adolescents when observed keenly their behaviors reflect the environment they occupy. The victims are associated with the coping mechanism that is assumed to devised as the core function of ego. However, the theory explains that the presence of strong self-components that is self-esteem, confidence and self-awareness can bring about a more natural defense mechanism for the ego as well as coping strategies when a person experiences stress. Therefore, the presence of good nurturing styles results in a healthy generation.
Bibliography
GADSDEN, V. L., FORD, M. A., & BREINER, H. (2016). Parenting matters supporting parents of children ages 0-8. Washington, DC, the National Academies Press. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK402024.
HQ, P. (2018). Erik Erikson's Stages of Development - Stages 3 and 4. [online] Psychologynoteshq.com. Available at: https://www.psychologynoteshq.com/eriksonstagesofdevelopment3-4/ [Accessed 31 Jul. 2018].
Section C
Life course development theory
This approach aims to demonstrate how biological, social risk and psychological factors impacts age-related diseases, disorders and functional decline (Kwon & Park, 2017, p.2). There have been various opinions about this theory about human aging. The first one that has gone viral is that the process of human aging starts at the conception of the inheritance of a given genome and does not stop until death. Other studies have it that the environment influences during that stage of intrauterine (the progress in the uterus) as well as early postnatal life (that is life after birth) are associated with the changes in form and the functions toward a range of various systems which later establish a susceptibility to age-related system decline. Therefore, this calls for the biological process in which these changes in gene expression are established. It is known as developmental plasticity. This process is presents in every animal development as well as some plants. Its basic role is actually to release a specific mechanism in which a given genotype is capable of transforming into a range of phenotypes that can fit into a given environment once the development is completed. Therefore, this concept is referred to as a predictive adaptive response.
Meanwhile, the above response is associated with Darwinian fitness theory that is the capability of surviving to the time of successful reproduction instead of the aging phase. There are the various aging theories that have been grouped according to certain criteria. The first one grouped aging genetical predetermined or response to accumulated detrimental, adaptive process, or non-adaptive by-product. Actually, aging is part and parcel of life course strategy that was started in early life in every individual. Therefore, aging can be viewed as a normal process although there can be cases of abnormal aging.
Some of the problems these aging individuals experience, for instance, physical disabilities, the risk for diseases and mortality are triggered by the factors experienced at all other stages of the life course (Jones & Groll, 2004, p.154). Similarly, that life course influence experienced by the victim can be specific to different health outcomes. However, these factors normally show a significant overlap although socioeconomic status is assumed to play a significant role throughout the life course. In understanding this approach, it is easy to observe the challenges that these aging populations are experiencing thus coming up with the best remedies.
The major challenge encountered by this approach is viewing people as a whole. It includes both the environmental as well as individual risk factors and the remedies needed to reduce such risk factors and behaviors that occur in these phases. Therefore, the life course approach is vital in helping the aging population who are associated with a decline in health and functioning thus preventing them from achieving certain goals in life. Life course approach ensures this through rehabilitating functioning, shifting goals and finally improving the social and physical environment. With the current study, there is a slight change that occurs which is the shift from homogeneity, continuity, and universality of developmental processes. It has actually transformed to heterogeneity, discontinuity as well as context specific development. Ideally, the aging population in connection with urbanization and industrialization has resulted in a significant epidemiological change which has to lead to an increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases. Meanwhile, researchers believe that it will have a great influence in developing countries than in developed countries.
It is evident that the population around the world are faced with the challenge of an inability to improve the health of their population. It is as a result of the context of demographic and epidemiological changes. Although both developing and developing countries are facing these challenges, the developing countries will experience a great impact as compared to developed countries. There is an increase in the number of aging individuals in developing countries than in developed countries, and that is the reason for the assumption of great influence in the developing world. However, to satisfy the assumption this theory argues about the improvement of sanitation, nutrition as well as infectious disease control as the reason for the rapid aging of the population in developing countries.
On the other hand, the epidemiologic transition is what links social changes and demographics to the disease sequence within a population. It is where the matter of industrialization and urbanization falls at. Experts argue that epidemiological change is rapid and spread faster.
Conclusion
No one has apparently satisfied the methods needs to apply in dealing with the aging population more research is recommended, for instance there is need to bridge the biological, psychological and social models of life course approach so as to clarify new mechanisms that may be responsible for disease causation and introduce remedies for the maintenance of the aging population. Finally, the rate of transition is associated with the country's historical background, socioeconomic as well as biological factors.
Bibliography
Kwon, E., & Park, S. (2017). Heterogeneous Trajectories of Physical and Mental Health in Late Middle Age: Importance of Life-Course Socioeconomic Positions. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(6), 582. http://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14060582
JONES, R., & GROL, R. (2004). Oxford textbook of primary medical care. Volume 1: principles and concepts. Oxford, Oxford University Press.
