Abstract
This paper explores human development aspects and issues from adolescence to old age. Factors such biosocial matters, morality, cognitive issues, childhood development, family structure, socio-economic status, environment, and culture are discussed as well as how they influence one’s entire life. The theories of Erik H. Erikson, (1902-1994) and Sigmund Freud, (1856-1939) are discussed, compared and contrasted. An interview with Mr. J. King, a 76-year-old pensioner, is used to answer some of the questions that come up when these factors are studied.
Keywords: human development, theories, infancy, changes, cognitive aspects, emotional development, developmental crisis, adulthood, middle adulthood, moral development, ethical behavior, and morality.
Human Development through Life
Human development is the development –psychological and biological- of human beings throughout their lives (Laura E. Berk, 2007). The scientific study of human development focuses on how and why grow, change and develop systematically through their life from infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, aging and everything concerned with one’s lifespan. Changes in development not only involve growth to human beings, they as well include decay like when a child gets their teeth removed so as to grow others, or when an aged person loses functions in some aspects of their being. Therefore, human development is the whole course of change, and all aspects are related in some way. For example, an adolescent not only goes through biological and physical changes when their bodies change but also goes through social, emotional and mental development.
Human development studies factor in all forms of growth such as; social, physical, cognitive, emotional, and personality growth. It also seeks to find out how ethnic, cultural, and racial differences affect one’s development. The unique aspects of an individual like their characteristics and traits are also subjected to study. Stability and consistency in ones live is also considered; what area or time would bring about growth or a change in a person’s life and what behaviors would remain the same.
Biosocial issues in development are those factors that involve the combination of biological and social factors in one’s life. These factors are such as; one’s genetic background, health care, and nutrition. Our interviewee, Mr. J. King, a 76-year-old, has recently been found to have the Alzheimer's disease (AD). This is a neurodegenerative disease that is commonly caused by dementia. It causes some behavioral changes and the decline in the daily activities one had been used to. For John, it started with short term loses of memory that became worse with time, and the doctors called it amnesia. The interesting thing about the disease, he says, is that old memory from his past never got lost (Ursula, 2012). As time passed, John’s intellectual impairment worsened as his speech was affected, his movements, and he could not recognize even his neighbors. He became poor in planning for normal activities, and decision making for him became hard. Doctor has identified the source of this late-onset AD the epsilon 4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene.
John tells me about how his moral and cognitive behavior has changed over time. When he was an adolescent, his teacher made his class do the Heinz Dilemma challenge by asking them the same questions Lawrence Kohlberg (1958) asked people after telling them the story of how Heinz robbed a chemist to get his terminally ill wife drugs that would save her. The class had developed an interest in interpersonal relationships, philosophy and morality just like what Piaget’s theory of cognitive development shows about adolescents. At that time, John had conventional morality where he gave the most given answer in the class so that he could get the approval of the rest of the class, and also shows his ability to uphold the social order and law and not have a guilty conscience. Most of his classmates agreed that Heinz should not have stolen and that he should have gotten arrested for his wrong doing, and so did John. At his age, he knew about authority and what his older role models expected of him, and he reasoned and answered according to what he expected they would like (McLeod, S.A., 2013). However now, John has had the chance to live long, develop his reasoning on moral guidelines, and principles, basing them on his standards of justice and rights. He has posted conventional morality. Now he knows that not all laws work for the good of citizens all the time. If given the Heinz’s dilemma again, he says, that he would choose to save Heinz’s wife’s life even if it meant to break the law, get disapproved by many, and face imprisonment.
John is 76 years old and therefore in his late adulthood and is readjusting to being retired, and having less physical strength and deteriorated health. In this stage, his main concern is to search for personal worth and meaning (Thomas Armstrong, 2008). He likes to remember his past and is becoming more accepting of what is life is like, even accepting failures and achievements. He is satisfied and appreciative of his life. To keep up with his optimal functioning, he has made new goals of helping bring up his grandkids so as to challenge him. John has had to cope with many changes that have happened lately, namely; death of his wife 50 years, the death of many of his old friends, and birth of two grandchildren. He keeps himself with his grandchildren so as to cope with the changes. He also volunteers in his community as a public speaker and mentor of many in the neighborhood.
John’s sensory abilities have been on the decline these days. He has to use reading glass, has to be talked to loudly; food does not taste as tasty anymore and he gets too cold more than he used to when he was younger. In addition to the Alzheimer's disease, he also has arthritis and high blood pressure. Because of this, he depends more on his son, who is his caregiver. In addition to those physical changes, John is also having cognitive changes in that his attention span has decreased, he remembers little, and he processes information slowly.
Erikson theory shows that the way one lived his life is the basis for good or bad aging. Because John lived responsibly and was rich, he has a high sense if integrity and he loves it. He says that he loves the dignity that he has earned himself throughout his life, and he is okay with being old and even dying.
Many theories have studied and research at this stage of adulthood, for example, Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) and Erik Erikson (1902-1994). The two theorists had similarities. They both agreed that for human development to occur, a person’s unconscious mind had to be involved. They also agreed that in human developments, there had to be conflict, which when not solved appropriately, lead to emotional dissatisfaction and or even mental illness. Freud and Erikson were also of the opinion that the stages of childhood were important for the future personality of a person.
The two differed in their conclusions. Freud believed that biological impulses like eating and sex influence human development. On the other hand, Erikson believed that human development was driven by cultural and environmental factors. In Freud’s last stage which he called the genital stage, a person gets sexual awareness and personal identity. For Erikson, in a person’s last stages he learns to be satisfied with his life, he cares for and loves people more, and has a greater sense of integrity. The types of conflicts differed for both. Freud’s conflict was about sex and is solved when one gets enough gratification when growing up while Erikson’s been psychological and is solved when a person cares and loves others in the society.
Growing up, John was brought up in an orphanage when his parents died. This has affected him emotionally throughout his life. He often finds himself insecure and is afraid of losing his loved ones, and this leaves him emotionally disturbed. Through the years, his temperament has not always been the best. He has not been as social and easy going as he would have liked and had not been so optimistic about life or very welcoming to change. His being impulsive and emotionally reactive has been emotionally taxing for his family and his caregivers. Had John had, at least, a parent in his life to give him warmth and to take care of him, he would have had a better life up until now.
However, in conclusion, his caregivers at the orphanage and friends helped him however to have resilience and learn how to handle stress better and this helped him to develop more meaningful relationships as he grew up.
Works cited
Laura E. Berk. (2007).Development through The Lifespan. Illinois State University. PDF.
McLeod, S.A. (2013). Kohlberg. Retrieved 05/03/2016 from www.simplypsychology.org/kohlberg.html
Thomas Armstrong. (2008). The Human Odyssey: Navigating the Twelve Stages of Life. New York. Sterling. Print.
Ursula M. Staudinger. (2012). Understanding Human Development: Dialogues with Lifespan Psychology. Ulman E.R. Lindenberger Springer Science and Business Media. Print.
