Running head: DEVELOPMENTAL ANALYSIS 1
Developmental Analysis: Part 2
Tracy Crane
Liberty University
DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS 2
Personal Introduction to Adulthood
During the human lifespan in which a person is physically and intellectually
mature is considered adulthood (www.britannica.com). The age of attaining legal adulthood is 18
years old, although this definition may vary country to country. What it means to be adult
depends on the period you grew up in. For example, I grew up during the late 1970s and through
the 1980s, which meant you were considered an adult when you have completed your education
(high school or college), had a job to support yourself, may be married or single, renting or
owning your home, and may be starting a family. You were done with the partying life, embraced
your own identity as an adult, voted in local, state, and federal elections, and paid taxes. The
normal path at the time was to be leave home, get an education or training (college, trade school
or life experience), get a job, marry, purchase your first home, and start a family. Today, most of
the young adult’s view adulthood as subjective, meaning it is more of a feeling not necessarily a
thing to them. They just do not see themselves as adults.
Adulthood for me came at an unusually early age because of the dynamics of my family
(I was approximately 11 years old). My parents divorced in 1981, I am the oldest, which meant I
took on the older sister role and took care of not only myself but my younger sister as well. With
my mother working 12-16 hours a day to support us and her alcoholism, it was just us kids a lot
of the time (my father was not around). By the time I was a senior in high school, my mother told
me that now that I was 18 years old, I needed to pay for my care insurance, maintenance, and
anything other items I needed. I was shocked and blown away at this point. I started working
full-time in retail store and going to school to finish my senior year. This left me angry, resentful
and hurt because I was being abandoned by my mother (she moved away at this point).
Welcome to adulthood.
DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS 3
Theoretical Perspectives of Development
Postformal Thought according to Perry
When I started my undergraduate, I was 46 years old and at that time I would have said I
was in the process of position 2: multiplicity (prelegitimate), but reflecting I am not really sure
where I would have defined myself because I am at older age and have different experiences that
have formed my life than say the younger college student then. Today, at the mid-point in my
life, I would say I am at position 5: contextual relativism (Broderick and Blewitt, 2015). With my
undergraduate, I do see a noticeable difference in my intellectual development and how my
worldview has changed. I do find myself taking a step back, looking around and developing my
own analytical process of the things I have learned and experienced. Also, being able to
understand my faith walk and what that means, and how to live it has changed in my relativistic
world (Broderick and Blewitt, 2015).
A study by Rona Knight, PhD., and Jill M. Miller, PhD. (2017), “Emerging Adulthood: A
Development Phase,” found most college students do not consider themselves adolescents or
even young adults. The assumption is the college students did not transition from late
adolescence into young adulthood, which in their opinion meant these students cognition was
still developing, and their neurobiology was changing as well as the psychological structures
(e.g., ego functions, ego ideal, and superego). Their relationships were unstable, fluid without
organizational goals (Knight and Miller, 2017). This period is called an emerging adulthood
which is defined as a time when a person is in their twenties to early thirties. Most have moved
out from their parents’ home, developed a sense of self. For me, I believed I skipped the
“emerging adulthood” period because I the need to survive and support myself at an early age.
DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS 4
My cognitive and moral development at the time, in my opinion, was normal for my age but not
necessarily for me situation.
Adult Attachment and Relationships
The three attachment prototypes in peer/romantic tradition are avoidant, anxious-
ambivalent, and secure (Broderick and Blewitt, 2015). When I was 18-21 years old, I would have
described my peer/romantic attachment type to be more of the avoidant prototype. I did not trust
people, could not depend on those who said they liked or loved me to be there for me, and
romantically, in my opinion, was a replacement for what I was not getting from my parents or
family at that time. From about the age of 30 years until today, I would say my peer/romantic
attachment style is secure (Broderick and Blewitt, 2015). In partner selection, I chose a partner
that balances me. I do not know if it is security or more of the nature of our relationship of
mutual trust, respect, integrity, interdependence, and more importantly having Christ at the center
of our partnership. We are not perfect, do argue now and again; however, we work together as
partners and believe anything can be dealt with together. According to the textbook,
communication style and conflict resolution at times can be the result of issues of love, loss, and
trust (Broderick and Blewitt, 2015). The one that was not mentioned was finances. For some
couples, we have experience this early in our marriage, this is more than just a subtext to
communication or conflict issues. It can and sometimes does have a major effect on the best
marriages. A marriage or partnership takes work every day. I would say my marriage is stable,
gives me great satisfaction, a close intimate relationship as well as a working partnership with
someone I admire, respect, trust, and want to spend my life with. I particular scripture that gives
me comfort in my marriage is Ephesians 5:25 (NIV): “For husbands, this means love your wives,
just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her."
DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS 5
Career Development Process: Super’s Approach
According to Super’s (1980) developmental self-concept, he emphasizes the importance
of the development of self-concept. Self-concept will change over time and the development is
based on experience (e.g., career development is lifelong). Super (1980) developed his theories
to strengthen Eli Ginzberg’s work, which he believed had weaknesses. The five life and career
development stages include stage 1: growth (ages 0-14) is the period of development of self-
concept, attitudes, needs and general world work; stage 2: exploration (ages 15-24) is called the
“trying out” (Super, 1980) period of classes, work experience, and hobbies; stage 3:
establishment (ages 25-44) is a period of entry-level skill building and security through work
experience; and stage 4: maintenance (ages 45-64) is the continual adjustment process to
improve position (Broderick and Blewitt, 2015; Super, 1980). Super (1980) also developed a
concept of vocational maturity that does not necessarily match up to a person’s chronological age
called the decline stage: this period is before and after 65 years of age. This stage is a time when
careers begin to taper off, and retirement planning takes center stage in a person’s life instead of
their career (Broderick and Blewitt, 2015).
According to Super’s five life and career development stages, I would fall under stage 4:
maintenance. For me, stages 1-3, were a time I worked from the age of 15-25 and took off a
period of approximately 2 years after my daughter was born, and then worked for another 2 years
until I was 29-years old (Broderick and Blewitt, 2015). At which time, I became a full-time
mother and housewife. In 2014 (daughter is grown at this time ), I enrolled at Liberty University
online to begin the journey of achieving my bachelor’s degree, which I finished in 2018.
Reflecting on Super’s life and career development stages, it would seem I would remain in stage
4 until I complete my master’s degree and find a job for an unknown period (Broderick and
DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS 6
Blewitt, 2015). What I anticipate will be important influences in the future for me to move into
the next stage is finding a job in my field and experience success within the field I have been
trained for, human services counseling professional. This should keep me in my current stage for
the foreseeable future.
Identity Development
Erikson developed eight stages of psychosocial development, which included trust vs.
mistrust, autonomy vs. shame/doubt, initiative vs. guilt, industry vs. inferiority, identity vs. role
confusion, intimacy vs. isolation, generativity vs. stagnation, and integrity vs. despair (Broderick
and Blewitt, 2015). According to Erikson, in psychology, identity crisis is defined as the failure
to achieve ego identity during adolescence and is found in the stages of psychosocial
development in identity cohesion vs. role confusion. Erikson believed in each stage, the person
experiences a psychosocial crisis that may have a positive or negative outcome for personality
development. This stage influences the developing sense of personal identity that continues to
influence behavior and development for the remainder of a person’s life (Broderick and Blewitt,
2015). Understanding Erikson’s psychosocial development, I feel currently I am in-between
generativity vs. stagnation and integrity vs. despair. I did lean more towards the generativity vs.
stagnation in this stage in my life because I do have a sense of contribution not only to the world
but to my family and faith community. However, I do at times feel integrity vs. despair play an
important role in my life because of the time spent reflecting on my experiences, what I
accomplished and the possibilities that lay ahead, give me tremendous satisfaction. Being in a
secure marriage and in my faith journey also influences my current stages in my life.
In a study to determine the relationship between an agency and identity within an
ethnically diverse cohort of emerging adults, Schwartz, Cote` and Arnett (2005), found their
DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS 7
analysis results showed that the agency-identity relationship was the same across the ethnic
groups. This means that across ethnic groups, personality is affected positively in the based
identity strategies of exploration and commitment. This means the emerging adults are prepared
to take on their roles as adults, are more stable, coherent and commitment-based identities
(Schwartz, Cote` and Arnett, 2005), More importantly this study showed that ethnicity does not
change the emerging adults’ identity. In respect to emerging adulthood, this is another
perspective of how not all adults are not able to figure their self-identity and are able to
commitment to future endeavors like careers, relationships and such (Schwartz, Cote` and Arnett,
2005).
