Category: Adulthood

Human development is mapped out throughout the lifespan. The life stage of ‘Middle Adulthood’ is used to explain individuals aged 40-65 years (Hoffnung et al 2016). This stage of middle adulthood in human development is characterized by aging changes in the body, with cognitive processes involving fluid intelligence decreasing while crystallized intelligence remains. Family and friend relationships evolve with those with children experiencing transitions of roles and responsibilities. All these changes mean that the body becomes more prone to illness and disease, with coronary heart disease acting as a leading cause of death for those aged 40-65 (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2018). This disease has many life-changing impacts on those it affects, with adults having to transform their old unhealthy lifestyles into a new normal. Both Erikon’s psychoanalytic theory and Wilson’s sociobiological theory can be used to explain the prevalence of coronary heart disease in middle adulthood, with each theory having benefits and limits in doing so. Diversity and variation are seen in gender and ethnicity, with coronary heart disease impacting primarily males rather than females, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders than non-Indigenous Australians.

The life stage of ‘Middle Adulthood encompasses various changes with biological, psychological, and social changes, particularly apparent during this stage. Biological changes accompany this stage in the form of primary and secondary aging, leading to the rise of possible risk factors and the prevalence of chronic disease (Valentine-French, S. & Lally 2019). Primary aging involves tissue and muscle degradation, cardiac functioning, and decreasing of respiratory and sensory abilities [hearing and vision] (Boundless Psychology 2015)

Morbidity and mortality rates increase during middle adulthood, thus an emphasis is placed on maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle (Villarreal & Heckhausen 2015). A decline in fertility is apparent with reproductive capacity and sexual decreases experienced (Fernandez 2010). The deterioration of the prostate is experienced by men, while menopause is experienced by women. Additionally. psychological changes refer to cognitive thinking processes and problem-solving. Cognitive processes slow down during this life stage, with fluid intelligence which involves basic-information processing skills declining during middle adulthood (Boundless Psychology n.d, Vinney 2019). On the other hand, crystallized intelligence increases, which involves “the ability to use the knowledge that was previously acquired through education and experience” (Vinney 2019). It is important to engage in mentally and physically stimulating activities which results in “less cognitive decline in later adult years and have a reduced incidence of mild cognitive impairment and dementia” (Hertzog, Kramer, Wilson, & Lindenberger 2009). During this time, many adults are focused on a particular field of employment, thus their knowledge and intelligence reflect their employment and working life (Hoffnung et al 2016). Burnout can be experienced by individuals during this stage, which refers to “disillusionment and exhaustion on the job that may result from stress caused by multiple role commitments, discrimination based on ethnicity, gender or other factors” (Hoffnung et al 2016, p566). The social changes that occur during middle adulthood surround the impact of marriage and divorce and changes in family relationships and structures (Fernandez 2019). Aging adults undergo personal growth and change with family relations shifting as children become less reliant on their parents. This can lead to feelings of isolation, loneliness, loss, and guilt as a result, yet this provides an opportunity for renewed independence and identity in a newfound freedom.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a prime health issue experienced by those in middle adulthood with it being the first leading cause of death for those aged 45-64 (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2018, p3). The prevalence of coronary heart disease increases with age as “five percent of Australians aged 55-64 reporting a long-term CHD condition” (The Heart Foundation 2014). It is the leading cause of death for males (13%) and 10% for females (AIHW 2018). Coronary heart disease occurs when the arteries become narrow and clogged due to plaque build-up, which reduces blood flow to the heart. Further, this plague can create a crack on the surface of the arteries, resulting in blood cells clotting in an attempt to seal the gap in the artery. Pain and discomfort experienced as a result of narrow arteries that limit the blood flow to the heart is referred to as angina. Angina caused by blocked coronary arteries happens abruptly and becomes worse gradually, indicating a higher risk of heart attack (The Heart Foundation 2019). A heart attack occurs as a result of blood clotting that blocks the flow of blood, or due to a reduced flow of blood to the heart muscle due to narrow arteries (Heath Direct 2017). Individuals in the middle adulthood age group are more prone and have a higher chance of developing this disease (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2018). Nonmodifiable factors that are unchangeable contribute to the development of this disease, including family history, gender, ethnic background, and age. Modifiable factors that are changeable, include are mostly lifestyle choices including smoking, high blood pressure/cholesterol [hypertension], diabetes, being inactive, obesity or being overweight and social isolation (The Heart Foundation 2019). The prevalence of modifiable risk factors rises with age, which increases the likelihood of individuals in the 40-65 age bracket developing coronary heart disease. For example, “the proportion of people with hypertension tripled from age 35-44 years (4.2%) to 45-54 years (12.9%)” (AIHW 2018). Additionally, “The population of smokers is aging and the majority (57%) of daily smokers in 2016 were aged 40 and over” (AIHW 2018). As those in the life stage of middle adulthood are most likely to be impacted by this health issue, their lives can radically change as a result of living with this heart condition. There is a link between anxiety, depression, and CHD (Beyond Blue 2014), with mental health linked to unhealthy coping mechanisms that can contribute to an unhealthy lifestyle. Further, this hinders lifestyle changes required to recover and permeates the motivation required to create change. Coronary heart disease inhibits one’s participation in daily life, preventing one from engaging in regular activities that could induce heart pain and pressure caused by angina. This can affect relationships with family and friends which is important for individuals in this life stage. For example, individuals in the life stage can become grandparents yet having CHD would limit their ability to enjoy and participate in activities with grandchildren. This can result in a change of attitude towards life in having to transition into a modified life, with feelings of hopelessness, uncertainty, desperation, a sense of vulnerability, and pessimism becoming a result (Najafi Ghezeljeh et al 2014). In addition, the absence of physically stimulating activities can increase cognitive aging, having a domino effect on an individual’s health, and halting positive development required that increase overall well-being through the final stages of life (Gilbert 2017).

Theories to explain coronary heart disease in middle adulthood:

Erik Erikson’s ‘Psychosocial theory’ addresses human development through “infancy to late adulthood on the basis of biologically and culturally determined timing” (Cheng 2009). Throughout this process, the ego/self is developed with each stage in the lifespan involving a crisis in personality that is important at that particular time in maturation that must be resolved for healthy ego development (Fernandez 2016 p28). Conflicting and competing positive and negative tendencies. The resolution of ego conflicts is essential in an individual’s development as the “resolution of later crisis/conflicts depends on the outcome reached in previous stages” (Malone et al 2016). Virtue is the successful outcome of the stage in development (Fernandez 2016). According to Erikson, the life stage of middle adulthood involves the competing tendencies of ‘generativity vs stagnation’ (Cherry 2019). In this, individuals are “concerned for establishing and guiding the next generation” (Malone et al, 2016). The struggle between the need to feel a sense of accomplishment in their actions toward society and a sense of failing to contribute to society is experienced during this stage (Cherry 2019). Generativity refers to a sense of meaning and purpose that one creates “through creating or nurturing things that will outlast an individual” (McLeod 2018). Generativity has a considerable effect as it “forms the foundation for a sense of completeness and coherence in old age” (Cheng 2009) and “promotes psychological well-being” (Adams & Logan 2004). The resolution of these two consequences can have substantial effects on the quality of life for the adult. In addition, this stage is significant acting as a turning point in determining one’s influence and mortality, “Mature adult is concerned with establishing and guiding the next generation or else feels personal impoverishment” (Boundless Psychology n.d). Stagnation refers to limited growth and feeling unproductive, meaningless, despite. According to Lally & Valentine-French (2019), “not feeling needed or challenged may result in stagnation, and consequently one should not fully withdraw from generative tasks as they enter Erikson’s last stage in late adulthood”. The resolution of this crisis results in the renewed virtue that is the successful outcome of the stage in development, which is care (Malone et al 2016). In this, the focus is shifted concentrated on “take care of the persons, the products, and the ideas one has learned to care for” (Erikson, 1982, p. 67). This is useful in explaining the impact of coronary heart disease on individuals in middle adulthood as care in the physical sense and emotional dimensions are important in averting the possibility of developing coronary heart disease. While this can be interpreted in this way, the theory specifically focuses on the psychological aspects that occur throughout the development during the lifespan. Due to this, the biological changes that occur are not focused on, with social and cultural influences and development being the main focus. When generativity acts as the resolution, this can influence the way that the individual treats and looks after their body, as they believe they are needed and important to others.

