Human Development in Society - Essay Example

Running Head: REFELECTIVE ESSAY (Name) (Course) (Institution) (Instructor’s name) (Date) Human development is a sequential and interesting process. Various psychologists such as Erick Erickson, Sigmund Freud, Jean Peagent, Ivan Pavlov, and Albert Bandura among others have carried out empirical studies to establish human behavior at various stages of life mainly divided into infancy, childhood, adolescent, early adulthood, middle age and old age. The various theories established for human development entail biological, physiological, social, environmental, as well as historical perspective as in evolution. Theories of human development have helped in explaining human behavior throughout the lifespan (Carver & Scheir, 2000). In every behavior that we exhibit, there is a relating theory explaining such behavior. In this essay, I am reflecting on my personal life in adulthood and reflect it through the lens of two developmental theories. These theories are Albert Banduras’s Social Learning theory and Erick Erickson’s psychosocial theory of human development. My adult life is surrounded by various developmental events. In college, I entered into a relationship with a woman that would later become my wife. I entrusted her with everything and I could confide in her wherever I had a problem. Today, we have lived together and raised a beautiful family. While undertaking my course in college, I secured my first job in an apprentice counselor in a counseling firm. I had some difficulties in executing my duties. However, I took time and learnt from others the procedure and what was expected of me from a position of a counselor. I successfully completed my studies and was permanently hired by the firm I was working for. This motivated me to register for a Masters degree in psychology. This got me a promotion in my work and I later secured employment in a foreign country, this time heading a psychology department at a university. I had to learn new culture in the new environment and also in learning my new responsibilities of heading a department in a reputable university. The two developmental theories that I chose to explain my developmental events are Albert Bandura’s Social Learning theory and Erickson’s psychosocial theory of development and. Bandura’s social learning theory stipulates that a person learns from others through observing, imitating or mimicking and through modeling. This theory is largely considered as a bridge between behaviorist and cognitive theories of development as it entails attention, memory and motivation. According to Albert Bandura, a person learns via observation of other people’s attitudes, behavior and outcomes resulting from their behaviors. Majority of our behaviors are acquired observationally through modeling in which from observing what others are doing one is able to form an idea of how to execute new behaviors and later on, this system behavior acts as a guide for action. Bandura’s theory of social learning explains human behavior in context of continues reciprocal relation between behavioral, cognitive and environmental influences. Bandura proposed the following conditions that lead to effective realization of modeling, they include: Attention; different factors enhance or minimize the amount of attention that is given. They include effective valence, complexity, prevalence, distinctiveness, and functional value. Personal characteristics such as past reinforcement, sensory capabilities, arousal level and perceptual set affect attention (Albert, 2001). Retention: This entails remembering what one observed (paid attention to). It includes, mental images, symbolic coding, cognitive organization, motor and symbolic rehearsal. Reproduction: reproducing the image. It entails physical abilities and self examination of reproduction. Motivation: this is the force behind the reason for imitating. Bandura also included two main aspects to the social cognitive learning theory in which he considered vicarious reinforcement and reciprocal determinism. Vicarious reinforcement effects whether a person does or does not replicate the behavior of a model found on the observed results for the model after involving in the behavior. In a Bobo doll experiment carried out by Sigelman and Rider (2012), it was revealed that children were more probable to mimic the behavior of models that were applauded or did not get discouraged for the behavior compared to those who received negative feedback for the same behavior. Reciprocal determinism stipulates that, people are constantly involved in mutual interactions between themselves, the environment and their behavior. The person, the behavior and the surrounding influence one another (Bandura, 2002). Erickson’s psychosocial crisis life cycle theory on the other hand entails an eight stage model of human development. It stipulates that life is an occurrence of lessons and is surrounded by challenges which shape our growth from childhood through adulthood. Psychosocial was used by Erickson depicting the psychological and social, i.e. the mind and relationships. Erickson’s psychosocial stage model is the development of ego identity. This is the conscious sense of self that we establish through social relations (Pervin & John, 2001). The eight stages include; trust vs. mistrust, autonomy vs. shame, initiative vs. guilt, industry vs. inferiority, identity vs. role confusion, intimacy vs. isolation, generativity vs. stagnation and integrity vs. despair. For purposes of this essay in regard to my developmental events in adulthood, am going to focus on only two of these stages which are intimacy vs. isolation and generativity vs. stagnation. Intimacy vs. Isolation is the sixth stage of Erickson’s psychosocial theory which covers the beginning period of adulthood when individuals are searching for personal relationships. According to Erickson, it was necessary that people establish intimate committed relationships with others. Those successful at this stage will establish relationships that are faithful and secure. Strong personal identity is important in establishing intimate relations (Barbara & Philip, 2011). Individuals with poor sense of self according to studies tend to have less dedicated relations and are more prone to experience emotional isolation, depression and loneliness. Generativity vs. stagnation precedes the previous stage. This stage focuses on adulthood when a person continues to build his or her life career