Introduction
Child Development occurs when a child’s physical, emotional, intellectual, and social growth occurs. It begins before birth, continues throughout life, and culminates in adulthood.
The prenatal period is the time before a child is born. It begins with fertilization when the sperm and egg join to form a new life. In the earliest weeks of pregnancy, the developing baby’s organs start to grow. These organs include the brain, spinal cord, and heart (Wang & Wang, 2021). The first few months after birth are called the neonatal period. During this time, the baby’s body and brain grow rapidly. The baby’s skin becomes smooth and elastic. His or her hair begins to grow. The early childhood years are a time of rapid physical, emotional and intellectual growth for children. Children during this time learn to communicate and interact with others. They also develop motor skills, socialization, problem-solving, and creativity.
During elementary school, children continue to grow and learn. They develop skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and math. In middle school, they begin exploring their interests and talents. The teenage years are a time of great physical, emotional and intellectual growth for most children (Wang & Wang, 2021). During this time, they explore their passions and interests. They begin to form relationships and learn how to manage their emotions. Adolescence is a time of great physical, emotional and intellectual growth for most children. During this time, they explore their passions and interests. They begin to form relationships and learn how to manage their emotions.
The early stages of adult development, often referred to as the “coming of age” or “youthful” stage, span from approximate age 18 through 25. Middle adulthood, on the other hand, typically begins around age 26 and lasts until about 50(Li et al., 2022). I will use the ideas and theories of psychoanalysis, developmental psychology, and self-actualization to compare and contrast adult development’s early and middle stages. According to Freudian psychoanalysis, individuals are primarily concerned with establishing a secure attachment to someone or something during the early stage of development. This often leads to a search for self-identity as the individual begins understanding their strengths and weaknesses. As individuals age, they may begin to explore their sexuality and relationship with others.
The developmental psychology theory I will use to compare and contrast the early and middle stages of adult development is the Piagetian theory of cognitive development. According to Piaget, during the early stage of development, children are primarily concerned with understanding their physical environment and basic concepts such as quantity, size, and motion (Li et al., 2022). As they grow older, they develop more complex cognitive abilities, such as problem-solving and abstract thinking. The self-actualization theory that I will be using to compare and contrast the early and middle stages of adult development is developed by Maslow. According to Maslow, during the early stage of development, individuals primarily need to achieve self-esteem and self-actualization. As they grow older, they may seek other forms of fulfillment, such as being a good parent or having a successful career. Each person will differ in their level of self-actualization, and there is no one right way to achieve it.
The main similarity between the early and middle stages of adult development is that both are transition periods in which individuals explore new roles and identity options. A certain level of uncertainty and flux also characterizes both stages. Also, both stages are marked by a growing awareness of self and the world around them. For example, during the early stage of adult development, individuals still learn about themselves and their capabilities (Li et al., 2022). This can be seen in their exploration of new interests and activities and their attempts to establish personal relationships. As they continue developing, they become more confident and can take on new challenges. Meanwhile, during the middle stage of adult development, individuals begin to establish themselves in their careers and families. They may also start exploring their spiritual side and thinking more broadly about what it means to be human.
The sandwich generation is people caring for their aging parents while supporting their children. This can be complex and challenging for people as they are pulled in many different directions (Patrick et al., 2022). Some of the challenges that members of the sandwich generation face include the following:
- Juggling work and home responsibilities
- Feeling overwhelmed and stressed out
- Feeling like they do not have enough time for themselves
- Feeling like they are constantly running between two worlds
This semester, I have learned about various theorists who have insights into the challenges that members of the sandwich generation face. For example, Erikson states that the sandwich generation’s challenges result from generational and individual pressures (Orenstein & Lewis, 2021). Jung believes there are two types of shadowing- one is a positive type, where we take on the responsibilities and burdens of others, and the other is a negative type, where we take on the negative aspects of our parents. He believes that both shadowing types play an important role in shaping who we are as individuals.
