Human Growth and Development - Case Study Example

Human Growth and Development Introduction The most dramatic aspect of human life growth and development is the marked differentiation into some distinct stages, each of which exhibits some traits and represent some important life stage. Classical studies on human development reveal that several factors contribute to the general development and interaction that an individual makes with the environment lived in. Using the life course perspective can perhaps attempt to unravel various intricacies that surround an individual as a product of certain factors in his or her life. In life course perspective, the life of an individual is analyzed from various perspectives, in a manner that conglomerates past life events to constitute the strong determinants of life quality and features (Hutchinson, 2010, p8). It is from this perspective that the following discourse on Michal and Marek is developed, with intermittent visitation of other relevant theories of psychology that touch on growth and development. Three specific life stages are discussed but not entirely exclusive of others, since the main theme of life course can not be discussed in principle without such links. Presenting facts touching on adolescence life that the boys had, point at possibilities of mixed and different fortunes for both of them. Early in childhood, the boys had exposure to different cultural settings which could be the cause of their differences in adolescence. Adolescence welcomes two personalities with different influence from their childhood and immediate their late childhood past lives. Childhood factors influencing them differently are presented by the form of their environment and upbringing. Michal is the eldest but not very distant in terms of cohort description since his brother was born not too long after him. Adulthood and late adulthood are stages representing similarities where both individuals have plateaued to a life depicting surrender to and acceptance of experienced life challenges. Adolescence Michal was born at a time when his nuclear family had just separated from the extended family and moved into a small apartment in White Bull Lane. Apparently, his early childhood experience was initially in seclusion and confusion since he was not able to relate with an unfamiliar family which took care of him when his mother was hospitalized. His Polish background was at least mentionable having changed his environment from his family to his Polish family friends then to his extended family at Ribbleton Road. School experience was a totally different experience since he had to learn the unfamiliar English, changed friend and retreated to “loneliness”. Marek on the other hand found a smooth run due to fewer changes in environment and interactions. It was easy for him to learn English and make friends. By adolescence, Marek had developed better relationship skills than his elder brother. At adolescence, sexual maturation and is the most predominant feature which can also be drawn from the case. From their past life experiences, as explained by life course perspective, the boys have different fortunes regarding their relationship and sexual maturation experiences. Unique personality developed earlier in childhood determines how an individual deals with sexual maturation. Marek’s earlier life was favourable to allow him to develop a healthy maturation experience regarding his development. He is capable of enjoying a healthy emotional interaction with members of the opposite sex, which is an important development aspect during adolescence. His likeability among the teachers could have been a huge boost to his personality which enabled him to bear with his teenage pressures of self acceptance. Later in early adulthood, Marek’s interaction with his peers is boosted by his popularity in sports. It is clear that the confidence amassed in childhood and adolescence enable Marek to feel more comfortable among his peers and feel more settled than his brother. Dating several girls enables Marek to have a sense of belonging with regard to sexual relationships, which made him better placed to make the right decisions in relationships. Childhood rivalry with his younger brother point at some level of withdrawal, retreat and negativity, because it is reported that he always lost in the battles. Michal particularly misses on vital sexual development strengths by limiting his relationship behaviour with members of the opposite sex. He is reported to have pushed his weak relationship skills to a lady, making a wrong proposal platform for a hand in marriage which is subsequently rejected. His immaturity continues by the response he makes, by engaging in gay behaviour which is seemingly unappealing to his family. This is not a genuine sexual orientation since it appears as an escape route from incapability to handle rejection by the only girlfriend he had. Life course theory position Michal and Marek on different life experiences, just as it does in all human life cases. Whatever an individual gathers throughout their lifelong experiences is useful in making life decision depending on the environmental conditions they are in (Hutchinson, 2010, p365). Transitions in life are approached from different angles as guided by the learning achieved through past experiences. There is another maturity link missing in Michal life in the fact that there is marked inability to make firm decisions as well as coping with stress. Middle Adulthood Middle adulthood life experiences are controlled largely by earlier learnt lessons; partly from childhood and partly from adolescence. Life course perspective does not leave the possibility of effects of attachment process during the early stages of parental care playing a major role in shaping life at middle adulthood. Young adulthood elements also permeate through to the middle adulthood experiences that an individual passes through. However, theories such as the rationale emotive theory propose that individuals’ behaviour can be unpredictable basing future life Even if individuals develop certain tendencies in earlier life such that it becomes progressively possible to extrapolate projections into later future life, there is a considerable chance that anything can happen out of order. During their mid life experiences, each of the two individuals had a different perspective