DEVELOPMENTAL ANALYSIS 1
Developmental Analysis Assignment
SaQuisha M. Oliver
School of Behavioral Health, Liberty University
Author Note
SaQuisha Oliver
I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to SaQuisha Oliver. Email:
soliver8@liberty.edu
Abstract
Human life passes through several stages of development, growth defined by psychological and
social factors, yet also by divine influence. While a person may 'contribute' to his or her
development, the secular structures and spiritual ecosystems surrounding them are equally
active in forging the relevance of that development. From the time of birth, the caregiver
mediates growth through attachment into trajectories of emotional and spiritual wellness. This
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paper is framed by the lived experience through the dual lenses of development theory and
faith, to clarify how God's presence and personal values mold the entire lifespan of growth.
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Developmental Analysis Assignment
Development is a lifelong journey wherein a person encounters certain
biopsychosocialspiritual factors. It cannot be totally understood apart from the context and
relationships that influence it. Theories of human development furnish critical tools for
analyzing how an identity and purpose come forward from experience. Wong et al. (2021)
explains that development is multiple-dimensional and ever under construction through the
interaction with one's surroundings. Both stability and disruption are part of the narrative of the
personal growth phenomenon. In this paper, I endeavor to explore my personal development
journey through a theoretical lens and reflection. I will address the past influence of family
relationships, current challenges/opportunities in roles as a single mother, employee, student,
and the continuous unfolding of my spiritual life with God. Finally, I will reflect on how these
things could shape my upcoming aging experience while underpinning my holistic well-being
approach for those years ahead.
Pregnancy, Birth, and Infancy
I was brought into this world by two young parents, barely past their teens, who, upon
separation, vowed to co-parent me dutifully. My mother remembers a healthy and uneventful
pregnancy: an environment conducive to my early days of development. Wong et al. (2021)
states that the prenatal period is critical not only for physical growth, but also for neurological
and emotional development. While genetics contribute, maternal lifestyle equally influences
the outcome: nutrition, rest, and stress management all play a part. Davis and Narayan (2020)
reaffirm that pregnancy is not only crucial biologically; it is an enhancing time for resilience
development. My mother personified this well and secured me with nourishment and stability.
After my birth, my father enlisted in the military, beginning a transitional phase for the family.
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Birth was my first introduction to an exterior world that required my adaptation and
sustenance. And even through distance and changes, love reigned from both parents. They
established a supporting rhythm from various spaces, and that consistency upon which I
thrived. I was a placid little baby, achieving, if not surpassing, all developmental milestones.
Wong et al. (2021) note that an infant's achievements in the first year of life, such as smiling by
four months and standing or walking with support by twelve, are important milestones for the
healthy physical, emotional, and cognitive development of that child. My earliest experiences,
though lived in fragments I cannot consciously remember, were created within an atmosphere
of nurturing, trust, and resilience shown by two individuals learning to navigate the uncertainty
with determination and care.
Childhood, Adolescence, and Erikson’s Stages of Development
Both innate temperament and relational context are very significant in identity and
relational growth in early childhood. As Wong et al. (2021) point out, the most basic conditions
for socio-emotional development are secure attachments. I was very calm by nature and forged
safe emotional ties with caregivers. When I was three years old, my stepfather entered my life
as a key emotional figure in my life development. Subsequently, I was no longer the sole child of
my parents because my brother was born when I was eight years old and my sister was born the
following year. Some of these experiences caused me to mature in empathy, patience, and
leadership. Much of my spiritual grounding was established by my family, not just through
formal expressions of faith, but through lived experience. Our faith was reinforced during back
yard cookouts and cousin sleepovers—settings where prayer, storytelling, and encouragement
were natural and ongoing. Thompson et al. (2022) asserts the importance of early safe
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attachments in developing emotionally enduring frameworks, which I have with me until today
in terms of relationship and spirituality.
Erikson's psychosocial paradigm designates adolescence as the stage of Identity vs. Role
Confusion, a period during which individuals begin constructing a sense of self (Orenstein &
Lewis, 2025). For me, this layering began early with a rift during elementary school when my
father became paralyzed while serving abroad in Iraq. The trauma over that injury would
change the emotional cadence of our family and thrust me into the hard life early on. As I grew,
I inherited values of faith, endurance, and strength, but I began to question what those meant
for me. My mother and I were often at odds, speaking past each other as we tried to get our
points across. Where her strength had once been reassuring, it suddenly felt stifling, and I was
convinced that my fledgling attempts at self-definition were now being misconstrued as
rebelliousness. But impressively woven between those frictional experiences was this yearning
for connectivity in the form of emotional attachment often expressed, occasionally just
understood. Carvalho and Veiga (2022) strengthen the relevance of Erikson's framework and
argue that the adolescent process of identity formation is influenced by both individual
maturation and deeply entrenched histories of relationships.
My daily life at high school during the roller coaster ride of emotion would still be fine. I
was involved with the band, cheering at games, showing up for my circle-but had to learn
balancing oneself between the inside world of adolescence and its outside world of
expectation. Regardless of it all, I scored brilliantly in all academic subjects, mostly those
concerned with human systems and care. I was not preparing for tests. I was preparing for life.