The sociocultural/evolutionary theory proposed by E.O. Wilson “explores how human behavior is influenced by underlying biological and genetic characteristics as well as cultural learning” (Johnson 2008). In this, humans are explained through the conjunction of biology/genetics and sociocultural environments, with “places a great deal of weight on the environment to which a person must adapt” (Liebermann 2007). By understanding the interactions between one’s biology and the environment, one can see how certain behaviors are developed (Driscoll 2018). This theory is useful in reference to coronary heart disease that is experienced during middle adulthood, as the disease is largely the result of genetic dispositions and its interactions and decisions made within the environment. In following this theory, it can be said that our biological imprints guide the physical processes that enable positive health and well-being. The body’s aversion to certain bad lifestyle choices has evolved to protect the heart from toxic substances (Hoffnung et al 2016). The reaction of the heart, particularly seen during angina, signals of what the body requires and does not require to function properly. Further, the capacity of the physical body at this life stage means that maintaining a high level of health is essential for survival, as the body is not able to handle such high levels of unhealthy substances.

Additionally, this theory is valid when looking at the interactions between physical and social factors that both contribute to the outcome of health issues, with genes acting as the basis of human behavior. However, the prime focus on genes and biology as the basis of behavior undermines the influence of social interferences on health outcomes (Fernandez 2016). While coronary heart disease in middle adulthood can be the result of genetic predispositions and family history, it is also largely the result of bad lifestyle habits. When looking at explaining coronary heart disease, it is evident of the primary risk factors including lifestyle, diet, high blood pressure, obesity, and smoking, are a result of external life choices and behaviors (The Heart Foundation 2019). The various social influences and certain upbringings in a social environment can create a foundation for one’s knowledge of nutrition and health (Driscoll 2018). The complexity of social influence that regulates some behaviors is not fully recognized.

Diversity is apparent when looking at the prevalence of coronary heart disease in middle adulthood. In particular, when referring to gender and ethnicity, distinct gaps are visible. Generally, it is apparent that “men are more likely to get sick from serious health problems than Australian women” (Better Health 2018). This can be due to physiological influences; genes, hormones, and anatomy (Better Health 2018). These health outcomes are also largely the result of socially constructed behavioral expectations, with men more likely to participate in risk-taking behaviors: including smoking, alcohol consumption, and unhealthy lifestyles. The combination of these factors results in higher rates of disease, as experienced by males. When looking at gender in the context of CHD, there is a higher prevalence of coronary heart disease experienced by males than females. The disease is responsible for 13% of deaths in males and 10% in females. The majority of patients admitted health expenditure is spent on males, who cover 70% of total patient expenditure in this area. According to Fodor & Tzerevska (2004), “Men develop CHD approximately 10 to 15 years earlier than women”. Men experience higher rates of the various modifiable risks which lead to coronary heart disease. Males have higher rates of smoking tobacco than women, with those aged 40–49 being the age group most likely to smoke daily (16.9%) (Australian Institute of Health 2018). Men have higher rates of obesity and being overweight than women, with a “higher prevalence of abdominal obesity in men increasing their risk for CHD” (Fodor & Tzerevska 2004). Further, men have a higher rate of type 2 diabetes than women, specifically from ages 45 onwards (Australian Institute of Health 2018). All of these modifiable risk factors result in the development of coronary heart disease. It is further evidence that during middle adulthood, individuals are more likely to develop various health problems that contribute to the onset of coronary heart disease.

It is apparent that there is a distinction between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and non-Indigenous Australians when looking at the prevalence of coronary heart disease. According to AIHW (2019), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders experience higher rates of hospitalization due to coronary heart disease as compared to other Australians. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders were substantially more likely to suffer from heart attacks “ to die from it without being admitted to hospital, and to die from it if admitted to hospital” compared with other Australians. Further, nearly half of the individuals in middle adulthood experience cardiovascular disease as “around four in ten (42%) of those aged 55 years and over” experience CVD, with coronary heart disease being the leading cause of death (Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet 2019, p9-10). Indigenous Australians have 3 times the rate of major coronary events such as heart attacks (AIHW 2018). This is the result of the normality of the risk factors that result in coronary heart disease, particularly smoking, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and cholesterol (Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet 2019). Additionally, the lack of quality health care received by Indigenous peoples contributes to the higher rates of death caused by coronary heart disease. Coronary heart disease requires intense care to manage and reduce symptoms, however Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are less likely to receive necessary clinical care than non-Indigenous people (Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet 2019). This reflects larger gaps in inequality regarding health care received by Indigenous Australians.

In reference to Erikson’s model of psychosocial development, the life stage of ‘Middle Adulthood’ is used to explain individuals aged 40-65 years (Hoffnung et al 2016). There is a “high degree of variability within age periods, in terms of health, well-being, and functioning” (Lachman, Margie E et al). During the life stage of Middle Adulthood, coronary heart disease is one of the main health issues and one of the highest killers for adults. Through the use of Erikson’s psychosocial theory and evolutionary theory in relation to the impact of coronary heart disease on individuals in middle adulthood. Diversity regarding coronary heart disease in middle adulthood varies, in particular, gender and ethnicity reveal disproportional experiences.

In To Kill a Mockingbird, children live in a creative world full of mysteries, but nothing can hurt them. Scout and Jem spent a lot of time making up stories about their lonely neighbor Bu Radley, and they were ecstatic before finding the safety and comfort of their father Atticus. However, as the novel unfolds, compared with the real dangers Jim and Scott encounter in the adult world, the imaginary threat posed by Bu Radley appears pale and weak. The sibling’s awareness of the differences between the two pushed them from childhood to adulthood, and when they made this transition, the childhood villain Bradley connected their past and life together.

The games and stories of Jem and Scout surrounding Boo Radley describe him as a source of violence and danger. However, while these inventions appear to be designed to show the bravery and maturity of children, they paradoxically show that Jim, Scout, and their friend Dier are still primarily children. Their stories are creepy and the thrill of their games, like touching the side of Boo’s house, comes from their imagination of the dangers they will face if Boo catches them. However, children can indulge in crazy imaginations and take on things they consider risky because they feel completely safe in Atticus’s care, and Atticus protects them from the dark and dangerous world. Thus, the menacing Boo is still firmly rooted in his childhood worldview, and adults are infallible. When the adult protection in the novel is broken, Jim and Scout first realize the real danger, which is different from the danger they imagined for Bradley.

The Miss Modi fire, the tragic death of Mrs. Dupos, and the violence and upheaval after the Tom Robinson case brought real pain and anxiety into their lives. Adults feel scared and sad for their children for the first time, so they cannot hope to provide them with safety or shelter. Boo Radley used to be such a sinister existence, but now it appears to be a relic from a more innocent era. The contrast between then and now seems more stark, because Bradley still exists in their lives, constantly reminding them of the previous situation. Faced with real danger, Jim and Scout must use their new maturity to deal with tragedies, new social challenges, and growing family expectations. As her relationship with Atticus and the larger adult community changed, so did her relationship with Boo. Once just a creepy abstract character, Boo began to play a more active role in children’s lives. When Miss Maudi caught fire, she first used a blanket to protect Scout, then Jem and Scout. The attack of Bob Ewell. Boo is an integral part of Jem and Scout’s childhood. During his rapid growth, Boo is the link between his past and present. Once an imaginary enemy and a source of perceived danger, Bu became a true friend and ally, helping them at the critical moment of their transition from childhood to adulthood. The first vision of the children’s ‘danger’ focused on Bu Radley. Only by understanding the contrast between these imagined dangers and the real dangers in the adult world can they enter adulthood from childhood. But the children’s changing interactions with Boo also reveal another factor of maturity: empathy. Boo used to be a strange character in children’s games, but he eventually became a real character in their minds, a man who has experienced more tragedies than he deserves, and deserves the honor, respect, and love he deserves.