wise. Individuals at this stage tend to engage in money making and forgot about meaningful life. Those who fail feel that they have not done anything important to the society (Barbara & Philip, 2011). My engagement to a lady at college is well explained by Erickson’s psychosocial model. In the sixth stage of his model, Erickson stipulates that during early adulthood, we seek to establish intimate relationships with others especially of the opposite gender. I felt attracted to the woman not only because of her beauty, or because of the need to have a sexual relationship, but it was influenced by the urge to have someone intimate that I could share my fears and worries as well as celebrate life (Peterson, 2010; Barbara & Philip, 2011)). In college I was mature enough and I had successful discovered myself. I share my secrets with her and she influenced my life in various ways as I influenced hers. I was able to convince her to move in with me and she was ready to submit to our relationship. Both of us placed more effort in our relationship thanks to our strong sense of self as described in Erickson’s fifth stage of psychosocial development (Identity vs. role confusion). Due to successful orientation at this stage, we were able to realize a more faithful relationship that led to our marriage (Granic & Patterson, 2006). This brought my life to another new chapter. I knew that having someone in life came with a whole range of responsibilities as we were soon going to have kids. I looked for a job while still in college to be able to sustain my family. I ended up acquiring a job at a counseling firm as an apprentice. I was required to learn as I worked. I observed what veteran counselors were doing. This is explained in Bandura’s social cognitive learning. I realized that in order to pursue my job successfully, I had to learn from observing others and imitating what they were doing and applying the knowledge acquired in my daily duties as a counselor. To do this, I had to fulfill the requisites as described in Banduras model, which seek to successful modeling, that is; I paid very close attention to the processes of a counseling sessions most of which were recorded on tape for interns. Besides, I engaged in various group counseling sessions where I keenly listened and observed the procedures which helped me in acquiring the required knowledge in counseling (Bandura, 2002). Consequently, I had to adapt high retention interest in what I observed. Knowing that I was doing this for my own good, to be able to develop my career and hence earn a living for my family, I employed all the necessary skills to memorize what I observed as proposed by Albert Bandura. Some of activities that I engaged to retain what I had observed include symbolic coding, cognitive organization, motor and symbolic rehearsal (Sigelman & Rider, 2012). I had to reproduce the observed skills and be able to replicate them. This required me to be motivated. My motivation was the need to grasp these skills and develop my career. This in Bandura’s perspective is vicarious reinforcement which determines whether or not a person replicates the observed behavior. I also learnt that I constantly needed to work alongside my colleagues in the firm to adopt my learnt behavior. This aspect is referred by Bandura as reciprocal determinism. With time, when I completed my studies and had acquired good knowledge in my field, I got hired by the firm on permanent basis and later acquired a job in a foreign country to head the department of psychology at the university. This event is explained by the Erickson’s 7th stage of psychosocial development. In this stage of Generativity vs. Stagnation I am definitely seeking career development. This has enabled me generate more income as I advance through the ladder of my career. I have also been able to take care of my family as I have ever desired which is a concept described well in this very stage of psychosocial development by Erickson. In the new job in a foreign country, I have faced numerous challenges in the new environment. Having to migrate to a foreign land with new culture new and having a new role, I had to learn through observation and imitation. Learning other people’s culture is not easy and I had to put interest and attention to what the people were doing in their routine lives and also the staff at the university especially the various departments. This also followed Bandura’s social learning theory as which has been discussed in the previous event. Human development process is continuous and occurs through the lifespan of a person; that is through infancy, childhood, adolescent and adulthood. There are various theories that have been proposed to try and explain human behavior all of which are based on either one or more of the following aspects; biological, social, historical, physiological and environmental aspects. To understand our own behavior in the workplace, at home or personal life, it is important to study human development theories. My own life events in adulthood from college to my marriage and career have been explained in detail in this essay using two main theories of human development. The theories are Erickson’s psychosocial theory of human development and Albert Bandura’s theory of social learning. This has enabled me to reflect and understand every aspect of my behavior as well as understanding of the course. References Albert, B. (2001). Social Cognitive Theory: An Agentic Perspective. Annual Review of Psychology 52, 1-26. Bandura, A. (2002). Social cognitive theory in cultural context. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 51 (2), 269-290. Barbara M. N. & Philip R. N. (2011). Development Through Life: A Psychosocial Approach, (11th edition). New York: Cengage Learning. Carver, C.S. & Scheir, M.F. (2000). Perspectives on Personality. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon. Granic, I. & Patterson, G. R. (2006). Toward a comprehensive model of antisocial development: A dynamic systems approach. Psychological Review, 113 (1), 101-131. Pervin, L., & John, O. (2001). Personality: Theory and research (8th ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons. Peterson, C. C. (2010). Early adulthood: Physical, cognitive, social and personality development. In Looking forward through the lifespan (5th ed., pp. 392-417). Sydney, Australia: Pearson. Sigelman, C. K., & Rider, E. A. (2012). Life-span human development (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Read More

