DEVELOPMENTAL ANALYSIS 2
Abstract
This paper will address my development throughout my young and middle adulthood and how it
relates to the developmental concepts discussed throughout this course. I will apply various
theories, terminology, and concepts of human growth and development by identifying my life
experiences as it relates to key human growth and development concepts.
Keywords: development, religion, adulthood, theories, attachment
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Developmental Analysis: Adulthood Assignment
Personal Introduction to Adulthood
If there were two words that describe me, I would say I am driven and resilient. Although
my childhood was relatively easy, my adulthood has not been as easy. However, the obstacles
and challenges that I have experienced have made me more determined and stronger. As a child
and teenager, I always had a passion for helping others, which carried over into my adulthood. I
attended college and majored in psychology with a minor in guidance counseling. I also worked
as a secretary at the campus chapel and was a certified tutor for students in remedial courses.
Studies have indicated that college was a contributing factor to substance abuse because students
tend to drink more alcohol, smoke more marijuana, and have an overall unhealthier lifestyle
(Broderick & Blewitt, 2020). However, college had the opposite effect on me. I never did any
drugs, and I blossomed into a hardworking, independent, active young woman.
After graduating from college, I received a position as a special education teacher. I also
enrolled in graduate school and received my master’s and education specialist degree in
education. I am so proud of myself for my accomplishments. It also made me pleased to know
that I made my parents proud. They did not graduate from college. However, they were very
active in my education throughout my childhood and were significant factors in my educational
success.
I went on to get married to my childhood friend, and we had one beautiful daughter. My
marriage was not easy by any means. It was actually quite stressful. After having my daughter, I
suffered an awful phase of depression that was debilitating. Despite the hardships in my marriage
and the post-partum depression I went through during my first two years as a mother, I adapted
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to those challenges. The ability to adjust to life’s stressors and trauma with resilience is vital to
survival at any stage of the human life span (Broderick & Blewitt, 2020).
Theoretical Perspectives of Development
Postformal Thought According to Perry
Some theorists suggest an extension of Piaget’s sequence of stages called postformal
thought. Postformal thought describes the changes in how we logically think about things later in
our adult years (Broderick & Blewitt, 2020). While in college, there was an evident shift in me
moving from dualism to relativism. With a combination of knowledge gained at school and
experiencing life autonomously without the dependency of my parents, I realized that the world
was not simply black or white, and everything did not necessarily have a right or wrong answer.
The period of dualism to relativism was such a critical time because I also came to understand
that all opinions were valid and that everyone was entitled to them. This was a difficult concept
for me to initially accept because not all opinions are politically correct and can somewhat be
offensive. Landrum (2012) addresses relativism as understanding the importance that knowledge
gained is all relative and that nothing is absolute. It is about what a person values and believes.
While in college, many courses required active engagement and classroom discussions. It was
through these discussions I began to transition from dualism to relativism. The stage of
relativism activated my critical thinking skills, which allowed me to explore other people’s
perceptions on various issues such as racism, capital punishment, pro-life or choice, etc. My new
analytic abilities allowed me to appreciate and respect diverse perspectives and find compelling
aspects in multiple points of view (Broderick & Blewitt, 2020).
Adult Attachment and Relationship
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Attachments are special and unique bonds (Broderick & Blewitt, 2020). Despite the lack
of care that we may need from our parents and caregivers, we still require emotional support and
intimacy as adults. According to Broderick & Blewitt (2020), there are three attachment
prototypes in peer/romantic tradition: avoidant, anxious, and secure. In avoidant attachment,
individuals find it difficult to build relationships with people. They often do not trust easily or at
all. Childhood maltreatment such as emotional abuse, physical abuse, and abandonment are
linked to avoidant attachment and relationship instability (Riggs et al., 2011). I had an amazing
childhood with loving family and friends. I believe that my connections to my loved ones have
made it effortless for me to form relationships with others. However, this does not mean that I
allow anyone to become close to me. Life has taught me that everyone does not have good
intentions and although I believe there is a form of good in everyone, I also believe that everyone
is not meant to be part of your life.
