Lifespan Development Report

Words: 1208
Pages: 5

INTRODUCTION Developmental Psychology enables individuals to critically examine personal experiences. The application of development theories to single experiences can effectively increase one’s understanding of how their cognitive, emotional and physical development is impacted positively and negatively during their lifespan. Moreover the ability to correctly utilize the perspectives provided by different developmental theories enables one to critically assess their actions and determine whether to modify their existing behavioural patterns that were produced as a result of past life experiences. Lifespan developmentalists postulate that behavioural patterns are consistently modified. The In turn, the behaviour modifications create opportunities …show more content…
Therefore, the generally accepted notion of lifespan development is that it is a continuous process, ‘beginning in the womb and ending in the tomb’. This paper will present an autobiographical account of an experience during the author’s childhood from which the Social-Cognitive Learning Theory and the Psychosocial Theory will be applied to the experience. The application of both theories will serve to create a discourse as to how the perception of the situation is altered to reflect the perspective of each theory. Additionally, a visual aid (see Appendix) offering 8 images will act as a symbolic representation of the following: the four images appearing at the top right of the page are representative of the author’s childhood; the remaining images are representative of how the author would like her children to experience childhood. Moreover, this paper will affirm how one’s behaviour is directly and indirectly shaped by and determined from the following: the influence of behavioural reinforcement both direct and indirect; the influence of parenting styles; and how an awareness of the correlation between the experience, present behaviour and future behaviour can be used as a guide to exhibiting a more positive approach …show more content…
With reference to my experience, the direct interaction between my mother and myself produced many negative effects. When I approached my mother to confide in her and seek her opinion about a sensitive matter, with as much tact as a 6 year old could muster, her direct response included physical and verbal retaliation. Consequently her response directly reinforced the following: invalidation of my opinion; creation of guilt regarding my actions; and apprehension to express future opinions and thoughts. Rather than fostering a relationship built on respect and trust while encouraging open dialogue between us, my mother’s actions created an environment where psychological maltreatment reinforced the belief that I was an individual who was incompetent, untrustworthy and undeserving of love. Therefore, I began modifying my behaviour in order to avoid future altercations with my mother. Unfortunately, these behaviour modifications included continuous lying to friends, school personal and others in order to