Saul Mcleod (2014) states that “psychoanalysis was founded by Sigmund Freud. Freud believed that people could be cured by making conscious their unconscious thoughts and motivations, thus gaining insight.” A person with anxiety from traumatic experiences in their childhood may cause problems during adulthood. For example, someone could have been involved in a vehicle accident as a child, and now as an adult, they are frightened to ride in a vehicle.

Freud believed that everyone’s personality is composed of three aspects: id, ego, and superego. The id is present from birth it is also the primary component of personality. It is related to hunger, sex, aggression, and irrational impulses. The ego is responsible for dealing with reality. The ego operates on the reality principle, in which energy is controlled to maintain the individual’s safety and to help accommodate that individual into society. Lastly, the superego is the aspect of personality, where moral standards originate from, such as our sense of right and wrong. Superego begins to develop around age five.

Jean Piaget was a Swiss psychologist known for his theory of Cognitive Development. Piaget made a tremendous impact on the study of cognitive development. His theory studied how children intellectually develop. Kendra Cherry (2019) states, “Prior to Piaget’s theory, children were often thought of simply as mini-adults. Instead, Piaget suggested that the way children think is fundamentally different from the way that adults think.” Kendra Cherry (2019) also states that “Piaget was ranked as the second most influential psychologist of the twentieth century in one 2002 survey.”

Piaget believes children pass through four stages: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational. The first stage is sensorimotor, this stage lasts from birth until the child has reached two years of age. Object permanence also occurs in this time which is when the child realizes that something still exists even if you are not able to see it. This stage is broken down into six substages. The second stage is preoperational, which lasts from the ages of two to seven. This stage is pretend play, and the children learn to manipulate symbols. The third stage is, concrete operational, which lasts from age seven to the age of eleven. At this stage, they develop logical thinking. The final stage of Piaget’s cognitive development theory is formal operational. This stage lasts from the age of twelve into adulthood. At this point, they start to develop moral reasoning. As humans, we were all expected to pass through these four stages of development. Piaget believed that before passing to the next stage you had to reach a certain level of physical maturation.

Erik Erikson is a psychoanalyst who founded psychosocial development. According to Saul Mcleod (2018), “Erikson maintained that personality develops in a predetermined order through eight stages of psychosocial development, from infancy to adulthood. During each stage, the person experiences a psychosocial crisis which could have a positive or negative outcome for personality development.” If the person successfully completes each stage, they are said to have a healthy personality. If the person does not successfully complete these stages, they have an unhealthy personality. Erikson’s first stage of psychosocial development is Trust vs. Mistrust, which occurs from birth to twelve through eighteen months. The infant is uncertain of the world during this stage; they depend upon their parent for survival. The second stage is Autonomy vs.

The shame and Doubt, this stage occurs from eighteen months the three years of age. During this stage, children develop a sense of independence. The third stage is Initiative vs. Guilt, which occurs from age three to ages five and six. At this stage, children interact with other children. The fourth stage is Industry vs. Inferiority. The stage occurs from five to six years of age up until adolescence. At this stage, children are starting to do things on their own. The fifth stage is Identity vs. Role diffusion, which occurs during adolescence. At this stage, the person begins to look for a personal identity. The transition from childhood to adolescence is very important. Teens start to become independent and start looking toward the future. The sixth stage is Intimacy vs. Isolation, which takes place during adulthood. During this stage, people start to develop more intimate relationships. If people avoid intimacy it will lead to isolation. The seventh stage is generativity vs. stagnation, this stage occurs from ages forty-five to sixty-five. According to Saul McLeod (2018), “Generativity refers to ‘making your mark’ on the world through creating or nurturing things that will outlast an individual.” If we fail to contribute to our community we become stagnate, which leads to feeling uninvolved. The eighth and final stage of Erikson’s psychosocial development is ego-integrity vs. despair, this takes place during late adulthood. During this stage, we contemplate our accomplishments in life. Erikson believed that once you reach this stage and begin to feel like your life was unproductive and you were unsuccessful, you would begin to have despair, which could possibly lead to depression.

We have all been through at least some of these stages; if you haven’t already reached the final stage yet. As infants, we are uncertain of our surroundings and the world we live in, although we do not remember those moments in our life you have at least been around an infant at times. Infants must put trust in their caregivers because they are not yet dependent. We have all heard of the “terrible two’s” at this time children are always into something and exploring new things, and we were all the same way at that time. As a toddler, we begin to discover new things and begin to play more with others. When you reach adolescence your peer group makes a big impact on the person you will become, hanging around the wrong crowd, can lead you down a bad path that others struggle to come back from. Someone very close to me chose to go down the wrong path, and I have watched them ruin their life, even though he was smart and could have made a good life for himself, he chose that path and he is still struggling to come back from it. From adolescence into adulthood, you are trying to find yourself, something I am doing right now. I want to make sure the major I choose is something that I am 100% happy with, and a job I will be happy with. To me, this stage is a stressful stage, because you are preparing yourself for the real world, and from my personal experience right now I know it’s not going to be easy. In early adulthood, people are searching for the person they want to settle down with and can start a family with. By this stage, most people have already started their own life. In middle adulthood, most have already started a family and are well on their way to retirement. While some may still be struggling to reach that stage. If you have reached late adulthood, you probably have grandkids and you begin to contemplate your life and if it was successful.

According to Saul Mcleod (2018), “Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a motivational theory in psychology comprising a five-tier model of human needs, often depicted as hierarchical levels within a pyramid.” If you look at Maslow’s theory as a pyramid, starting with the two bottom tiers are your basic needs; physiological needs, such as food, water, and warmth. Then there are safety needs, which is a feeling of security and safety. The next two tiers of the pyramid are your psychological needs, such as the feeling of belonging, having intimate relationships, and having friends. There are also your esteem needs, which is having a feeling of accomplishment in your life. The top tier is your self-fulfillment needs, which is achieving your full potential. According to Maslow, you must first complete the lower stages before reaching a higher level on the pyramid.

Lawrence Kohlberg was a psychologist who developed more in moral development. According to Saul Mcleod (2019), “He used Piaget’s storytelling technique to tell people stories involving moral dilemmas. In each case, he presented a choice to be considered, for example, between the rights of some authority and the needs of some deserving individual who is being unfairly treated. One of the best-known of Kohlberg’s stories concerns a man called Heinz who lived somewhere in Europe.” Heinz had a sick wife and there was a chemist with a drug that could cure the wife’s sickness, but he could not afford it. After asking the chemist to lower the price the chemist refused, so Heinz contemplated breaking into the chemist’s lab and stealing the medicine. This is where Kohlberg’s theory of moral development comes in, he believed that moral development has three levels. The first level is pre-conventional morality, which is that people will not break the law for fear of being punished, no matter the circumstances. The second level is conventional morality, which is that others try to do things to get respect from others. The last level is post-conventional morality, in which some people will break the rules of society to do what they believe to be right. Only a few reach this level. This takes me back to Kohlberg’s story of Heinz, he was breaking the rules of society, because he was more worried about his sick wife, even though he knew if he got caught there would be consequences.

The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger has gone down in literary history as a timeless classic. It was initially intended for the adult audience, but later became very popular for young adults. The transition between childhood and adulthood is one of the reasons this book has become so pertinent for adolescents. The main character, Holden Caulfield, views childhood and adulthood as two very different sides of an ever-changing spectrum. He perceives childhood as innocent and angelic; conversely, adulthood is depicted as phony and execrable. This starts out as a very black-and-white concept to Holden, there is only innocence or phoniness.

