week 4 child

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Capella University *

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6015

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Psychology

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Dec 6, 2023

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1 Case Study Analysis: Early Childhood Tasha Robinson Capella University PSY6015: Lifespan Development Alisa Estey November, 2023

2 Case Study Terry and Bill, married for 5 years, are a Black couple who live in a small suburban community. Terry graduated from high school and worked as a receptionist before her marriage to Bill, a communications company manager. Because both of them believed that mothers should stay at home with young children, Terry quit her job when she had her first child, who is now an intense and active 4-year-old daughter named Dawn. Both parents were very attentive to their daughter and enjoyed caring for and playing with her when she was a baby. As Dawn got older, she became more active and assertive. When Dawn fussed, resisted, or showed frustration, Terry was patient and affectionate with her. She was able to coax Dawn out of her bad temper by making up little games that Dawn enjoyed. Both Terry and Bill liked Dawn’s spirited personality. Because her parents wanted her to have access to playmates, Dawn attended a church-related program for toddlers and preschoolers three mornings a week. When Dawn was 3 years old, Terry gave birth to the couple’s second child, a son named Darren. Soon after the baby’s birth, the family learned that Darren had a congenital heart problem that would require ongoing medical treatment and a specific regimen of care at home. Darren was an irritable baby. He fussed for long periods and was very difficult for Terry to soothe. Because of Darren’s need for medical care and the limitations of Bill’s medical insurance, the couple soon found themselves in financial difficulty. Bill began to take on overtime work at the company to subsidize some of the bills and was away from the home several nights a week and part of each weekend. Terry found the care of two demanding young children and the worries about money to be increasingly more stressful. She was always tired and seemed to have less patience with her family. Although she once had the leisure time to read to Dawn, to take her for walks, and to help her master tasks that proved frustrating, Terry now had to shift her attention to the care of her medically fragile infant. Because Dawn looked so grown-up compared to the vulnerable newborn, Terry began to perceive her daughter as able to do many things for herself. When Dawn demonstrated her neediness by clinging or whining, Terry became abrupt and demanded that Dawn stop. Many battles revolved around Terry’s new rule that Dawn have a nap or “quiet time” each afternoon so that mother and baby could get some rest. One day, Dawn’s preschool teacher, Mrs. Adams, asked to speak with Terry. Mrs. Adams noted that Dawn’s behavior was becoming a problem in the morning preschool sessions. Dawn had begun throwing toys when she became upset and often refused to cooperate in group activities. Terry was greatly embarrassed to hear about her daughter’s misbehavior. Dawn was the only Black child in the small class, and her mother wondered if this was part of the problem. When Terry got home, she put her tearful, clinging daughter in her room for time-out for being bad at school. She loved Dawn, but she could not tolerate this kind of behavior, especially when Darren needed so much of her time. She began to wonder if she and Bill had spoiled their daughter. Terry feared that Dawn would have problems when it came time for her to enter kindergarten if they didn’t take a strong stand with her now.

3 Introduction Terry and Bill have been married for 5 years and live in a small suburban community. Terry has a high school education and worked as a receptionist before her marriage. Bill is a communications company manager. They have a 4-year-old name Dawn and Terry is a stay at home mother. Dawn attended a church program for toddlers three mornings a week. They also have another child named Darren who has congenital heart issues. The couple struggles financially with only one income and Darren’s conduction. Dawn’s behavior was becoming an issue with her throwing toys at her church program. Terry was fearful that Dawn's behavior would lead to more disastrous consequences down the road. Dawn was the only black child in the school and Terry worried this was causing issues as well as the need to spend more one-on-one time with Dawn. The paper will include an analysis of lifespan theories and will analyze Terry and Bill’s family. Paget’s theories will also be discussed in relation to the family and it’s dynamic. Bill tends to work a lot in order to provide for the family. Terry is left to care for the children on her own. Terry cares for a toddler and an infant with medical issues. This type of stress can be detrimental to the entire family. It can be hard to spend the needed one one-on-one time with Dawn with such a heavy load for Terry to carry. This is impacting the way that Dawn is acting at home and at school. Case Study Analysis In Dawn's case, there is a lack of interaction between her and her parents. Bill is working a lot and trying to provide for the family, while her mother Terry is caring for an infant with a heart condition. Dawn lacks one-on-one time and guidance from her parents. This is evident by Terry placing Dawn in time-out due to her behavior at school. Terry did not take the time to talk to Dawn about what the issue was, she just went straight into a punishment. She did not take the time to talk or think about why Dawn was acting the way she was. The only thing mentioned was due to being the only black child in the class. Terry assumed this would be an issue. Paget’s assumptions of cognitive development assume that children go through stages and Dawn may be going through a stage of independence where she is finding herself (Rochat, 2023).

