EXAMINE THE EFFECTS OF CONTEXT ON LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT
INSTRUCTIONS (Please read the instructions twice and follow all the instructions below in detail and read all the resources before you start the project)
Understanding Lifespan Development
As discussed earlier in this course, development is not something that occurs only in childhood, but is rather an ongoing part of the human experience, from birth to death. Kurse and Schmitt (2001) define lifespan development as a “continuous and active process of coping with developmental tasks, i.e., demands, challenges, and changes that depend on people’s environment and life situation in given phases of the aging process” (p. 4223). It is these environments and life situations that are the unique context of people’s lives.
As discussed last week, people’s social locations and positions in their environments can have lasting effects on their development. How these contexts shape people’s lives change as they age and encounter and become parts of new systems. As people get older, they may also view their context in different ways than they had as a child. For example, you may have a different connection with your religion when you are a child than you do when you are an adult.
As an MFT, you will work with clients throughout the lifespan. This can involve helping clients navigate lifespan transitions, such as getting married or becoming parents. Working with families, you will also need to navigate the interactions of different life stages within a family. For instance, helping a client through raising children while also caring for elderly parents. Having a strong foundation in lifespan development will help you to do this.
Reference
Kruse, A., & Schmitt, E. (2001). Psychology of education in old age. In N. J. Smelser & P. B. Baltes (Eds.), International encyclopedia of the social and behavioral sciences (pp. 4223-4227).
Select one stage of the family life cycle (e.g., emerging young adults, couple formation, families nearing the end of life). Consider how this stage would be similar and different for people with different cultural backgrounds and social locations (e.g., of different races, economic status, religion, sexual orientation). In your paper, you should:
*Identify which family life cycle stage you selected.
*Identify two hypothetical people you will use to compare and contrast. They should differ in at least two social locations (i.e., a heterosexual Black man with a gay Latinx man).
*Discuss how your therapeutic approach might differ for these two clients based on their cultural background and social locations.
*Consider your own personal cultural and diverse contexts, and how they shape your position as a therapist and your attitude during your therapeutic conversations. How might the awareness of your privilege/struggle benefit the therapeutic endeavor when working with clients?
Length: 3 pages
References: Include a minimum of 2 scholarly resources.
The completed assignment should address all of the assignment requirements, exhibit evidence of concept knowledge, and demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the content presented in the course. The writing should integrate scholarly resources, reflect academic expectations and current APA standards.
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RESOURCES
Expanded Family Life Cycle: Individual, Family, and Social Perspectives McGoldrick, M., Carter, E. A., & Garcia-Preto, N. (2016). Expanded family life cycle: Individual, family, and social perspectives (5th ed.). Pearson Allyn & Bacon. Read Chapters 2-12.
On Fathers and Sons and Love DeBose, C. (Director). (2015, January 1). On fathers and sons and love [Video]. SOC Media Films. Watch Video.