Anxious attachment individuals believe that others do not want to form relationships with
them. Often in the relationships, they have formed, they believe the person close to them does
not want to be there. In relationships, anxious attachment individuals tend to be very needy or
insecure. Insecurity can be a major culprit in the demise of any relationship. In children, you
often see when they are separated from their parents or caregiver, they may become very
distressed and angry (Riggs et al., 2011). When I was first left alone as a child, I can admit that I
was very anxious. However, each time my mother or father would leave, there was always
reassurance they would return. Over time, this increased my trust in them because I knew they
would never abandon me.
Secure attachment is what I most identify with as an adult. It is relatively easy to build
close bonds with people. I also do not worry about my loved ones abandoning me. Secure
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individuals have a confident sense of themselves, which is important in maintaining healthy
relationships with others. Throughout my adulthood, I have gained an understanding of how to
maintain closeness with my partners and friends but also have a sense of autonomy. Although
my ex-husband and I did not have a lasting marriage, I was not jaded by the experience because I
am secure within myself to know that I will find love again. I also have support from my family
and friends that keep me grounded.
Career Development Process: Super’s Approach
According to Super’s developmental approach and my age, I am at the establishment
stage of my work life. I have been in the field of education for 15 years and feel very much
established in my career. However, I think in the last two years, I have made ongoing
adjustments to improve my work situation by achieving more advanced status and seniority
(Broderick & Blewitt, 2020). After 13 years of being a classroom teacher, I decided to go back to
graduate school to obtain my education specialist degree in education. I then received a
promotion as an instructional and wellness coach. As stated before, I am highly driven and
resilient. To maintain this current stage, I am pursuing another degree in counseling to pursue my
passion as a school counselor. I am halfway through my career, and so I plan to pursue my
original passion, which is supporting students in achievement and social-emotional development.
Identity Development
Erickson’s psychosocial stages of development address becoming competent in an area of
life. If a stage is completed successfully, an individual will feel a sense of proficiency and can
live meaningful and fulfilled lives (Maree, 2021). According to each of the stages, I should
currently be in the Intimacy vs. Isolation stage, which is early and emerging adulthood. During
this stage, young adults seek to form trusting and close relationships that they can establish and
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maintain (Maree, 2021). Although I am only 37 years old, I believe that I have completed this
stage and entered the next stage, which is generativity vs. stagnation. During this stage,
individuals seek to care for other individuals other than themselves (Maree, 2021. Generally, this
is done by having children to feel that their love and care is returned. After my divorce three
years ago, I decided to fully focus on transitioning to a higher position in my career. Now that I
am a fairly new single mother, I want to be able to provide the best for my daughter so that she
can live a happy childhood as I did. I feel successful during this phase because I have become
more active not only at work but in the community. I currently volunteer as a crisis counselor,
which brings another sense of fulfillment. Those who feel they have not contributed to the world
in some way will feel unproductive in the world (Malone, 2016).
Personality and Temperament
Researchers concluded that the thousands of words referring to personality traits could be
reduced to five (Broderick & Blewitt, 2020). McCrae and Costa (1992) coined the Big 5 model
of personality traits which represent the most basic attributes of personality. These traits are
called neuroticism (N) or emotional stability, extraversion (E), openness (O), agreeableness (A),
and conscientiousness (C) (Broderick & Blewitt, 2020). My Big five personality test results are
as follows: 63% openness, 75% conscientiousness, 25% extraversion, 50% agreeableness, and
50% neuroticism. According to my scores, I scored the lowest in extraversion. I completely
agree with this. Extraverted individuals tend to be assertive, outgoing, and talkative, which I am
not (Broderick & Blewitt, 2020). I would consider myself highly introverted and reserved. Even
as a child, I was incredibly shy. Interestingly enough, I am in a profession that requires constant
communication with people. However, I am able to conceal many of my traits to get the job
done.
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My highest score was in the area of conscientiousness. My high score in this area
indicates that I am organized, hardworking, self-disciplined, efficient, detailed, and reliable
(Broderick & Blewitt, 2020). I am someone that prefers things that are planned out so that I can
prepare ahead of time. I tend to stress under pressure. However, I am able to get things
accomplished because I am highly driven. Individuals that score low in this area tend to be
absent-minded and not easily motivated to complete their work and duties (Short Big Five Test,
2022). This is the absolute complete opposite of me because I cannot accept incompleteness and
inefficiency.