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4 Lifespan development psychology would indicate that development is not completed in adulthood but rather extends to the entire life course (Baltes et al., 1999). This would mean that not only is Dawn developing and progressing but her parents are still developing and progressing too. This would be why her mother is struggling to keep everything together and is having a hard time balancing life. “ Insecure attachment patterns are associated with vulnerability to internalizing symptoms” (Dagan et al., 2022). This would indicate that it is vitally important for Terry and Bill to make sure that Dawn is getting what she needs and that they have an attachment to her that she can recognize and understand. As children develop cognitively, they begin to base their self-evaluations on external feedback and social comparisons (Robins and Trzesniewski, 2005). One potential cause of internalizing symptoms across all developmental stages is the real or perceived loss of emotional ties to others (Dagan et al., 2022). Application of Lifespan Development Theory Piaget's theory of cognitive development, indicates that there are 4 stages to cognitive development. They are the Sensorimotor stage (0–2 years old), the Preoperational stage (2–7 years old), and the Concrete operational stage (7–11 years old) Formal operational stage (11 years old through adulthood) (Rochat, 2023). Sensorimotor indicates that children's behavior goes from being reflexive to more abstract. Preoperational is when children start to use mental abstractions. This is the stage that Dawn is most likely in. For concrete operations during this stage, children are more capable of solving problems. Finally, the foam operation stage is where children can think about hypothetical situations and possibilities. The preoperational stage is the stage that Dawn is in due to her age. In this stage, children engage in symbolic play and learn to manipulate symbols. They do not understand concrete logic. They tend to consider their own viewpoint and fail to understand that two things can be the same even if they appear different. During this stage, Piaget states that allowing children the freedom to explore their environments is how parents and educators can best help (Broderick & Blewitt, 2019) . Making sure that Dawn has the freedom to explore the world around her is very beneficial. Dawn's thinking is not yet logical, so when she is not cooperating in a manner that her parents and educators deem appropriate, she does not have the

5 ability to reason with them yet. Equal efforts from both her parents can contribute immensely to Dawn’s growth. “Insecure attachment patterns are associated with vulnerability to internalizing symptoms, such as depression and anxiety symptoms” (Dagan et al., 2022). If the pattern of discontent with Dawn continues, there is a good chance it will have some major impacts on Dawn’s development. Internalizing disorders of depression and anxiety are the most prevalent diagnosed mental illnesses in children, adolescents, and adults (Dagan et al., 2022). Studies have shown that disengagement and emotion-focused coping is associated with poorer psychological adjustment in adolescents (Heckhausen et al., 2010). It is harder for children to regulate how they feel. They take emotional cues from their parents. It would serve Dawn’s parents well to seek out help from a professional. The family can engage in family therapy that would allow for them all to discuss the familial issues at hand. They would also learn good coping skills which seem to be needed. Dawn would be able to express herself in a safe and conducive manner. Cultural and Personal Challenges to Development Individuals from interdependent cultures are more oriented toward others in their community or immediate social group when choosing goals (Heckhausen et al., 2010). When children are born they learn to adapt to their culture. Cultural background gives children a sense of who they are. When a child's identity is out of balance with their social environment due to cultural differences, it can obstruct learning. When parents and educators are culturally competent, it helps the child thrive in their environment. Culture is a powerful indicator of a child's future and well-being. Our childhood environments and how we respond to them can predict the course of our well-being as an adult. The first years of a brain's development are very crucial to a child, and Dawn’s developing brain is learning and taking in information all around her. This family identifies as Black, and that comes with its own challenges culturally. “Black Americans must navigate the often conflicting values and priorities of dominant mainstream society, the heritage culture of Black communities, and dynamics associated with being racially minoritized ” (Boykin et al,2023). It can be harder in some aspects for Black Americans. When my own

