PSY 211 Project One Template
Amber Breckner
Professor Megan McLaughlin
12/8/2024
Use this template to complete your case study analysis. Answer each question with a minimum of 3 to 5
sentences. Support your answers with credible sources when appropriate. Complete this template by
replacing the bracketed text with the relevant information.
1. Describe the ways in which Piaget’s research applies to Kelly’s development.
Based on Piaget’s findings currently, Kelly is in the concrete operational stage of her cognitive
development. This stage is decided by her ability to think clearly about concrete objects
(Sigelman & Rider, pg. 47, 2017). This means she can understand conversation and logical
reasoning as well as she is also able to categorize items and think logically.
2. Describe the ways in which Vygotsky’s research applies to Kelly’s development.
Based on Vygotsky’s findings, Kelly’s growth and her learning are influenced by interacting with
others. This means that she can gain some understanding and skills from an individual who has
more experience (Sigelman & Rider, pg. 208, 2017). Additionally, this suggests that she can
change her actions based on the feedback she gets from others.
3. Identify factors that could have influenced Kelly’s physical well-being during the prenatal, birth,
and early childhood stages of development.
A mother’s health during her pregnancy including her nutritional habits, any kind of exposure to
bad things like toxins, her healthcare, and the kind of parenting she receives are all important
elements (Griffins, 2012). Also, both genetics and epigenetics elements can play a role in one’s
physical development. These elements can affect a child’s physical and mental health which will
influence their growth into adulthood.
4. Identify factors that could have influenced Kelly’s cognitive well-being during the prenatal,
birth, and early childhood stages of development.
A child’s cognitive development is shaped by many different factors. This includes a child’s
nutrition, genetics, healthcare, environment, and parenting styles. Also, a child’s social
interactions play a big part in shaping cognitive health during prenatal, the birth, and early
childhood.
5. Identify factors that could have influenced Kelly’s psychosocial well-being during the early and
middle childhood stages of development.
Kelly’s experiences are influenced by the type of relationship she has with her parents, the
family’s financial situation, and being able to afford healthcare for her anxiety and depression
that she now experiences after the loss of a sibling from addiction. Childhood trauma can affect
an individual throughout their life.
6. Evaluate the sociocultural factors that could contribute to Kelly’s maladaptive behavior.
Kelly’s limited access to resources and social support and her addiction have created an
environment where she feels lonely and unable to seek the help she needs. This lack of support
that she receives has magnified her feelings of grief and pain leading to her maladaptive
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behavior. For example, the lack of trust that she has for others where she feels she cannot
confide in others may have led her to experience a sense of helplessness and hopelessness. This
type of loneliness may have pushed her towards unhealthy coping strategies.
7. Explain why it is important to consider the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial factors in
combination (versus separately) throughout the life span when evaluating an individual’s well-
being.
An individual’s overall health can influence a mix of physical, cognitive, and psychosocial factors
which all play a role in a person's well-being. These factors can interact throughout a person’s
life affecting their overall wellness. For example, a person’s physical foundation such as their
diet and if they exercise can influence their mental health.
8. Describe the research or theory that best explains Kelly’s behavior. Explain your response.
I believe that the Bronfenbrenner biopsychosocial model provides awareness in how Kelly’s
behavior could be influenced by her environment. According to this model, her behavior can be
affected by one’s social, psychological, and biological factors. To support herself, she will need
to acknowledge and address these factors. This will require her to fully evaluate her
environment and what factors may be affecting her behavior.
Resources
Sigelman, C.K., & Rider, E.A. (2017). Life-Span Human Development (9th ed.). Cengage Learning
US. https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9781337516068
Griffins, C. (2012, Feburary 23). Epigenetics and the influence of our genes | tedxou. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTBg6hqueTg
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