Holden wants to protect the concept of childhood and adolescence as a whole. Throughout his three-day journey, it is very evident that Holden has a connection to his inner youth. At one point, Holden decided to go back to an ice skating rink where he had spent much of his childhood. At the rink, he managed to help a child tighten their skating shoes. Skating is something that was a part of his life. In chapter 16 Holden thinks, “Boy, I hadn’t had a skate key in my hand for years. It didn’t feel funny, though. You could put a skate key in my hand fifty years from now, in pitch dark, and I’d still know what it is” (Salinger). This thought process reveals how Holden views himself. He believes he has such a strong memory that such a minuscule object could be remembered even after a long time. Fifty years could pass and in an instant, he would still remember the feeling of holding a skate key. That’s because he has such a strong connection with each memory from his past. Soon after he has this encounter, he continued to retrace his youth by entering a museum he knew by heart and reflecting upon the moments he has grown to miss. Knowing this museum like the back of his hand further indicates the connection to the memories Holden possesses. At this point in the novel, Holden is about to move away on his own but first chooses to see his sister one last time before his departure. In a conversation about his dreams with his sister, Holden goes as far as saying “I keep picturing these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids and nobody’s around- nobody big, I mean- except me. And I’m standing on the edge of some crazy cliff- I mean if they’re running and they don’t know where they’re going” (Salinger 224). This dream job of his, the catcher in the rye, is what he believes is his purpose. When he pictures this, he sees himself stopping these young children from falling off the edge of a rye field into an abyss. This rye field represents childhood, and this abyss is adulthood and growing up. Nobody wants to fall into an abyss, so having the catcher will prevent these children from hitting a demise. He sees the world as corrupt and wants to protect whoever he can from being exposed to it at all costs. In his eyes, adulthood is uncharted territory, and everyone who has grown up has just become a phony.

Holden views adulthood as undesirable. All of the encounters that Holden has had that were considered adult-like turned out bad. First off, he sees adulthood as alcohol and sexual relations. His experiences with both of those are biased and unfavorable. When his roommate and first love end up having a fling, he immediately leaves to go to New York in an attempt to cure his loneliness and sorrow. While in NY he attempted to order drinks at a bar, which he knew quite a lot about. However, they refused to serve anyone without an ID. Now sad and sober, Holden attempted to flirt with much older women to try and feel some sort of mature emotions. He even went as far as hiring a prostitute, which he ends up chickening out of because he is not ready for interactions like those. Mentally, he still sees himself as a child because he is afraid to turn into an adult. Instead of soliciting her, he just talks with her until she finally leaves. This all leads back to when Holden goes to the ice skating rink in an attempt to feel his childhood again. Secondly, Holden does not have strong connections with adults. The way he talks to children is noticeably calmer and easier. Even his grammar is more suitable for talking to children. His friend Carl Luce was having a conversation with him in a bar, and he began rambling about how immature Holden was. Holden trusted this man and went out of his way to see him, just to get called immature. And how does Holden see him in return? As phony. He believes that if someone does not like him that they are phony, or if an adult is not being 100% truthful that they are phony. Every adult to him comes off as a phony, and that is something Holden does not want to become.

Holden is still just a child. As an article about Holden’s Adolescence best puts it, “A great part of the adolescent’s idealism probably stems from his resistance to growing up” (Kinnick 442). This quote completely embodies Holden in his entirety. Holden does not want to grow up. To avoid confrontation with his parents about being kicked out of school, his idea was to run away and move to the West. Simply by trying to run away, he shows how immature and childish he is. Running away from home is the first thing a little kid thinks of doing when they are too scared to face their problems head-on. Holden even says it himself, “ I act quite young for my age sometimes” (Salinger 34). Acting young and feeling like a child go hand in hand in this context. To assert yourself and figure out a strong solution is the adult way to handle issues. But that is just not how his mind works. He is so afraid of the real world that he will do whatever he can to prevent encountering the real world. Except, he is already in the real world. His friends are all growing up and having sexual encounters and pushing themselves forward to get into college, yet he is not. He does not have the mindset of someone who is moving their life forward. Just like a child, he is not ready to grow up yet, not ready to transition into an adult.

In this paper, I will discuss the adult experiences of three adults during middle adulthood. I will reflect on how everyone has experienced generativity and found meaningfulness in his or her life. I will also discuss my parent’s experience during middle age. I will conclude using Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development as a theoretical framework and describe how my activities and priorities are likely to change over the course of the next 20 to 30 years.

Communion

In the video, the first interviewee describes the importance of communion in her lifespan, this can be described as demonstrating the care and concern for others. As she spoke in the video, she mentioned as she entered middle adulthood, that her main importance in her life was her children, family, and their well-being. She made it a priority that they would have anything and everything that is essential to have a joyful and dynamic life. She had a background as a nurse, which contributed to her joy of caring for others. According to Broderick and Blewitt, characteristics such as kind, caring, sensitive to others, compassionate, and nurturing apply to the type of person the women in the video (Broderick & Blewitt, 2020). According to the text, behaviors relating to being generous, donating, and contributing are characteristics of communion which are characteristics of women.

Three Adaptive Processes

In the second video, the man demonstrates a comparative increase in maintenance and variation of loss and the relative reduction in development as adaptive processes across the lifespan. During his interview, this person displayed the three adaptive processes that have been recognized and acknowledged by many lifespan theorists. He speaks about how he and his wife felt depressed and lonesome when their children grew up and went on their own.

One of the adaptions is growth, according to Broderick and Blewitt, growth is a way of adding new qualities, insights, abilities, and so on to our developmental range (Broderick & Blewitt, 2020). One example of growth demonstrated by the interviewee was the quality time spent with his wife that they did not have time for before. The couple can give their marriage the nurture it was lacking. According to Broderick and Blewitt, maintenance is another process, which discovers approaches to resume operating at the same level of handling tasks (Broderick and Blewitt, 2020). The regulation of loss is a process in which a person understands the loss of what once was, discovers a way to accept it, and develops a new way of operating (Broderick and Blewitt, 2020). But as time progressed, they became accustomed to them being gone. According to Broderick and Blewitt, this is a delightful change in their lives (Broderick & Blewitt, 2020).

Feelings of Generativity

The woman in the last video displayed feelings of generative. Generative adults tend to combine commonly agency and communion in the fears that they express and in their professional behaviors. The third interviewee displays her emotions of generativity by continuing to coach field hockey and tennis within her neighborhood. She also stays active spending time with her family. According to Broderick and Blewitt, she is quite the epitome of generativity, or attentiveness and concern for others shown through productivity (Broderick and Blewitt, 2020). Although she battled with health issues, she is still committed to remaining active in her private life. This is an example of how generativity can be passed on through middle adulthood.

Experience During Middle Age

As I spoke to my mom about her middle adulthood, I found the information to be interesting. I believe that Mom demonstrates the adaptive process. She has come to a period in her life where she no longer must care for her children and grandchildren. Her new journey has her caring for herself and paying attention to herself. She still finds herself running to her grandsons when they call. I think this reflects a way for her to be needed.

Some of the questions that I have would be how segregation impacted her life personally. According to Broderick and Blewitt, specific historical experiences can affect how an individual grows (Broderick & Blewitt, 2020). My mother grew up during segregation, she always told him that although we are Hispanic, she was not allowed to drink water from the same water fountain. I think this experience has caused her to not trust other races because of the fear of being judged. Another question I may ask would be regarding physical changes occurring in middle adulthood, that influenced her decisions. My mother lost her mother at a young age and I often wonder if this is the reason why she tries to take care of herself and maintain her health. According to Broderick and Blewitt, it is noted that in middle adulthood numerous have great health, and there are those who begin to suffer from chronic health issues that may establish obstacles to experience activities (Broderick & Blewitt, 2020).

Changes Over the Coming Years

As I think of the next twenty to thirty years, my first thoughts are to think that I will have grandchildren. It is difficult for me to believe that I can have grandchildren, I still look at my children and cannot believe how quickly they have grown up. I believe that I identify with the Stagnation faze, which is defined in the text as an adult who desires to contribute to the following generation, to produce, mentor, and create something of long-lasting worth, as in the education of children or community services or expert work (Broderick & Blewitt, 2020).