6 father moved to the northern states from the south, he had cultural difficulties fitting in. He was used to being in poverty and did not recognize his own worth until later in life. No one instilled in him the value of self-worth. Dawn’s parents could have experienced cultural difficulties in their lives. A parent's culture influences their children's development. This includes how they discipline and set boundaries. Parents teach their children social norms so they are prepared to go out in the world. When children communicate based on a collectivist culture, tend to fit in better with society. The cultural and individual challenges that might impact Dawn’s development could be where she lives. Black people historically have been placed in areas that are less than ideal it thrive in. Living in an impoverished area trickles throughout all aspects of life. School is impacted because there are not enough funds and the teachers are not paid well. Dawn living in an impoverished area would impact her throughout her life. She could experience a lack of transportation due to the bus not running in the area. She could experience a lack of fresh food if she lived in a food desert. Poverty can affect all aspects of life. Intervention Using Lifespan Developmental Theories Since Dawn is in the preoperative stage, her parents still have plenty of time to work out whatever issues arise. They are able to seek help from a professional and use them to learn the skills needed. The family can spend more time together to help curve ill behaviors. They can make sure they set aside time to be together as a family with no interruptions. Dawn's brain is in the stage where she is making memories. Dawn's attention-seeking behavior means that she needs more time with her parents She also needs more one-on-one time with each parent. It can be difficult to navigate a toddler and a sick infant. The family may want to consider seeking more family support. Piaget believed that children grow in stages (Rochat, 2023). Dawn and her sibling Darren are in a stage where they need everything from their parents. Terry used to go on walks, she could try taking both children for a walk even if it is a brief walk. A strong stance does need to be taken now with Dawn, that way her behavior does not increase to the point that she’s not able to function in kindergarten.

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7 Conclusion Dawn is a toddler in the preoperative stage according to Piaget. Dawn has been struggling with her behavior. She comes from a family with a mother, father, and sick brother Darren. Darren has medical issues and that makes it more difficult for Dawn's parents, especially her mother Terry. Terry is fearful that Dawn’s behavior will escalate and she will have difficulty in kindergarten. Terry worries that she and her husband Bill have spoiled Dawn. The parents would benefit from seeking help from a professional. They could learn coping skills for themselves and their children. They would also benefit from spending more quality time with their children, especially Dawn. Culture also comes into play for this family. They may have difficulty navigating life in society being Black. Children learn how to behave from their parents. This family loves each other but could benefit from some professional help.

8 References Baltes, P. B., Staudinger, U. M., & Lindenberger, U. (1999). Lifespan psychology: Theory and Application to intellectual functioning. Annual Review of Psychology, 50 , 471-507. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.50.1.471 Boykin, C. M., Coleman, S. T., Hurley, E. A., Tanksley, G. N., & Tyler, K. M. (2023). From triple quandary to talent quest: The past, present, and future of A Wade Boykin’s contributions to psychology. American Psychologist, 78(4), 428–440. https://doi- org.library.capella.edu/10.1037/amp0001116 Broderick, P. C., & Blewitt, P. (2019). The Life Span (5th ed.). Pearson Education (US). https://capella.vitalsource.com/books/9780135206157 Dagan, O., Groh, A. M., Madigan, S., & Bernard, K. (2021). A Lifespan Development Theory of Insecure Attachment and Internalizing Symptoms: Integrating Meta- Analytic Evidence via a Testable Evolutionary Mis/Match Hypothesis. Brain sciences , 11 (9), 1226. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091226 Heckhausen, J., Wrosch, C., & Schulz, R. (2010). A motivational theory of life-span development. Psychological Review, 117(1), 32–60. https://doi-org.library.capella.edu/10.1037/a0017668 Robins, & Trzesniewski, K. H. (2005). Self-Esteem Development Across the Lifespan. Current Directions in Psychological Science. , 14 (3), 158–162. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0963-7214.2005.00353.x Rochat. (2023). The Evolution of Developmental Theories Since Piaget: A Metaview. Perspectives on Psychological Science : a Journal of the Association for Psychological Science., 17456916231186611–17456916231186611. https://doi.org/10.1177/17456916231186611

week 4 child

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