Developmental theories
Instructions:-
Case Study Analysis: Adulthood
For this assignment, you will complete an analysis of a case study that deals with one of the following stages of lifespan development: middle adulthood or later adulthood.
Select one of the following case studies from your Broderick and Blewitt textbook to complete an analysis of the developmental and contextual issues related to the selected case:
- David, page 554.
- Lupe, page 524.
Each of the case studies includes a set of questions that can guide your analysis of the pertinent issues for the particular case.
Expectations
Address the following in your case study analysis:
- Analyze lifespan development theories to determine the most appropriate theory or theories to apply to the case study.
- Apply the appropriate lifespan development theory to support an identified intervention process.
- Describe the potential impact of individual and cultural differences on development for the current age and context described in the case study.
- Write in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for graduate-level composition and expression.
Content
The case study analysis should be a maximum of 5 pages in length, including the introduction and conclusion, each of which should be approximately a half page in length. The body of the paper should not exceed 4 pages.
Provide the following content in your paper:
- An introduction that includes an overview of the paper contents, including a brief summary and background information regarding the case study.
- The body of the case study, including:
- The presenting challenge or challenges and primary issue or issues.
- The appropriate lifespan development theory and research-based alternatives that explain the presenting challenges.
- The potential impact of individual and cultural differences on development for the current age and context described in the case study.
- Evidence-based support from lifespan development theory and current scholarly research to support appropriate interventions.
- A conclusion that summarizes what was introduced in the body of the paper, with respect to the case study context, challenges, and interventions.
Requirements
Submit a professional document, in APA style, that includes the following required elements identified with headings and subheadings:
- Title page.
- Introduction (half page).
- Case study analysis (4 pages).
- Conclusion (half page).
- Reference page: Include a minimum of 5 scholarly resources from current peer-reviewed journals as references, in addition to referencing the textbook in which the case study is embedded.
- Font: Times New Roman, 12 point
Solution
Developmental theories
Introduction
The case study of a 52 years old male who is white by the name David is founded on psychological concerns. The assignment tends to discuss the problems and challenges which David face as he tries to make things right. The paper also argues out the main concepts that David encounters as it is described in the case study. The case study discusses mainly on the issues which David comes across in his life, and the matters range from the matters in the family where his first wife divorce him, fiscal problems which have affected the schooling of his children and one of his twins has a learning disability (Broderick, & Blewitt, 2015). The assignment also resides on the theories of development and investigation established options which attempt to clarify the encounters in the case study. Additionally, possible effects of people and differences in the culture on the growth for present age and situation in the case study which is under discussion are also explained in this paper. Finally, the paper discusses evidence-centered backing derived from the theory of lifespan.
Primary Issues and presents problems challenges
There are many problems that David faces in his life. David had divorced his first wife yet they had three children. The problem of divorce appears to have impacted the growth and development of his children whereby they are required to live without their father and stay with only their mother. Since there are financial difficulties, the three children are even dropping out of college since they do not have school fees for them to continue to learn. The case study shows that the older children had begun schooling in college, but they dropped out temporarily because of financial problems. His children dropped out of school because the wife to David is a preschool teacher where she works, and the payment is not as well, so she is not in a position to support the education of her children.
The circumstances in David’s life make him stressful, and he understands that he is responsible for supporting the education of his children. He has been supporting his children’s education by paying their tuition fees although he has been using his little income which he earns from the job he is currently working. However, there is no doubt that his children are experiencing major developmental challenges because they do not have their father around to show them fatherly love and care.
Additionally, David then married a second wife with twin boys. They stay in a modest and new home in a place which is located on the borders of the state center. The fact that David I living with his second wife meaning that he has not offered support to his three children who are with his divorced wife at their home. His concerns are more to his second wife and the twins than they are to his divorced wife and the three children. Nevertheless, one of the twins has a learning disability which is a serious issue (Broderick, & Blewitt, 2015). The child requires extra tutoring and also extra support which both parents have an obligation to offer. The reason why the parents are required to offer extra support is that the child has to keep up with other children in school on his academics. The child with learning disability makes David have the challenge of having more time with the boy although his second wife also works as a part timer so that she may also spend time with her son. The learning disability of the boy requires his parent to give his parental attention and more care so as he may have a healthy development. His mother has to work as a part timer so as to ensure that he is close to her son. Sandy, the mother of the twins, also seeks for help from her widowed mother who lives nearby for her to take care of the twins on a steady basis. Therefore, David is forced to pay more attention to the family of his second wife more than the family of his divorced wife because of the situation of the boy with learning disability. The other challenge which David encounters is the difficulty of his job.