At the age of 15, I met my husband in high school, by the age of 19, I was married to my husband. According to Broderick and Blewitt, it states that Erickson stages an individual to commit to relationships, generating shared uniqueness, in young adulthood, they should be making professional choices and targets for adulthood during their teens and twenties (Broderick and Blewitt, 2020). During the developmental stages, I began to have a family and prioritized taking care of my children. As I grew older into middle adulthood, I found myself establishing a career. As a school counselor, I hope that I can be an inspiration to children in counseling and, I hope that I can make a lasting impact on my student’s lives.

References

1. Broderick, P. C., Blewitt, P. The Life Span. [Yuzu]. Retrieved from https://reader.yuzu.com/#/books/9780135206171/

Psychological Adjustments to Aging and Lifestyle The emotional changes that occur during early adulthood can be broken down into stages, each with a progressive effect on the individual. Early adulthood starts as the adolescent realizes they are no longer a child, which introduces a new way of looking at life. As young adult emerges, individuals experience physical, mental, and emotional changes. Change is the constant the early adults will continue to experience, followed by more stability. It marks an adolescent’s transition from family. Erik Erikson’s study on stages from adolescence to adult hit touches on eight different stages. The more relevant this topic starts at stage six which he identifies young adulthood to be from 19-40 a time of “Intimacy vs. Isolation” (Erikson). During this stage the focus is on building relationships; however, he indicates the need for self-confidence. The success or failure of intimate relationships is centered around the personal relationship with one’s self. Erikson picks up his theory at middle adulthood described as 40-65 and a time of “Generativity Vs. Stagnation.”

The theory supports that middle adulthood is a continuation or growth from early adulthood. Where one ends the other picks up, this assumes the individual has successfully maneuvered through early adulthood. It promotes the natural next stage fulfilling the relationship and focusing on a career. There should be a feeling of accomplishment and pride in oneself, with respect to family and accomplishment. Each very unique but have similar triumphs and consequences. While succeeding promotes healthy relationships in young adults, to middle adulthood it equates to a self-feeling of accomplishment. In equal terms, failure results in young adult isolation and loneliness, and middle adulthood results in shallow involvement. Dependent self-dependency in middle adulthood picks up between ages 35 to 65, which is accompanied by physical changes. The physical changes can affect the emotional state of an individual. They are taking on extreme changes that come with age influencing an individual to make lifestyle changes and compromises. An excellent way to describe recognizing the transitional stage is “early adulthood ends when a person no longer seeks adult status but feels like a full adult in the eyes of others” (“Lumen Lifespan Development,”). The psychological adjustments experienced during middle adulthood are more physical and exasperated by individual lifestyles. Social and Intimate Relationships Social and Intimate relationships in adulthood are influenced by individual culture. One concept introduces familism. Psychologists believe that personality serves as a source of endurance in middle age.

The changes in the early adult and middle adult are suggested to be marked more by personality than by age. During the early stages of adulthood, social interaction, and the perception of others is essential. The emerging adult has a sense of how they are preserved as they enter their mid to late 20s and begin to form more committed long-term relationships. The introduction to intimate relations is not as complicated. They are now experiencing one or all of the components of love, passion, decision/commitment, and intimacy (psychologist Robert Sternberg). The more significant dilemma in the relationship focuses on commitment versus commitment. Intimacy suggests a sexual relationship but does not have to include a commitment. In early adulthood, one can happen without the other, and influencers can be based on their cultural, environmental, and family influencers. It was referenced that “intimacy needs may seem satisfied in early adulthood with a good marriage, but then they may reappear decades later after an unanticipated divorce.” (Berger pg. 466) Erikson’s stages of adulthood outline the stage of Intimacy versus Isolation, which further supports that intimacy spans beyond a physical relationship. Although physical needs are relevant as the early to mid-adult has a primal need for closeness, the level is achieved in various ways. The absence of intimacy can leave the young adult with a feeling of isolation. (Berger pg. 466) However, this void can be filled by more than a partner. Intimacy almost relates to the need for interaction with others. This includes “family members, friends, partners, and strangers.” (Berger pg499) Identify various role changes that occur during early and middle adulthood The various role changes that occur during early and middle adulthood include personality, “which appear to accelerate during emerging adulthood” (Roberts et al., 2006) (Hakhmigari, 2019). Research has established that “personality change can occur at different life stages” These stages would be inclusive from early adulthood to middle adulthood. (Caspi et al., 2005; Mroczek and Spiro, 2007; Specht et al., 2011) (Hakhmigari, 2019).

The acceleration of the personality can be characterized by a demonstration of self-control, self-conscientiousness, and emotional stability. As individuals transition through personality stages, they become open to experiencing change in a new light. While the young adult may have been resistant to change, the middle adult can now embrace the positive side of change, enhancing their growth and opening up opportunities. The immediate and future impact of healthy and unhealthy habits practiced during early and middle adulthood. Age is in the eye of the beholder, and the impact a stage of adulthood has on the habits practiced by an individual is subjective. Undisputed how a person takes care of themselves during these stages dictates the longevity of their life. The study conducted confirmed, “Regular physical activity protects against serious illness even if a person smokes, drinks, or overeats” (Berger pg., 429). This suggests that the habits formed during early and middle adulthood transcend through the lifespan. The effect is not only on the physical part of the body but has an impact on mental stability and overall wellness. Even more impact on the evolving adult is the static that states; “22 percent of adult men (age 25–65) and 18 percent of women are now smokers, with rates peaking in the 20s and then decreasing gradually with maturity (National Center for Health Statistics, 2014). By age 60, more adults are former smokers than current smokers.” (Berger, pg.431). Ultimately healthy habits and unhealthy habits have a lifelong effect on early and middle adulthood. Increasing their life span through choosing healthy habits is more comfortable to achieve when started during youth. The word habit according to Merriam-Webster is defined as “an acquired mode of behavior that has become nearly or completely involuntary” (‘Habit,’ 1828).

References

1. Hakhmigari, M. K. (2019). Personality maturation among emerging adults and future career success. Retrieved from http://http:/https://phoenix.vitalsource.com/#/books/
2. Berger, K. S. (). Invitation to Life Span [University of Phoenix Custom Edition eBook].

The topic that the author presented was adolescence. The client’s name was H. She was 17 years old and was currently in the adolescent stage. The term adolescence meant ‘growing mature by developing’ and referred to the transition period from childhood to adulthood. The contents that the author would discuss about the client’s physical, cognitive, psychological, and moral developmental stages. Moreover, the author would discuss the factors that affected her physical, psycho-social, and emotional well-being. Additionally, how community resources could bring benefits to her whole family to maintain and promote health would be identified by the author. Lastly, the author would discuss her environmental health education.

The client was the youngest in the family. She had two brothers and two sisters. They were all schooling currently except for the second sister who was an enrolled nurse. Moreover, she was introverted and required prompting during the interview. She was timid, folded her arms, and frequently looked around throughout the interview.

Physical development involved developing control over the body, particularly muscles and physical coordination. The client had good development in a physical aspect. Her weight was 47.2kg and her height was 155cm. Therefore, her BMI was 19.6 which was within the healthy range. She enjoyed playing netball. She can accept bodily changes. She also understood the importance of physical appearance. Physical appearance was the way one looks. A large amount of literature examined the role of peer effects in shaping student academic outcomes. During the interview, she told that physical appearance was very important as it could give people a good impression of hers. From that, the author observed that she cared about her physical appearance.

From Piaget’s cognitive theory, the client was at the formal operational stage. Kids and teens in this age group did more complex thinking. This type of thinking was also known as formal logical operations. During the interview, the author questioned if someone offered her money to do some illegal things for them, would she do it and why. She answered that she would not do it for them because she did not want to be involved, in case there was any trouble. From that, the author noted that she knew it was wrong to do illegal things and did not want to get into trouble with her parents.