The two developmental theories that I chose to explain my developmental events are Albert Bandura’s Social Learning theory and Erickson’s psychosocial theory of development and. Bandura’s social learning theory stipulates that a person learns from others through observing, imitating or mimicking and through modeling. This theory is largely considered as a bridge between behaviorist and cognitive theories of development as it entails attention, memory and motivation. According to Albert Bandura, a person learns via observation of other people’s attitudes, behavior and outcomes resulting from their behaviors.

Majority of our behaviors are acquired observationally through modeling in which from observing what others are doing one is able to form an idea of how to execute new behaviors and later on, this system behavior acts as a guide for action. Bandura’s theory of social learning explains human behavior in context of continues reciprocal relation between behavioral, cognitive and environmental influences. Bandura proposed the following conditions that lead to effective realization of modeling, they include: Attention; different factors enhance or minimize the amount of attention that is given.

They include effective valence, complexity, prevalence, distinctiveness, and functional value. Personal characteristics such as past reinforcement, sensory capabilities, arousal level and perceptual set affect attention (Albert, 2001). Retention: This entails remembering what one observed (paid attention to). It includes, mental images, symbolic coding, cognitive organization, motor and symbolic rehearsal. Reproduction: reproducing the image. It entails physical abilities and self examination of reproduction.

Motivation: this is the force behind the reason for imitating. Bandura also included two main aspects to the social cognitive learning theory in which he considered vicarious reinforcement and reciprocal determinism. Vicarious reinforcement effects whether a person does or does not replicate the behavior of a model found on the observed results for the model after involving in the behavior. In a Bobo doll experiment carried out by Sigelman and Rider (2012), it was revealed that children were more probable to mimic the behavior of models that were applauded or did not get discouraged for the behavior compared to those who received negative feedback for the same behavior.

Reciprocal determinism stipulates that, people are constantly involved in mutual interactions between themselves, the environment and their behavior. The person, the behavior and the surrounding influence one another (Bandura, 2002). Erickson’s psychosocial crisis life cycle theory on the other hand entails an eight stage model of human development. It stipulates that life is an occurrence of lessons and is surrounded by challenges which shape our growth from childhood through adulthood. Psychosocial was used by Erickson depicting the psychological and social, i.e. the mind and relationships.

Erickson’s psychosocial stage model is the development of ego identity. This is the conscious sense of self that we establish through social relations (Pervin & John, 2001). The eight stages include; trust vs. mistrust, autonomy vs. shame, initiative vs. guilt, industry vs. inferiority, identity vs. role confusion, intimacy vs. isolation, generativity vs. stagnation and integrity vs. despair. For purposes of this essay in regard to my developmental events in adulthood, am going to focus on only two of these stages which are intimacy vs.

isolation and generativity vs. stagnation. Intimacy vs. Isolation is the sixth stage of Erickson’s psychosocial theory which covers the beginning period of adulthood when individuals are searching for personal relationships. According to Erickson, it was necessary that people establish intimate committed relationships with others. Those successful at this stage will establish relationships that are faithful and secure. Strong personal identity is important in establishing intimate relations (Barbara & Philip, 2011).

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