The hospital that David is employed requires much processing which is more complicated for him to keep up. The issue of processing more information which comprises progressive computer technology which makes David’s work more complex. It means that David’s time to be with his children may be limited which makes his wife have more work in attending to the children. The challenge of time with his family seems to have started because the paperwork has increased and the deadlines are reduced in the office. Also, there is a possibility of David becoming a supervisor because the present supervisor will retire soon (Broderick, & Blewitt, 2015).
David is forced to spend his weekends going to work in the office so that he may complete his job. The likelihood of spending more time with his children as before may not be possible as David used to do. It is so unfortunate that the situation in work has made the relationship between David and his wife to have problems. David feels that the paperwork in the office necessitates is not significant in techniques that are vital to him. The lower back pain had also begun which is mostly linked to the accident in the traffic which occurred when he was at his young age. He has also developed a behavior of taking alcohol to assist him to calm down.
Presents Problems Challenges and Primary Issues
The problems which David faces and his children are elaborated clearly by the attachment theory. The argument, in theory, shows that relationships are made by two individuals. Interactions are also essential for the development of human beings. The most significant form of association in people’s development is the relationship between a parent and a child. Nonetheless, David has no option, but he has to ensure that he spends time with all his children no matter the situation at work. Although he is very engaged at work and he is required to meet the deadlines, he also supposed to consider his children and create time for them. When the parents are not giving enough care to their children, they may be affected in future and also during their developmental stages.
Impact of Individual and Cultural Differences on Development
The impact of a person and cultural differences on development is crucial in evaluating issues of development. A person’s behavior is likely to affect the habit of a given child (Worthman, 2010). For instance, if a parent engages in drugs or alcohol, the possibility of a child also taking alcohol is very high. Therefore, a culture which involves itself in encouraging sound principles and having a proper rising of children has a high likelihood to influence young people in a positive way to live peaceful and happy life. According to this case study, David has already divorced his first wife, and he is not responsible for taking care of his three children because he has a second wife. It is so unlucky that his children may end up having the same behavior as their father in future because more children see their parents as their role models. The children may also have a negative attitude because their father never has time for them and he is also not concerned with what go on in their life.
Lifespan theory employs the key chronological and ontogenesis unfolding of people’s development. Studies show that lifespan theory comprises of both the changes in size and change in differentiation and complexity of the function. This theory indicates how individuals change their behavior eventually. As the age increases, the behavior of human beings changes as well (Adams, 2014).
Conclusion
Conclusively,
David has encountered many challenges in
his life starting from the issue of divorce with his first wife to the matter
of finances. Moreover, one of the twins has a learning disability which forces
David to spend more time with him and also pay more money for tuition for the
child to keep up with others in school. It is
explained in lifespan theory the chronological alters that individuals
go through as they develop. They may develop positively and negatively
depending on the impacts around a person.
References
Adams, M. (2014). Human development and existential counselling psychology. Counselling Psychology Review, 29(2), 34–42. Retrieved from https://tcsedsystem.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=psyh&AN=2014-33617-005&site=ehost-live%[email protected]
Broderick, P. C., & Blewitt, P. (2015). The life span: Human development for helping professionals (4th ed.).
Kail, R. V., & Cavanaugh, J. C. (2015). Human development: A life-span view. Cengage Learning.
Kreppner, K., & Lerner, R. M. (Eds.). (2013). Family systems and life-span development. Psychology Press.
Sigelman, C. K., & Rider, E. A. (2014). Life-span human development. Cengage Learning.
Worthman, C. M. (2010). The Ecology of Human Development: Evolving Models for Cultural Psychology. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 41(4), 546–562. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022110362627