According to Erikson’s psychosocial theory, the client is currently at the stages of identity vs role confusion. It occurred during adolescence, from about 12-18 years. During this stage, adolescents searched for a sense of self and personal identity, through an intense exploration of personal values, beliefs, and goals. During adolescence, the transition from childhood to adulthood was the most important. She wondered who she was at times. She was good at sports but poor at communication. She said that she wanted to be like the eldest sister and she knew what she wants.

From Kohlberg’s moral development theory, the client was at the post-conventional stage. Individual judgment is based on chosen principles and moral reasoning based on their rights and justice. They would become aware of the rules or laws and work against their beliefs at times. They would set their own moral guidelines even if they may or may not follow the law. During the interview, the author questioned whether would the client steal such food in order to survive. She answered that she did not know. Maybe yes, because if not, how to survive? So the author observed the client’s situation, she knew what was right and wrong and she even had her own beliefs too.

The client was a picky eater as she mentioned she did not like to eat mushrooms. Moreover, she usually skipped breakfast and did not eat on time. This would lead to problems such as the fast track of weight gain, low memory, and difficulties concentrating. Especially for a teenager like a client who was active in CCAs, she needed to require enough nutrition to participate in her activities and also in growth. Furthermore, breakfast was the most important meal of the day. To maintain a nutritional balance, she should avoid eating fast food. Besides, she should join some volunteering activities such as Action for AIDS and Animal Lovers League. Volunteering also could help her to make friends and give her an opportunity to practice and develop social and relationship skills. The reason why the community resources were relevant to the client was it was a fun and easy way to explore her interests and passions and also could increase her self-confidence.

From the interview, the author noted that the client felt insecure about her weight. She also had friends of the opposite gender. Hence, sex education had been taught in her school. She should think positively about herself so she could develop more self-acceptance and self-appreciation towards herself. Throughout the interview, the author also observed that the client would listen to music on the earpiece while crossing the road and she did not always use traffic lights. As a pedestrian, she should enforce traffic rules and regulations. Accidents could not be predicted so the client was advised to obey traffic. Besides, the client had tried smoking once and she was caffeine dependent. She would take medication given by her mother if she felt unwell. In the author’s opinion, she should politely reject friends who pressured her to smoke as smoking was addictive and only brought harm to her. Tobacco used habits were largely established during adolescence indeed, nine out of 10 smokers first tried cigarettes before age 18. Thus, adolescents’ smoking behavior was strongly predicted by the genetic propensity of their peers to smoke. Smoking was the second-highest contributor to the burden of diseases afflicting Singaporeans, killing an estimated 2,073 people in 2016. Furthermore, the client should reduce caffeine intake and replace it with a healthier alternative such as hot apple cider, tea, sparkling water, and fruit as they aid boost energy levels. Lastly, it was better to take medications prescribed by doctors if she felt unwell.

This was the author’s first time doing a family interview, it was a good experience for the author. Although the author was from Malaysia, this was the author’s first time visiting a Malay home. From this interview, the author learned a lot from the client and her family. As an adolescent, the author had increased knowledge about the three theories on adolescence. Through this interview, the author learned a lot of interaction skills and also their cultures. The author enjoyed this experience of interviewing an adolescent.

In conclusion, under development assessment for the client who was an adolescent, the author discussed four domains. Under the physical domain, the client understood what was happening to her body and she understood that staying fit was important. Under the cognitive domain, the author discussed Piaget’s theory, the formal operational stage about how the client was able to do abstract thinking and her own reasoning. Besides, under the psychological domain, the author discussed Erikson’s theory, the stage of identity vs role confusion. For the client, she was trying to figure out who she was, she knew what she wanted and she was working towards it. Moreover, under the moral domain, the author discussed Kohlberg’s theory, the post-conventional stage. In the client’s situation, she knew to differentiate right and wrong.

There’s a point in your life where you call yourself an adult that’s when you stop breaking down over small things and realized what really matters in your life. When you mentally and emotionally mature you have the ability to handle situations without unnecessarily escalating them. Instead of seeking to blame someone else for their problems or behavior, you will seek to fix the problem or behavior and that’s when Kids become adults when they mentally and emotionally mature.

One reason I think kids become adults when there mentally and emotionally mature is that they know how to handle situations and not react to them. To become an adult you first need to be responsible for your own actions. And admit the mistake that you just made or handle the situation in more of a more mature way. For example, at a young age, many people have proved that when a family has a problem or something has happened, you would always see a child doing the cooking and cleaning and doing the work because their brains have fully developed their beavers which means that they’re capable of doing adult work a type of behavior you wouldn’t see your child doing and they’re doing that without being told to do it. In the article “Scientists have identified a specific region of the brain called the amygdala that is responsible for immediate reactions including fear and aggressive behavior. This region develops early. However, the frontal cortex, the area of the brain that controls reasoning and helps us think before we act, develops later. This part of the brain is still changing and maturing well into adulthood.”. This would mean handling situations as a kid and meeting the mistakes that you made would make you more mature and your maturing well into adulthood.

Another reason I think kids become adults is when they face up challenges that they never thought you would face. These challenges are what improve you in life and make you not fear what’s next in life. For example In this article “ Challenges are a part of everyday life. They make us stronger and without them, life becomes somewhat meaningless because we have nothing to compare the good times to. “These challenges come in many forms. For some, the challenge is doing well at school, for others it is getting to grips with financial worries. But, regardless of the challenge, facing up to it is key. Doing so will make you feel like you can take care of yourself, and it will also make you understand the value of what you have now. ” this could also mean doing these challenges you thought you would be scared of facing or you just never thought you would meet them would make you stronger as a person and it could change the way you think or do things it’s just another way of becoming mature.

Some people may think when your adult that when you are 17 or 18 years old and that’s when you have the right to vote and drink and you’re not wrong there but becoming an adult you first have to face your challenges in life. this could mean at any age

You will have to face these problems and you have to be the bigger person and handle the situation that you or they have caused and not even overreact about it. becoming an adult you need to become mentally and emotionally mature.

In conclusion, kids become adults when there mentally and emotionally mature this could mean at any age when a kid faces problems and know how to handle them.

What you will learn from this exhibit is how rites of passage were depicted in the Minoan culture, with the help of different artifacts that are associated with these specific events. As in any culture, an adolescent must face a rite of passage to be able to move forward into adulthood. For the males, the most distinctive element in Minoan culture was the “bull game,” in which an acrobat would vault at a charging bull in a dramatic ritualized spectacle. However, for females, saffron was particularly associated with women and was sacred to the Minoans. The reason saffron is connected to coming-of-age rites for girls is that, although expensive, it is an herbal remedy to ease menstrual cramps. Let’s look through the different artifacts that help show us how coming-of-age rites were in the Minoan civilization.

Let’s begin with the Xeste 3, a building, located in Akrotiri, that contained a Minoan-style lustral basin on the ground floor, with a pier and door partition. On the wall that was held above the basin was a fresco that depicts a scene of three females in a landscape that was blooming with crocuses. This fresco stood 1.43 m (converted into feet is 4’8), from Late Cycladic IA. On the far left, a mature woman stood, dressed in a transparent gown and in her hand, she carried a necklace. In the center, a much younger girl dressed in a fancy costume held a hand over her forehead while nursing a bleeding toe. Then on the far right, a preadolescent girl covers herself with a saffron veil, looking away from the girl who is wounded and towards the direction of an altar with horns of consecration while blood drips from her. How do we know which is the preadolescent girl from the three? Just like the Egyptians and other cultures, the Minoans had their children’s heads shaved. For one reason, it was a lot easier to care for and the other was to be able to cut down on getting lice. The whole scene in this fresco is interpreted as a rite of passage to recognize the beginning of menstruation.