It was crystallized further in a career best-suit program that offered an avenue through which I
would acquire my certified nursing assistant certificate. That on-hand experience reaffirmed
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what I had quieted within myself for some time-I was made to care. The patience and grace of
nurses made me realize that strength was not just medical but also emotional and spiritual. I
then began visualizing myself in that field, combining technical skill with deep compassion. The
more I learned about nursing, the more I realized not only was nursing a perfect fit; it was built
into my design.
I had planned to go to four years of university after high school, but when my mother did
not support my chosen institution, the disagreement placed a tremendous strain on our
relationship. That strain led to a period of estrangement whereby I set aside my CNA
certification to move in with my dad and grandma in hopes that a change in atmosphere would
provide emotional clarity. I enrolled in a technical college locally but found myself uninspired
and lost, eventually landing on academic probation. The nadir of that experience became an
impetus for contemplation. I decided to reboot my life and refocus on my goals, gradually
gaining momentum again, improving my GPA, and earning my Associate of Science degree. The
surprise arrival of two younger sisters, one year apart, brought unexpected light into my life.
After this, I was able to reunite with my mother, which marked the beginning of some emotional
healing for me as well as a desire to step into the life of the woman I was always becoming.
Adulthood and Aging Process
The journey to adulthood turns into hardships. I did get my associate degree but did not
get admission into a nursing program. To stay within the realm of healthcare, I enrolled in a
medical assistant program. In the first week, out of the blue, I discovered I was pregnant. I
found myself having to juggle the personal demands of life with vocational and emotional
demands largely on my own, with limited support from my partner. That season coincided with
Erikson's stage of Intimacy vs. Isolation, where people are trying to develop some connection of
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give-andtake while still being able to maintain the individual autonomy (Moore & Abell, 2020).
The instability of my relationship heightened that psychosocial conflict. As I anticipated
motherhood, the developmental course slouched toward Generativity vs. Stagnation-the desire
to contribute in significant ways to the life of another. This transition indicates what is said to be
a very critical stage in established adulthood by LaRiviere and Mehta (2024), reflecting the ways
in which identity is shaped and reshaped through intersections of faith, responsibility, and
relational transformation.
My commitment to perseverance was tested to the furthest limits when a year came
along with personal and professional crossroads. I undertook a rigorous medical assistant
training program, graduated with a national certificate, and accepted the transformative role of
a mother, all the while grappling with the emotional and logistical demands created by such
overlaps in life. The intensity of that season could not possibly be understated; yet I was
anchored by the presence of a close-knit family system. Their pride made my first level of
achievement feel a shared triumph when I started work at urgent care. While the job granted
me freedom and enhanced my clinical training, it also brought into focus some structural
barriers: long, inflexible shifts that were often interrupted by childcare demands, which left little
room for family bonding. A more harmonious position, with stable working hours accepting my
changing values and family needs, was ultimately achieved by an informal introduction through
my networking.
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What started out as an orderly phase of my life soon turned out to be one of the most
difficult paths that I went through. My second pregnancy came with medical difficulties that
were beyond what I expected, emotional and relational support were nowhere in sight, and I
had to tackle the journey all on my own. It took quite a toll on me, which found expression in
deep depression and anxiety. Yet it was in that solitude that I began to sense the return of my
strength. Resilience is not something one is born with but is brought up with the others, and
this is how it features within me according to Pearson, Sharp, and Hampton (2025). I wasn't
going to stay still, so I enrolled in Liberty University's online psychology course. Balancing a full
class load with full-time work and two little boys took everything out of me. Some days seemed
impossible to continue—but I chose not to stop. I graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2023
and now have nearly ten years invested in my chosen career. Today, as I pursue a master's
degree in addiction counseling, I recognize that every detour and difficulty has contributed to a
much bigger journey toward wholeness. My setbacks haven't defined me; they have
strengthened me.
Conclusion
This personal examination uncovers the journey of identity shaping and psychological
growth within a dimension that signifies influence by biological, psychological, social, and
ultimately spiritual systems that surround us. As further described in this discussion paper,
development is ongoing-adaptive and marks disruption as well as continuity beyond
predictability models in stage definition and expectation. Supported by scholars like Wong et al.
(2021), who argue for a contextual and interactive understanding of human development, my
lived experiences become a case study in the application of developmental theory-
measurednuanced. The process of moving from my childhood into the different roles that I
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occupy today (single parent, health care provider, adult learner) bears clear testimony to the
interplay of forces that has both nurtured and challenged my development. Tainted through all
these is my spiritual development, himself keeping me stable in instability-the emotional
complex spaces. It gives another depth to analyzing theoretical frames and brings a broader
perspective to empathy and self-understanding. I thus intentionally adopt the holistic life course
that recognizes resilience, purpose, and intense connectedness between self and environment
as central to becoming.
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Reference
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LaRiviere, K., Mehta, C. “This is the Age Period Where You Start Figuring Out What You Want”
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