to life. While Marek tried to settle down in career and marriage life, his brother was a bit settled in his career but struggled with relationship issues. Marek had earlier in early adulthood met with Janet with whom he decided to settle in marriage, despite an earlier series of promiscuous engagements with several girls. Mid life crisis experienced by the two appeared to lean on earlier experiences in life with Marek seemingly solving his challenge quickly than his elder brother. Apparently, the good social life that Marek had in adolescence contributed in the quick shift from having many girlfriends to settling in married life. Marriage is a social responsibility for adults and Marek appears to have stepped his maturity and stood up for the social challenge. Marek and Janet eventually bear two children in a settled marriage life which got foiled, at least in a different phase. Past life link is exhibited here in a clear way since transition from a past stage in terms of social maturity is illustrated. On the other hand, middle life experience for Michal is characterized by a failure in decision making. In what appears to be a failure in social maturity, Michal suddenly changes sexual orientation from a straight male to a gay. This is as a result of rejection by a girl with whom he aspired to settle in marriage. His weakness is depicted by his inability to socially mingle with members of the opposite sex earlier in life. He informs his brother well in advance of his proposal to Suzanne who subsequently reject him. Michal appears to be dragged by his unfavourable earlier life experiences into a poor sexual maturity depicted by poor relationship skills. Even though his relationship skills especially with members of the opposite sex in his teens are not recorded, it is easy to be extrapolated that he had issues with relationships. Instead of making stable lifelong relationships, it is clear that Michal gets involved in a couple of gay sexual experiences from which he fails to redeem himself by stably settling down. A major life course feature at mid adulthood is the apparent increase of contact between siblings, which is depicted in the relations held by Michal and Marek. It is usually easier for siblings who had rivalry before to reconnect at mid adulthood especially when taking care of their aged parents ((Hutchinson, 2010, p341). Late Adulthood By late adulthood, Michal and Marek had totally settled in different lifestyles. As observed earlier, Michal’s retreat and withdrawal landed him in a relative disadvantageous position than his younger brother Marek. A striking difference in their lives can be observed in their career development. Although Michal had failed to make it to the university due to substandard performance at high school and being contented with a job as a cartographer facilitated his settled late adulthood life. His younger brother’s life, on the other hand had many misgivings presented by lack of control of his mid-life crisis. Both had mixed fortunes in the hands of mid-life crisis with HIV for Michal and continuous domestic challenges for Marek depicting their inadequacy to handle adulthood challenges. Basing Michal’s and Marek’s account on Erickson’s theory explaining emotional and social issues involved at late adulthood, it is clear that both of them have finally accepted the disappointments they have had in their life. Erickson terms this stage as ego integrity and despair defining moments of an individual. Both of the have come to terms with the mistakes that they have made in order to console their ego’s integrity. Apparently, Michal appears to have accepted the limited ambition he had in his life could only leave him at the mercy of the employer who could lay him off any time due to old age catching up with him. He is forced to console his ego after bearing in mind that he made little to propel himself o a better chance of a decent retirement plan, for instance having adequate investment. He had balanced his struggles to face the apparent negative opinion that his family had on his sexuality, especially from his old aged father. On his part, Marek had come to terms with the fact that he had foiled his ambitions with unrealistic effort for the same. An early retirement is a peaceful surrender that befits the reaction of a person in withdrawal from holding on to ambitions, having realized they are incapable of achieving. He was also facing the tough fact that he already had too many sexual affairs, resulting in a marital break-up. His excessive drinking habits attest to his former misgivings and a tragic acceptance that his ambitions of furthering his studies could not be a reality. According to the theorist, contentment with earlier life adversaries is not a choice since the ego has to be satisfied and acceptance used as a soothing technique. This is commonly displayed in both of these individuals since they finally put their differences aside and opt to assist their aged father. The dramatic turning to charity work and community service by both of them in their late adulthood points at the appropriateness of this theory, in explaining this stage of development. Similar theories include those postulated by Labouvie-Vief, where explanation is given to sudden change of emotions to try to fit in a pragmatic relationship in late adulthood. Relating this to life course perspective, it is clear that past interactions with adverse transpose effects on an individual’s life are usually reflected in later adult life, in an attempt to make up. Conclusion Development through the various life phases is heavily dependent on past life experiences. Subsequent life experiences are likely to influence later experiences, even though departure chances are also admissible in some secluded cases. Life course theory recognizes the effects of an individual’s historical experiences with certain age demarcations bearing organic, mental, social as well as religious cycles. The family plays a very central role in defining the life course of an individual, which makes the case to be ideal for use in the illustration of how the theory applies (Hutchinson, 2010, p2). There is a heavy linkage between the various life phases in life course as illustrated in the case study above. References Hutchinson, E. D., 2010. Dimensions of human behaviour: the changing life course. London, UK: SAGE Publishers, Inc. Read More