Another fresco is located in Xeste 3 as well, in-room 3a, and stands at 2.44 m (converted into feet is 8 feet). We continue to see the ongoing theme of crocuses here, just from the room right above the lustral basin. In this specific fresco, we have girls gathering the stamens of flowers to make saffron. Then and even today, saffron continues to be the world’s most expensive spice. On the right, there is a woman and girl who have climbed over rocks to pick more. They adorn elaborate attire over the bodies, including earrings, bracelets, and anklets. We can see that their heads are completely shaved with the exception of a ponytail at the back, eyeliner has been drawn on their eyes and they have saffron coloring over their lips. How there is important because to be allowed to grow out your hair was a signal you were moving toward adulthood. Sitting on a platform at the center, a figure sits on top of a pile of cloth that has been dyed with saffron. It is believed that she may have been a goddess based on the familiar flouncy skirts and bodice, plus the hoop earrings and her necklaces that had beads in the form of dragonflies and ducks. We have a blue monkey here, offering the goddess saffron on its hind legs. Behind her is a griffin, winged and on a leash.

Moving onto males, we have the Toreador fresco from Knossos, which is Late Minoan II-IIIA. This is one of the several panels that show bull games; heavily restored, we can figure that by the slightly paler hue which are the modern parts compared to the ancient. In this panel, what can be seen is a bull charging towards a “toreador,” the toreador would grasp the bull’s horns and hurl himself up into the air, flip, and would either land onto the back of the bull or right behind it. In contrast, sometimes other performers would grab the bull by the horns and wrestle it down to the ground instead. The toreadors all had masculine figures and wore the conventional garments of a Minoan man which were breechcloth, codpiece, and long hair. However, the leaper in the center has brown skin, which was the standard for a masculine figure, while the ones on either side have white skin, or “feminine” skin. Since the figures have different skin colors, it’s been questioned whether or not the bodies belong to males or females. Although the body type is constant throughout, they should belong to males. The point of this is that the traditional distinctions between masculine and feminine seemed to have been blurred during the rituals of bull leaping. This may have been a ritual for coming-of-age rites from adolescence into adulthood and the coloring of the skin could reflect the transitioning period of the performers.

It is evident that coming of age was an important rite of passage in Minoan culture. Bull leaping was best suited for males transitioning from adolescence into adulthood because of how physical it was. Saffron was an important element for females because of their connection to ease cramps due to menstruation. Also, the shaved heads of the figures that were shown helped determine which ones were adults and which were not. It’s interesting to see how ancient cultures had different rituals than from different eras of history.

Introduction

For component 1 of this assessment, I am going to be writing about a celebrity of my choice and their development over 3 life stages. I will write about the impact that different factors have had on their growth and development.

I have based my assessment on Caitlyn Jenner, better known as Bruce Jenner. She is currently 68 years old, therefore placing her in the ‘Later Adulthood’ life stage. I will be writing about the following three life stages:

• Early Adulthood (19-45)
• Middle Adulthood (46-65)
• Later Adulthood (65+)

Caitlyn Jenner is famous for her winning the decathlon on July 30th, 1976, which was before she came out as a transgender woman in April 2015. Approximately two years ago, Caitlyn won ‘the woman of the year award. Even though she was known as Bruce Jenner her birth name was William Bruce Jenner. She was born on October 28th, 1949, in Mount Kisco, New York. She earned a football scholarship and attended Graceland University, however, she was forced to stop playing football because of a knee injury. After this Jenner’s Graceland track coach, L.D Weldon encouraged her to switch to the decathlon, which obviously lead to her winning the decathlon.

Caitlyn is an amazing woman who changed her life. As a young boy around age 10, Caitlyn knew that she wanted to be a girl, she explained this in her interview with Diane Sawyer. She went through a long 10-hour facial feminization surgery and still was surprised however pleased about the way she looked in the morning. She is still pleased with the way she looks.

Jenner attended a secondary school called Sleepy Hollow High School. In the Diane Sawyer interview, Caitlyn recalled that in her high school years, she was far more comfortable and confident with women rather than men back then.

I have chosen Caitlyn Jenner not just because of her amazing success in winning the decathlon in 1976 but because of my admiration for her pride and courage. It takes a lot of courage to do what she did and it has had a big influence on her growth and development. I have chosen to write about these three life stages because they are the most important stages in her life, in my opinion. I will include the impact that appearance, social life, personal relationships with friends and family, and lastly her income and wealth, have had on her life as an individual.

Early Adulthood (19-45)

Physical Development

In early adulthood, physical development is in my opinion the most difficult stage because of the pressure of starting a family and finding a permanent job for any individual’s future.

The generic developmental norms at the beginning of this life stage would show that most women are at their most fertile, which means that at this age women are more likely to get pregnant if they are trying to conceive a baby. Getting pregnant in early adulthood is known to be the best and most logical time to get pregnant.

This obviously brings about huge changes to the body, life, and relationships with family and friends. Being pregnant in the mid-twenties is encouraged because generally, most people have been through school and college/university. Having a baby and starting a family at this age is just not about whether a person feels that they are ready it also includes having enough money to support both themselves, the baby, and their partner. Understandably a job will be needed as well as a college or university degree, having experience from a university or college will improve your chance of getting a decent job. Handling all of this will cause a lot of stress and pressure on an individual.

Both men and women at the start of this stage (around 20) are expected to reach their full height. Genetically men are supposed to be taller than women by this stage, this is because men have a chromosome called ‘The Y Chromosome’ which is the male chromosome, which is absent in women. This is why men are supposed to be taller. However, as men and women get older research shows that women lose about a quarter to one-half of an inch every decade from the age of 40.

Mainly at the end of this life stage hair loss begins in males, later in the life stages women gradually start to lose hair. However, unless baldness runs in the family men will only lose a partial amount of hair. As well as this, in this stage, an individual’s hair may start to turn grey in various places. In early adulthood, an individual’s fine motor skills are probably at their strongest because in past years they have grown and become stronger. Fine motor skills include; the bones in fingers, toes, and forearms. It’s the same with gross motor skills, this includes your arms, legs, and feet. Around the start of this life stage puberty for both men and women begin to end. For some women fertility may end which basically means that it will be harder to conceive a baby, in some cases, it is impossible to have a baby. Some women may start to go through menopause at the end of this life stage, though some women begin at the start of middle adulthood which is the next life stage.

Caitlyn Jenner

Physical Development

When Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Bruce Jenner, was in college she was a star college football player this is because she was set on pursuing a career in playing football, this was until she seriously injured her knee which lead to need surgery, this meant that she couldn’t play football anymore and possibly never play again. Due to this knee injury, Caitlyn’s physical activity was hugely affected; daily required exercises and routines became nearly impossible to do. After her injury was fully healed, she realized she had to start a career for herself and her future, unfortunately without American football being an option.

Around a year after the recovery, her coach L.D Weldon talked to Caitlyn and persuaded her to try out for the decathlon, this was the beginning of her fame and wealth. A decathlon consists of four track events and six field events which is a total of ten events; this would have been great for Jenner’s physical development such as constantly exercising due to training.

‘I literally started training at midnight, running through the streets of Munich, training for the games’. A quote from Caitlyn Jenner

By this age, Caitlyn Jenner was at her full height which is very common for most males and females, this was 185cm (1.85m or 6ft 1in) this is her height in the last months of 2015.

In this stage it is also common that an adult’s metabolic rate slows, this can be varied due to the:

• Age
• Gender
• The proportion of muscle to fat in the body
• The amount of exercise and/or other physical activity an individual is doing
• Their genetic rates

Most people believe that Caitlyn Jenner had a hair transplant during her transition. This would have prevented hair loss and thinning of her hair. Having grey hairs clearly states that hair is becoming unhealthy, however with time even with a hair transplant, it is possible that natural grey hair will begin to grow and eventually start to show.

