Life Analysis
By Ben Bradshaw
Human Growth & Development
Psychology 1100-022
Introduction
Throughout my life my parents have played an enormous part. In some ways, my life
analysis is as much about my parents as it is about me. The lessons I learned from my parents
can be seen in every stage of my personal development. My parents tended to lean towards
believing in the behavioral development theory, particularly in B.F. Skinner’s idea of Operant
Conditioning, believing in applying rewards and punishments for either positive or negative
actions. However, as my parents and I grew older, they began to subscribe more to the
Cognitive development theory when they realized that rewards and punishments were no
longer enough to reinforce the behaviors they wished me to exhibit and realized that I would
have to start thinking for myself with only a little guidance from them. This shift in my parent’s
views is also paralleled by a change from more authoritarian to authoritative parenting styles.
Feeling like I have turned out relatively well and having grown up in this environment, I, too,
believe in the effectiveness of these theories and it is easily distinguished in the major events of
my life.
Chapter 1:
Infancy and Toddlerhood (0-2 Years)
Biosocial Development: My parents got married in June of 1986 and became pregnant
within the first 6 months. My mother describes being pregnant with me as “the perfect
pregnancy.” She loved being pregnant and had no issues all the way to the birth. I was born on
August 2, 1987. Having been my mom’s first child, the doctor had to use forceps to help me in
the birthing process, other than that the birth went off without a hitch. During the next two
years, both my gross and fine motor skills advanced rapidly: I was walking on my own by the
age of nine months and I preferred toys that had parts I could manipulate with my fingers.
Cognitive Development: I began to communicate with my parents as I listened to the
way they spoke and learned from watching their example. I began to babble more and more
due to the positive reinforcement I was given. The first distinctive form of communication that
my parents recognized was a grabbing motion I would make when I wanted something.
Psychosocial Development: I was an easy baby and had goodness of fit with my mother.
I was a very independent infant and my mother was fine if she wasn’t constantly holding me. I
was a very curious child and I would throw fits if I was restrained from doing what I wished. My
mother loves to tell a story of when I was almost 2 years old, my mom had gone to the mall
with a friend of hers and when she wouldn’t let me wander off to explore I started to scream.
She says that it was one of the most embarrassing moments of her life because the screaming
was so loud and intense that a security guard actually came up to her and asked her to “get that
kid out of here.”
Chapter 2:
Early Childhood (2-6 Years)
Biosocial Development: When I was three years old I broke my arm when I fell down
some metal stairs at the apartment complex. I also got chicken pox during this time.
Cognitive Development: During this time I started school and I loved it. My mom tells
me that when she dropped me off for my first day of school I walked right in without looking
back. I was diagnosed with ADHD after an incident with my teacher. I had been making loud,
annoying noises for a week straight during class when the teacher has her back turned. She
finally found out that it was me making the noises and called my parents. She suggested that I
might have ADHD which ended up being the case.
I remember having a stuffed animal I would play with frequently and felt like it was a
real friend of mine. I remember feeling bad if I didn’t play with it often enough or give it enough
attention. This is an example of animism because an inanimate object seemed and felt real to
me. I also remember being introduced to a lot of technology such as computer games,
Nintendo and television.
Psychosocial Development: This is also the period where I began making friends while at
school. My mother tells me that because I was so independent I had no separation anxiety and
eased into my school life and friends without any problems.
Chapter 3: Middle and Late Childhood (6-12 Years)
Biosocial Development: Physically, my eye-hand coordination improved due to playing
video games. I became more active by participating in an indoor soccer team which improved
my overall health. I learned how to respect my teammates and how to be a team player but
also remember the effect on my self-esteem when our team won or lost.
Cognitive Development: At this time I was still struggling with ADHD but was prescribed
Ritallin. I did not feel the effects of the learning disability because I did well once I was on this
medication. This is when I started doing really well in school and realized the importance of it.
Psychosocial Development: I had a few close friends in the neighborhood and we played
games together often. We used to play in the park next to my house and entertained ourselves by
making up games and using our imagination.
Chapter 4: Adolescence (13-19 Years)
Biosocial Development: During this time I experienced a growth spurt and became
skinny and tall. I hit puberty making my voice lower and facial hair appear.
Cognitive Development: I started middle school and during this time I learned to cope
with ADHD without taking any medication. I did really well until 9th grade when my parents got
divorced. Once this happened, my grades dropped because of the stress of the divorce. My
parents then remarried a year later and I started to improve once I entered high school.
This is also when I learned to drive and I remember a specific event where I was playing
around in my parents’ van. I was swerving back and forth on an icy road during a snow storm
because I was with a friend and was goofing off. I ended up losing control and drove through a
fence onto someone’s front yard. This reckless behavior is an example of the adolescent
invincibility fable because I did not consider the fact or care that I might get hurt.
Psychosocial Development: My parent’s divorce caused a stressful time in my life and I
formed new lasting friendships.
Chapter 5: Emerging Adulthood (19-25 Years)
Biosocial Development: This is when I became most fit because of the time period in my life
and also because of a laborious job. I married when I was 21 but got divorced when I was 23. I stopped
eating, lost weight and became extremely unhealthy overall. This lasted for a time but towards the end
of this period I became healthy again and got my health and life back in order. This reinforces the
fact that people whose parents have been divorced have a higher chance of being divorced
themselves.
Cognitive Development: I started attending college and learned to take care of myself by
paying bills, working, going to school, etc.
Psychosocial Development: As previously mentioned I got married and divorced during
this time. While I was married my social life was virtually limited to my wife because we both
withdrew from our friends and focused our attention on each other. Once the divorce
happened I was diagnosed with depression and started taking Sertraline for depression. I also
started taking Adderol for my ADHD.
Chapter 6: Early Adulthood (25-40 Years)
Biosocial Development: This is the period of my life when I begin to feel the effects of
my age, or senescence.
Cognitive Development: I graduated from college with a Master’s degree in Mechanical
Engineering. Once I completed my education I started my career right on schedule with the
social clock.
Psychosocial Development: I got married for a second time and began to create a family with
my wife by having children.
Chapter 7: Middle Adulthood (40-60 Years)
Biosocial Development: Senescence becomes more prevalent and I am not as physically fit.
However, I’m not quite feeble yet and maintain an active lifestyle.
Cognitive Development: This is when I reach the peak of my career. I became an
associate of a local engineering firm and make a comfortable living. At this point I become an
expert in my line of work.
Psychosocial Development: During this time my children move out and my wife and I
become empty nesters. My father dies of natural causes and my mother dies 2 years later from
grief and loneliness.
Chapter 8: Late Adulthood (60+ years)
Biosocial Development: My health steadily declines during this period. I die from a stroke at
the age of 76.
Cognitive Development: I start to have trouble with my memory.
Psychosocial Development: My wife survives me. I become closer with my siblings at this
age and my younger brother Jared dies of old age. Once this happens I contemplate my own
death and become more comfortable with it.
Learning Outcomes
I feel this assignment has helped me learn to work with others by having to gain
information that I myself didn’t have in order to tell the complete story of my life. It has also
taught me to think critically in having to identify the many theories and terms as they have
happened in my life. Finally I have learned to communicate effectively by organizing my analysis
in a way that makes sense and helps the reader understand what point of life I am talking
about.