Family Life Cycle
In every stage of the family life cycle, there are challenges that allow individuals to build
or gain new skills. The stages of the family life cycle are independence, coupling or marriage,
parenting: babies through adolescents, launching adult children, and retirement or senior years. I
am currently in the parenting stage of the family life cycle. As mentioned before, I am divorced
and a full-time single mother. Although my daughter’s father and I have joint custody of her, he
has major obligations at work that prevents him from seeing her as much as he would like.
Raising my daughter has not been an easy task. My parents are active in her life. However, they
are much older and cannot help as much as they would like. I am very grateful for all that they
do in her life. I have learned so much about myself as a mother and have gained so many skills,
including the skill of patience. My daughter is five years old and requires a lot of my attention,
and although motherhood is not easy, I love the person I am becoming, being her mother.
Culture, Religion, and Well Being
DEVELOPMENTAL ANALYSIS 9
There are multiple influences on well-being and happiness, such as personality,
relationships, achievement, values, and spirituality (Broderick & Blewitt, 2020). However, there
are different definitions of what represents happiness across cultures (Broderick & Blewitt,
2020). African American culture plays a significant role in who I am as an African American
woman. Culture is the characteristics and knowledge of a distinct group of people. As African
Americans, we have a rich history and an even more unique spirited culture. Instantly, when I
think of culture, I think of traditional African American celebrations such as Kwanzaa or
historical movements such as the Black Renaissance.
Our culture influences every aspect of our current lives and our roots. Our past plays a
significant role in culture. There is an African proverb called Sankofa, which means to “reach
back and fetch." I live by this proverb daily. It teaches us that whatever we have lost, forgotten,
or been stripped of can be reclaimed, revived, preserved, and perpetuated. In order for African
Americans to move forward, we have to remember our roots. The Lord commands, “Remember
your history, your long and rich history” (Isiah 46:9).
Ending Well
In late adulthood, the reality of death and loss is inevitable. In recent years, progress has
been made in understanding dying (Broderick & Blewitt, 2020). The course text discusses the
concept of good death and what it means. Everyone may have a different definition of what good
death is. For me, it means to die peacefully and among my loved ones. Nonetheless, it is
important to prepare for death because it is inescapable. In recent years, I have seen unfortunate
and unexpected deaths occur in families that were not financially prepared or did not have a
living will. Taking the proper steps to prepare for death will alleviate some of the burdens from
family and loved ones who will be responsible for services and other financial obligations.
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My eulogy would be as follows:
Today, we celebrate the homegoing of Karla Sharp, who was a loving mother, daughter, sister,
and friend. She did not want this to be a sad day but a day of celebration. Karla was loved by
many, and her heart was full and at peace. I will now read the following poem that her loved
ones have requested to hear.
When I come to the end of the road
And the sun has set for me
I want no rites in a gloom filled room
Why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little, but not for long
And not with your head bowed low
Remember the love that once we shared
Miss me, but let me go.
For this is a journey we all must take
And each must go alone.
It's all part of the master plan
A step on the road to home.
Janice Fair-Salters (2019)
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References
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Gateway.Mhttps://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah
%2046%3A9&version=NIV
Broderick, P. C., & Blewitt, P. (2020). The life span: Human development for helping
professionals (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Family life cycle. (2021).
MyHealth.Alberta.ca.Mhttps://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/Pages/conditions.aspx?
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Landrum, E. (2012). Perry's Scheme of Intellectual Development.
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development-in-early-adulthood/
Malone, J. C., Liu, S. R., Vaillant, G. E., Rentz, D. M., & Waldinger, R. J. (2016). Midlife
eriksonian psychosocial development: Setting the stage for late-life cognitive and
emotional health. Developmental Psychology, 52(3), 496-508.
https://doi.org/10.1037/a0039875
Maree, J. G. (2021). The psychosocial development theory of erik erikson: Critical overview.
Early Child Development and Care, 191(7-8), 1107-1121.
https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2020.1845163
McCrae, R. R. & John, O. T. (1992). An introduction to the five-factor model and its
applications.MJournal of Personality,M60, 175–215.
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Riggs, S. A., Cusimano, A. M., & Benson, K. M. (2011). Childhood emotional abuse and
attachment processes in the dyadic adjustment of dating couples. Journal of Counseling
Psychology, 58(1), 126-138. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0021319
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