Early Adulthood (19-45)

Intellectual Development

In this life stage, the development of intellectual and language development is probably fully developed or close to being fully developed. Eventually, everyone will get to and live through early adulthood. Usually, by this life stage, individuals are at their highest level of problem-solving and decision-making, this is useful because of all the major decisions that will be in the individual’s life. A high level of problem-solving is most important in this life stage because of the difficult problems that will come up in the individual’s life depending on their choices, such as involvement with the law, what job they do, or whether they want to start a family. Obviously, problem-solving people starts at birth and carries on during life. Usually towards the end of this life stage generically a person’s problem-solving skills are at their highest from all the experience. Throughout the years of infancy, early adulthood, adolescence, and part of early adulthood gaining new and important skills is not optional but will definitely turn out to be very useful and helpful for the future in many situations such as a career, starting a family, and your future all together.

Learning from experiences is an essential part of turning from a teenager to an adult. It’s about not making the same mistakes or bad decisions and growing up into a better, more sensible, and reliable person.

A person’s language development in infancy compared to early adulthood is completely different, at this life stage, the language development is fully developed. Also usually during this life stage, not only do people learn the language they learn how to use it, for example learning your place in situations.

Caitlyn Jenner

Intellectual Development

During this period Caitlyn was a part of Graceland College, now known as Graceland University. Throughout this time Caitlyn Jenner successfully graduated college with no complications with behavior, attendance, or falling behind in classes. Caitlyn was a very intelligent student in college; she most likely got this from the experience of her past life and from her parents.

Jenner eventually got a degree in physical education after lots of hard work and stress. This stress could have affected her grades and concentration on her goals.

By using the knowledge she has learned over the past years she would have learned a lot of new ways to think and new ways to solve problems in everyday life.

At an early age Jenner was diagnosed with Dyslexia, Dyslexia includes struggling to pronounce words and read easy and straightforward sentences daily. However, research will show that having dyslexia sometimes does not affect general intelligence.

In school, Bruce wasn’t so confident due to his dyslexia. Other children around him and in his classes made fun of him because of his difficulty with speaking in front of the class. His biggest fear was going to school, not just because of his dyslexia but because he thought that everyone was so much better than he was. Because he had this learning disability reading in front of classes made him become very anxious. This is a factor of why I failed 2nd grade, year three in the United Kingdom.

Early Adulthood (19-45)

Emotional development

Emotional Development is all about learning about feelings and the different types of emotions people have. Therefore by this life stage, the majority of people that have started Early Adulthood are very familiar with all of the different emotions and most probably have learned to control them by this stage in their life. Another part of developing your emotions is understanding how and why they happen to all of us. In this life stage, the emotional situations start to grow and become more complex.

Normally around the middle age of Early Adulthood people start to think about finding a relationship with someone, usually, people start to look for a long-term relationship that will hopefully, eventually lead to marriage, children and alternately moving in together. Starting a family takes a lot of decisions such as: deciding possibly who you want to spend the rest of your life with. And decide if you are okay financially to start a family; this includes finding a well-paid job to go to and earning money for your future family. Clearly, in this life stage your sense of direction in life is critical for someone’s future because it is dependent on what a person’s aspirations are for their career. Having a sense of direction in life is also important because as everyone will eventually reach this life stage they will need to know where to start, for example, what kind of jobs they want. Since the age of three everyone probably had responsibilities even if they didn’t know them, these could have been not running in the house or not shouting in the house, these are still responsibilities however in this life stage people are usually more mature and reliable so the responsibilities are bigger and more important. Without children, a person’s biggest responsibility is to get a job which means working hard and earning money for the future. The need to feel secure is a part of the emotional development in Early Adulthood this is because being secure in a way links to being healthy, mentally. The need to feel secure means being certain and dependable. In order to have independence courage is needed and very important. Setting goals for yourself and achieving them, or trying your best to achieve them, independently.

Caitlyn Jenner

Emotional Development

When Caitlyn was around the ages of 23 and 24 she became confused about who she was and whether she was meant to be a male or female. I know this because Bruce told his first wife, Chrystie Scott, that he was struggling with gender identity issues. By her early thirties, she began to realize that she was meant to be Caitlyn Jenner, not Bruce Jenner. This may have led to her thinking that she isn’t normal also that her closest family members and friends would be disappointed with her and may even disconnect with her because of this. However, at this age, Bruce wasn’t 100% sure if becoming a woman was just a one-time thought or if it was a serious one. Keeping this to herself wouldn’t have been easy for her or her mood, especially during college. On the other hand, it is obvious that Bruce Jenner had a lot of confidence, independence, and resilience whilst he was in college; this shows that during his knee injury, he found yet another sport to excel in, even when things weren’t going as they were planned. Later into his Early Adulthood, Bruce married Linda Thompson, who eventually found out about his gender dystopia. At this point at age, 37 Bruce had already been divorced two times, clearly, this had an impact on his self- esteem for him now and later.

Early Adulthood (19-45)

Social development

Social development is the development of communication skills throughout life with and around other people. At this life stage having an active social life is really important to have and fairly normal and genuine to have. An active social life basically means spending time with your friends and family and not just sitting at home in front of the television doing nothing. Having a social life is important because without one it affects a person’s mental health. Without having an active social life it doesn’t just affect ourselves it affects others as well this is because our mood reflects on others and having a low mood will not reflect well. By this age the thought of being a parent probably crossed most minds at some point therefore the thought of parental responsibilities probably did too. Providing a home for the child and yourself will be almost impossible without having a job previously or currently is crucial to someone’s social life. Another parental responsibility is to pay attention to your social life, work life, and your child’s life; which is very difficult but key to a healthy social life. Work pressures are tough to deal with. However it’s a huge pressure to bring money home for food, drink, rent, and bills, especially with a newborn and the mother on maternity leave, which means being the only one working; this would normally put a huge change on social lives. The importance to maintain and continue long-term, intimate, and friend relationships from this life stage through to the last life stage (later adulthood) will hopefully be long- lasting.

Starting a family will create a strong and trustworthy bond between partners and children and will have a huge impact on people’s social life with family and possibly will bring the whole family closer together.

Caitlyn Jenner

Social development

Clearly, my celebrity was very popular during this life stage due to her fame and success in the decathlon in 1976, however, before this victory, he was only popular with his college teammates and a small portion of his family. Before fame not being close to her own family would have affected her with a lack of communication with others. At this age most young adults would be at college/university and so was Caitlyn she was around 3 thousand miles away from her hometown where her family was whilst she was in college which decreased the socialization between herself and her family/ friends.

During college, Caitlyn was a member of a football team called ‘YellowJackets’ being a part of this group positively increased her social circle.

After his extraordinary success, he became very popular with most people in the country. Everyone knew his name. Everyone knew his height, weight, and family. Being new to the world being able to know this so easily may worry her.

Along with his fame came good social skills and confidence in speaking to people, such as speaking to the paparazzi, the press, and the BBC news.

Middle Adulthood (46-65)

Physical development

In this stage of life stage people have usually started to notice that they are aging more obviously, this may include:

• Increase in wrinkles
• Decrease of hair on the head
• Aching of muscles
• Slower movement

All of these things listed above will eventually happen and most probably slowly get worse as age increases. Around the ages, 45-50 most women experience hair loss. However, research has shown that men lose a lot more hair which is usually in later adulthood.These can sometimes start late in early adulthood. Usually, in this life stage, women go through something called menopause, menopause is when women stop menstruating. Menopause normally starts around the age of 50. There are some symptoms of menopause such as:

• Hot flushes
• Night sweats
• Difficulty sleeping
• Headaches
• Mood changes( low mood, anxiety)
• Palpitations ( heartbeats that suddenly become more noticeable)
• Joint stiffness
• Aches and pains
• Reduced muscle mass

These symptoms generally begin a few months and sometimes years before your period stops, this is known as perimenopause. Research shows that on average some of the symptoms last for about 4 years after your last period, however, it also shows that 1 in 10 women’s symptoms last up to 12 years.

Both women and men both go through their hair starting to grey naturally. Hair loss tends to be more frequent in males rather than females; this is because men are more likely to have a condition which is commonly known as androgenic alopecia.