BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE

IzBen C. Williams, MD, MPHLecturer

The Life Cycle II

ChildhoodAdolescence

Special Issues of Development &

Adulthood

CHILDHOOD: Age 3 to Puberty

PERIOD OF MAJOR CHANGEEmphasis shifts:

from central focus of child’s relationship with mother

to child’s relationship with both parentsTo socialization with child’s peers

A Bio-Psycho-Social paradigm is applicable

A. Biological and Maturational Factors 1

1. Physical growthAverage heights for boys and girls steady

up to about age 9 The brain reaches about 90% of its adult

weight at age 62. Motor

Reproduces circle at 2, cross at 3, square at 5 & diamond at 7

Walks up stairs unaided and stand on one foot from age 3

Biological and Maturational Factors 2

3. Some social characteristics of school age childPrefers to play with children of same sexIdentifies with parent of same sexHas relationships with adults other than

parentsDemonstrates little interest in psychosocial

issuesHas internalized a moral sense of right and

wrong and understands how to follow rules

Biological and Maturational Factors 3

Speech and Language DevelopmentAdvances rapidly between ages 3 and 5,

the average child learning two new words per day

Cognitive MaturationProgressing from the sensory motor stage

of object permanence, two further stages emerge a) The Preoperational Stage (2-7)b) The Concrete operational Stage (7-11)

Biological and Maturational Factors 4

a) Preoperational Stage (2-7): transition from action and sensation to thought. There is…….

Symbolic function: eg words and objects become symbols

Egocentrism: child unable to put himself in the place of someone else

Animism: the belief that every moving object is alive, (including feces)

Biological and Maturational Factors 5

a) Preoperational Stage (2-7 - cont’d): transition from action and sensation to thought. There is…….

Artificialism: believing that all things are made by humans for humans. Adults have answers to all questions

Causality blurred: unable to distinguish between physical vs psychological causality; hence illness may be perceived as punishment

Concept of conservation unclear: eg. conservation of mass and volume when shape changes

Biological and Maturational Factors 6

b) Concrete operational Stage (7-11): mastering the characteristics of the preoperational stageThe capacity for reversibility is now

understood and thereby the concept of conservation (eg, understanding volume and mass)

Can put him/her self in the place of someone else (empathy)

Can understand classifications and comparative dimensions

B. Psychological and Social Development 1

1. Psychosexual Developmenta. Child, having established an emotionally positive attachment, a sense of autonomy and a sense of self, …now enters phallic phase age 3-6 characterized by the Oedipus complex

1 primary interest in genitals for pleasure2. The Oedipus involves a triadic relationship

among father-mother-child in which the child wishes to have sole possession of the opposite sex parent

Psychological and Social Development 2

Psychosexual Development (cont’d)3. Oedipus conflict – child feels rivalry with

parent of same sex and fears retaliation (castration anxiety in boy, loss of love in girl)

4. Oedipus complex fades by about age 6 and as it recedes child resolves to grow up like parent of same sex and identifies with that authority, thereby beginning the development of an internalized conscience (the superego).

Psychological and Social Development 3

Psychosexual Development (cont’d)b. Latency: period between resolution of

the oedipal conflict and the onset of puberty. A period of:Strict conscience & Strong defenses: eg

reaction formation (as in “I hate girls), identification (as in “superheroes), and displacement (as in ‘competition with peers rather than dad’)

Fantasies (eg. ideal family, imaginary companion etc)

Psychological and Social Development 4

2. Play: an important part of a child’s worlda. Role play (age 3-4) a type of masteryb. Parallel (autonomous) play) succeeded

by……c. Cooperative play (interactional,

reciprocal)d. Group games

Games provide bodily mastery, self confidence, peer interaction, sublimated competitiveness, resolution of many anxieties

Psychological and Social Development 5

3. Social Development: Varied social experiences prepare the

nursery school child to develop socially and for enlarging the universe of people important to him.

Entry into school continues this process in profound ways, ultimately preparing the young for adult roles

ADOLESCENCEA. BIOLOGICAL FACTORS

1. PubertyGenerally biological changes occur earlier for

girls (about age 11-12) than for boys (about 12-14).