From Erikson’s theory, one piece of advice for the sandwich generation is to create and maintain close ties with other adults who can provide support. This could be a partner, friend, or family member. This will allow the individual to tap into a network of support and help them manage their stress levels (Orenstein & Lewis, 2021). Additionally, it is essential for individuals to find an activity that they enjoy and can devote time to. This can remove some of the burdens associated with sandwich generation. Entering late adulthood tends to have pros in terms of physical, psychosocial, and cognitive development. Physical development: As people age, their bodies naturally start to decline. However, with proper nutrition and exercise, entering late adulthood can help to maintain a healthy body composition (Patrick et al., 2022). Additionally, because many people in late adulthood are more engaged in their lives and have more energy, staying active can help to keep one’s body strong and healthy.
Psychosocial development: Late adulthood can be when people are more engaged in their lives, leading to increased happiness and satisfaction (Blieszner & Ogletree, 2018). Additionally, late adulthood can be a time when people are more likely to find fulfillment in their work and personal relationships. Cognitive development: Late adulthood is often seen as a time of increased cognitive flexibility and intelligence. This is because late adulthood typically marks the end of peak performance in many areas, such as memory recall and problem-solving abilities. As people age, they must continue learning new information and skills to maintain their cognitive abilities well into old age (Blieszner & Ogletree, 2018). Entering late adulthood can help to facilitate this process. Overall, entering late adulthood can be a positive physical, psychosocial and cognitive development.
However, there are also some potential challenges that people may face during late adulthood. For example, in psychosocial development, some people may experience decreased social engagement as they age (Blieszner & Ogletree, 2018). Additionally, late adulthood can be a time of increased risk for chronic health conditions such as obesity and diabetes, which can be challenging to manage. For cognitive development, challenges in late adulthood may include an increased risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Kübler-Ross’s stages of grief are widely known as the “five stages of grief.” They are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. The strengths of Kubler-Ross’s approach include that it is standard and well-known, is easy to understand, and provides a framework for understanding how people process grief (Wang & Wang, 2021). For instance, the five stages are broadly related to how people typically process emotions and are relatively universal. Additionally, the stages provide a structure for thinking about how someone feels at any given moment. However, there are some weaknesses to Kubler-Ross’s approach. For example, the stages may not always be linear. Additionally, the stages can be challenging to move through sequentially or in a specific order (Wang & Wang, 2021). Finally, the stages are often viewed as static rather than dynamic. That is, people do not always consistently move through the stages. Instead, they may move through the stages in different ways at different points in time. In other words, one person’s experience of grief may be quite different from another person’s experience of grief. Overall, Kubler-Ross’s approach is widely accepted and valuable, but some weaknesses should be considered when using the stages.
Conclusion
I am currently in the middle stage of my development. Among the developmental activities I have done are studying for and passing the MCAT, finishing undergraduate degrees, Putting together a good résumé and cover letter, Interviewing for and being accepted into a medical residency program Participating in many residencies, and contributing to the development of new residency curriculum Some of the ongoing problems I confront include: continuous rivalry for residency spots, Managing many responsibilities, such as keeping up a rapid pace of learning and research, working full-time, and participating in social activities – Juggling long hours and tight deadlines. I do look forward to aging because it means I will get to see more of the world. As we age, our memories become better, and we learn more. We can also be proud of our accomplishments at a later age.
References
Blieszner, R., & Ogletree, A. M. (2018). Close relationships in middle and late adulthood.
Li, Y., Gu, J., Zhao, K., & Fu, X. (2022). Developmental trajectory of time perception from childhood to adolescence. Current Psychology, 1-11.
Orenstein, G. A., & Lewis, L. (2021). Eriksons stages of psychosocial development. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing.
Patrick, J. H., Bernstein, L. E., Spaulding, A., Dominguez, B. E., & Pullen, C. E. (2022). Grandchildren as Caregivers: Adding a New Layer to the Sandwich Generation. The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 00914150221106726.
Wang, R. R., & Wang, Y. H. (2021). Using the Kübler-Ross model of grief with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): An analysis of Manchester by the sea. Metathesis: Journal of English Language, Literature, and Teaching, 5(1), 79-92.
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