The Lifespan of Personality Development - Essay Example

Lifespan Development and Personality Paper Affiliation Introduction Adolescence is the age related transition betweenchildhood and adulthood. It brings about many tremendous opportunities for physical, cognitive and psychological changes. These ups and downs occur in both genders, that is the male and the female. The rates of development in youth vary during the adolescent period; to some, it may become a source of difficulty and discomfort and, therefore, hard to deal with, while to others it may be a smooth and remarkable progress (Shaffer & Kipp, 2013). The factors that may determine the growth and development can be hereditary or environmental or both. These factors can control the social, moral and personality development. This article will discuss influences of adolescences in regard to physical and cognitive development. Furthermore, this paper will describe at least two theoretical perspectives associated with moral, social, and personality development in relation to lifespan development and personality. Factors affecting physical development There are many hereditary aspects that affect physical growth and development during adolescence. Heredity is a biological mechanism through which the transmission of physical and social individuality is transferred from parents to their off springs (Shaffer & Kipp, 2013). A child is born with the unique set of hereditary instructions that influence his physical growth and appearance. According to the University of Minnesota heredity has a strong outcome on the rate of growth this is because it greatly influences different factors of growth and development (Shaffer & Kipp, 2013). The scientists are able to approximate the height and weight of an adolescent by measuring the height and weight of his or her parents. Another parental influence a child inherits from his parents is blood pressure and body fat proportion as well as body structure, mass, intelligence, aptitude and instincts (Oakley, 2004). Evidently, genetics plays a critical role in the adolescents physical appearance and cognitive developments, for instance, a study that was conducted on the influence of genetics on physical development revealed that genetics as a component has a strong effect on the growth rate. Because of this fact, many scientists have been able to use parental measurements to predict the physical measurements of the adolescents when they approach thirty years (Shaffer & Kipp, 2013). Other hereditary factors that have been linked to genetics are the body fat percentage, muscles, blood pressure besides the total body mass. Apparently, it is not genetics alone that determine the adolescents physical development, for example, identical twins who share the same genetic factors can grow to different heights suppose they are brought up in different environments (Shaffer & Kipp, 2013). Thus, environmental factors such as nutrition can greatly influence the physical growth in a significant way. Research conducted by the United Nations University revealed that factors such as malnutrition greatly influence the texture and growth of teeth and bones. Furthermore, malnutrition is known to hinder and delay the growth and the development among the adolescents; however, better nutrition in the later stages of adolescents may help, but often would depend on the severity of malnutrition (Shaffer & Kipp, 2013). Factors affecting cognitive development Many young people in adolescences stage tend to shift how they used to think the reason and understand when they were children. This is basically because their brains are developing; their thoughts go from cognitive to being able to understand solid ideas, they become more reasonable when thinking. The cognitive development allows them to make introspective and mature verdicts, plan their future and more so reflect on their past (Shaffer & Kipp, 2013). As a young person exercises these new found skills, it is normal that at times he or she might become argumentative, jump into conclusions and even find fault in what other people say or do. It takes time for an adolescent to concede other people’s perspectives. Many at times they tend to be self-centered (Shaffer & Kipp, 2013). This new development may have positive or negative effects depending on genetic factors or the environment that they are in. Social environment, availability of economic opportunities, prevailing economic conditions, and family are some of the factors that affect the adolescents’ cognitive development. A theory of cognitive development by Jean Piaget seeks to explore what human intelligence is and how it develops. The theory is concerned with how humans acquire intelligence, how they construct and how they use it (Oakley, 2004). According to this theory, the adolescents first try to construct a perception of the world surrounding them. Later they experience the differences that arise between what they know and the discoveries they make within their environment. The social, cultural theory by Piaget argues that learning is a social method and it is the origin of intelligence in humans (Oakley, 2004). Thus, cognitive development among the adolescents is more often affected by their interaction with other persons. On the other hand, the cognitive development among the adolescents is also affected by other factors such as such as attention, senses, memory and perception. In addition, the interactions that occur in social and cultural environment, affects the cognitive development and in most instances it enhances higher mental functions (Oakley, 2004). Factors affecting social, moral, and personality development It is certain that growth and development extends during the course of life and for this reason psychological scholar’s state that factors affecting social, moral and personality development are not only reflected along the racial and ethnic contexts, but also in the other facets of culture. These cultures include the ability status, socioeconomic status, spirituality, religion, and the sexual orientation. Shaffer and Kipp, (2013) state that each of the cultural characteristics in its own route exerts a differential pull, force and or valence on each individual of the society in regards to his or her total composition. On the other hand, Freudian and cognitive psychologies are theoretical approaches in the mainstream psychology that have helped in investigating numerous factors that affect social, moral, and personality development. In this aspect, social, moral and personality development consists of the formalization and regulation of societal relations which patently includes relations between individuals and groups within a society (Oakley, 2004). These aspects of the social order are often recognized through the formation and enforcement of laws, rules, and norms, which further affect the social, moral, and personality development. From Foucault’s viewpoint, knowledge, language, and culture play a critical role in social, moral, and personality development. These vital components of the society are instilled to adolescents through psychology that they receive from their teachers and parents (Oakley, 2004). For instance, Foucault states that for several years the socialists have ignored the influence of culture and identity on social, moral, and personality development. Nevertheless, from the Foucauldian perceptive, sociologist have on the recent past tried to understand how knowledge and culture help in the social, moral, and personality development. Nevertheless, Foucault admits that through psychology, social, moral, and personality development social relationships become stronger and stable thus enhancing adolescents’ relationship in a society (Oakley, 2004). On the other hand, Foucault believes that through psychology, power, culture, and identity are developed. In this aspect, he argues that these components play a crucial role in social control and stability (Oakley, 2004). Conclusion It is evident that hereditary and environmental factors play a critical role in numerous aspects of adolescents cognitive and other developmental aspects. From this paper analysis, it has been confirmed that genetic factors with a combination with numerous environmental aspects have a significant influence on the growth and development of an adolescent. These factors are, therefore, are to be considered when bringing up a healthy adolescent’s cognitive and physical development. References Oakley L. (2004). Cognitive Development. Psychology Press. Shaffer, D., & Kipp, K. (2013). Developmental Psychology: Childhood and Adolescence. Read More