Although biologically based, these changes have profound psychological consequences

ADOLESCENCE 22. Cognition

Recall: a) The Preoperational Stage (2-7)b) The Concrete operational Stage (7-11)

Formal operational stage now reached (11 plus)Capacity for abstract and propositional

thinking about multiple variablesCan analyze abstract concepts of truth and

virtueEgocentrism more manifest

ADOLESCENCE 3B. PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS

1. Developmental TasksPsychological separation from parentsConsolidation of sense of self (formation of

Ericson’s ego identity)and attendant conflictsCapacity for love relationships (outside of

family)Control of impulse (particularly sex and

aggression)

ADOLESCENCE 4 PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS

2. Adolescent turmoilWas previously thought that the extreme

behavioral and emotional shifts (suicidality, substance abuse, sexual promiscuity) reflected normal adolescence.

Studies of normal adolescents did not support this view, and hence now understood as evidence of moderate to severs disorders

ADOLESCENCE 4 SOCIOCULTURAL FACTORS

1. Duration of adolescence: socioculturally determined (longer in developed countries)

Social class: significantly determines the nature of middle and late adolescence. In middle and upper classes there is a prolonged period of dependence

ADULTHOODA. EARLY ADULTHOOD (20-40)

1. Biological factors2. Psychological factors.3. Sociocultural factors

ADULTHOOD 2A. EARLY ADULTHOOD (20-40)

1. Biological factors: Body reaches its peak, physically, reproductively & cognitively.

Adult development is not as concerned with the acquisition of new capacities as it is with the use to which available capacities are put.

ADULTHOOD 3A. EARLY ADULTHOOD (20-40)

2. Psychological factors: the principal developmental tasks at this stage include:

a. Development of the capacity for intimacy and its hallmark task – parenthood.Parenthood as a developmental phase

permanently alters life in all further stagesb. Career : In western society adult identity

is often influenced by the work one does.Stressors of adulthood and coping

ADULTHOOD 4B. MIDDLE ADULTHOOD (40-60)

1. Biological Factors: The aging process, illness and the inevitability of death largely shapes psychological development in mid-adulthooda. In women, menopause and its attendant

syndrome. Although it is a biological event the most significant effects are psychological including anxiety and depression (on appraisal of prior and future phases of their lives) diminishing choices)

b. In men, no biological equivalent but similar appraisal and reflection on diminishing choices

ADULTHOOD 5B. MIDDLE ADULTHOOD (40-60)

1. Biological Factors: The aging process, illness and the inevitability of death largely shapes psychological development in mid-adulthooda. In women, menopause Although it is a

biological event the most significant effects are psychological including anxiety and depression (on appraisal of prior and future phases of their lives)

b. In men, no biological equivalent but similar appraisal and reflection on diminishing choices

ADULTHOOD 6B. MIDDLE ADULTHOOD (40-60)

1. Psychological Factors:a. The midlife crisisb. The midlife transition (less severe form)c. Relationships with children changed. Decline in healthe. There are advantages: wisdom,

experience privileges, rank etc

LATER ADULTHOOD & OLD AGE (60+)

A. BIOLOGICAL FACTORS: Decline is not uniform, but there’s diminishing physical and cognitive capacities plus increased likelihood of acute and chronic illness1. The pathologic process of aging2. Cognitive capacities3. General decline in physical function

LATER ADULTHOOD & OLD AGE (60+) - 2

B. PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS: 1. Retirement: utility value challenged2. Reappraisal of lived life:

Reaffirmation of sense of integrityRealization of despair (Erickson)

3. Prospect of institutional care (although only 20%)

LATER ADULTHOOD & OLD AGE (60+) - 3

C. SOCIOCULTURAL FACTORS: The relative over-65 population continues to increaseErikson refers to this last stage psychosocial

development as ego-identity (satisfaction)vs despair

Traditional youth-oriented society becoming more old-age conscious

Senior citizen’s advocacy groups have galvanized attention and combatted prejudicial attitudes

Erikson’s conception of developmental sequence

Psychosocial StageAge

(years)

Polarity

I. Oral-sensory 0-1 Trust vs mistrust

II. Muscular-anal 1-3 Autonomy vs shame and doubt

III. Locomotor-general 3-6 Initiative vs guilt

IV. Latency 6-12 Industry vs inferiority

V. Puberty and adolescence 12-20 Identity vs role confusion

VI. Young adulthood 20-30 Intimacy vs isolation

VII. Adulthood 30-65 Generality vs self absorption

VIII. Maturity and Death 65+ Ego integrity vs despair