Personality and Temperament
The Big 5 personality traits are neuroticism, extraversion, agreeableness,
conscientiousness, and openness to experience (Broderick and Blewitt, 2015). Based on the
characteristics of these personality traits, my own personality and temperament, in my opinion,
falls under the conscientiousness trait. The characteristics of organized, planful, reliable,
responsible, careful, efficient, and self-controlled fits both my personality and temperament
(Broderick and Blewitt, 2015). My personality does lend to higher levels of thoughtfulness,
impulse control, and goal-oriented behaviors. I have found being very organized and aware of
the details helps me feel in control and successful. I am always aware how my behavior or words
may affect others. Another possible trait is agreeableness, which the characteristics include
trusting (honestly, low end for me), unselfishness, kindness, affectionate, and concern for others
(Broderick and Blewitt, 2015). According to research, psychologists believe the five personality
traits are universal and may have biological roots. It is also suggested that not only is their
biological influences but also environmental influences shaping our personalities (Broderick and
DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS 8
Blewitt, 2015). Also important is these big five personality traits are believed to be relatively
stable over the course of adulthood. According to Broderick and Blewitt (2015), the traits
conscientiousness and agreeableness tend to increase as people grow older.
Using the big five personality traits as a guide to determine not only my personality but
also my temperament, I would say that according to the research, I do not match the average case
examples from my early childhood to young adulthood. I believe this because of my family
dynamics growing up and going through young adulthood, I was still attempting to discover my
own self. The traits of conscientiousness and agreeableness, I believe was developed over the
most of my adulthood from life experiences and the will to be different from how I was raised.
A study by Zimmerman and Iwanski (2014), suggested emotion regulation develops in an
emotion-specific way in the life-span perspective (e.g., stability, growth, and decline). During the
periods of middle adolescence to emerging adulthood and middle adulthood, emotion regulation
strategies will continuously increase similar to the increasing supply of emotion regulation
(Zimmerman and Iwanski, 2014). This study used three emotions of sadness, fear, and anger
from the seven emotion regulation strategies to understand the emotion regulation from early
adolescence to emerging adulthood and middle adulthood (Zimmerman and Iwanski, 2014). This
study does not take into consideration a person’s environment or psychosocial status.
Family Life Cycle
The stages of the family life cycle are leaving home (single young adults), the joining of
families through marriage (new couple), families with young children, families with adolescents,
launching children and moving on, and families in later life (Broderick and Blewitt, 2015). The
family life cycle stage I am currently experiencing is launching children and moving on, which is
DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS 9
characterized as the emotional process of the children leaving home to attend college or move
out to begin their lives away from their parents. This time is also a time for parents’ rediscover
who each other is at this stage in their marriage, enjoy an adult relationship with their children,
reestablish forgotten relationships with others or grandchildren, and experiencing the loss of their
parents (Broderick and Blewitt, 2015).
My current family life cycle stage, transition, and tasks do differ from the defined
characteristics because my 26-year old daughter was diagnosed with a chronic disease at 19-
years old and has not been able to establish her own life outside of our family. Although, we do
enjoy very close bonds, close adult relationship with her; however, we as a family have worked
very hard to maintain boundaries, mutual respect of each other and our spaces. It is not easy,
especially when as her parents, we expected her to move forward with her own life, career,
marring, and beginning her own family, which did not happen. This changes life not only for her
but for us as well. We had to deal with the early deaths of my in-laws and my father several years
ago and my mother is the only parent currently living. One aspect does not address in the life
cycle stages is financial changes that may occur at any time during a life cycle stage. Even
though it may not seem like a important event, it can have a impact on any or all the life cycle
stages. This happened to us over a year ago and it was first time we had ever experience of
financial loss and it shuck us to the core. Fortunately, my husband found a job rather quickly and
the impact was minimized. This is not so for some that are living paycheck to paycheck, have
only one check or other issues that could impact their life cycle stage in a major way.
DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS 10
Culture, Religion and Well Being
Chapter 14, discussed culture, religion and well-being. The 2 concepts in this chapter I
find most meaningful to my own development are (1) psychological well-being and (2) self-
determination theory (Broderick and Blewitt, 2015). First, psychological well-being is defined as
the recognition of an individual’s sense of personal growth and potential (Broderick and Blewitt,
2015). There are six factor model of psychological well-being: autonomy, personal growth,
acceptance, life purpose, mastery, and positive relatedness. Attaining psychological well-being
may be achieved by a position of balance, which could be affected by both challenging and
satisfying life span. In my life the positive influences were my happy marriage, a stable financial
situation, and positive social group (Broderick and Blewitt, 2015). However, the negative
influences I experienced were the negative relationship with my alcoholic mother, no father in
my life, and family nonsupport system. Over the years of my adult life, I experienced autonomy,
personal growth, and positive relatedness as well as learning acceptance. I believe life purpose,
and mastery happens over a life span. I have learned to detach from my mother’s alcoholism and
behavior, accepted how I grew up and work through the process of understand how life purpose
and mastery occurs in one’s life span. This is not to say life is perfect and there are not events
that happen which cause emotional and mental stress, it happens. I have been able to learn how
to handle those situations better. Second concept is self-determination theory, which is defined as
a theory of human motivation and personality that refers to an individual’s fundamental growth
trends and psychological needs (Broderick and Blewitt, 2015). This self-determination lets
individuals’ feel they have control over their choices and lives. So, self-determination theory
suggests individuals are motivated to grow and change distinctive psychological wishes. There
are three inherent psychological needs: the need for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. This
DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS 11
means as individuals practice self-determination skills the more likely they are to in making
better decisions, which leads to independence and self-advocacy (Broderick and Blewitt, 2015).
My experience of self-determination was to survive. I had to work to strengthen and develop my
self-determination skills through trail and error, stressful and painful situations, and the
determination to be a better person than my mother. Although I have trust issues, I have
experienced strong, stable friendships over the years and the one’s that have not lasted or moved
on from, I learned lessons that I carry with me every day. Both concepts have helped me become
who I am today and hopefully the future me as well.
Ending Well
In chapter 14 and 15, these chapters provide a comprehensive overview of considerations
for end of life care and quality of life (Broderick and Blewitt, 2015). As we age, our bodies and
minds change. Most older adults experience the loss of family and friends as they age and
generally, deal with this process relatively well. In examining my own morality and how do I
anticipate my own dying process, is a difficult one. However, I believe that no matter how I die
or what is to come, I believe in Jesus Christ and know that I am saved and will join him with the
Father when the time comes. I do not worry about being sick or having health issues that may or
may not cause my death. It is out of my hands. I pray for a peaceful death in God’s time. Of
course, I pray for the benefit of a completely healthy, long and complete life, but I understand it
may not be reality.
My self-eulogy is not much; however, I feel it represents how I feel. It’s a song by a
Christian music group, Casting Crowns “Only Jesus (8/12/2018):
“And I, I don’t want
DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS 12
to leave a legacy,
I don’t care if
they remember me.
Only Jesus.
And I, I’ve got only
One life to live,
I’ll let every second
Point to Him,
Only Jesus . . .”
For me, this song says everything I hope my family and friends know about me. I have requested
to be cremated and my ashes spread out in the ocean. I do not want my love ones to visit a grave
or site, but look out upon the ocean knowing I am with Christ.
DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS 13
References
Broderick, P.C., & Blewitt, P. (2015). The life span: Human development for helping
professionals, 4th edition. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Education, Inc.
Knight, R., & Miller, J.M. (2017). Emerging adulthood: A developmental phase. The
Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 70:1, 5-7. doi: 10.1080/00797308.2017.1277117
Schwartz, S.J., Cote`, J.E., Arnett, J.J. (2005). Identity and agency in emerging adulthood: Two
developmental routes in the individualization process. Youth & Society, 37, 201-228.
doi: 10.1177/004118X05275965
Super, D.E. (1980). A lifespan, life-space approach to career development. Journal of Vocational
Behavior, 16, 282-298. doi: 0001-8791/80/030282-17$02.00/0
Zimmerman, P., & Iwanski, A. (2014). Emotion regulation from early adolescence to emerging
adulthood and middle adulthood: Age differences, gender differences, and emotion-
specific development variations. International Journal of Behavioral Development,
38(2), 182-194. doi: 10.1177/0165025413515405
