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Developmental Theory

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2.2.1 Developmental theory
One of the main focuses of this study will be on how adolescent fathers cope with a developmentally off-time event that is, fatherhood which occur at a time when young men are not yet developmentally ready for this role. According to Ashford (2006) the developmental, or life-course perspective describe a process by which people pass through and these processes are “age-differentiated life patterns” (p. 33). This process is constantly adjusted, as a person is continuously changing in response to environmental changes. The process also tends of follow specific specific patterns in which most individuals go through the same stages at similar ages. For Instance, during the period of toddlerhood, babies begin to …show more content…
Especially relevant to this research is the timing orole transitions. Ashford (2006) illustrates that , “the timing of the event in relation to a person's chronological age can have significant implications for the consequence of the event” (p. 35). The Outcome of events occurring earlier than ‘normal’ are usually negative as a the teenage father has not completed the developmental tasks of his life stage, and this may leave them unprepared to deal with challenges faced with a transitional event (Ashford et al,2006). This Study will evaluate those outcome for young fathers.Developmental stages are influenced by cultural expectations, and as previously described, the teen years and early 20’s are considered adolescence which in African Culture is categorized by freedom, identify formation, and experimentation (Nkosi,2006). Fatherhood is not expected until a later developmental stage of adulthood, when a person has achieved stability through a long-term relationship and career. Thus, this study starts with the assumption that the arrival of a child before a man has reached the appropriate developmental stage will cause stress and difficulty related to role …show more content…
One is Erik Erikson's idea that during adolescence, a person forms a primaryidentity, basically answering the question, “who am I,” in terms of self-beliefs and interactions with the community (Deaux, 2000). Identity is primarily expressed through the behaviors people use to present themselves to others, indicating parts of their identity, such as a student and professor behave in certain ways characteristic of their identities.This research will use Erikson's perspective that a person attempts to form a relatively stable identity over time, although elements change as a person takes on new social roles and experiences new situations. When a person is faced with challenges to their identity, a psychological process ensues where the person attempts to fit the various pieces together into a cohesive sense of self (Deaux, 2000).This knowledge is important to this research as it will examine how young fathers integrate the contrasting identities of adolescent and father, and how their interactions with others help or hinder this process. During this study, young fathers will be asked to discuss a feeling of “wholeness” in terms of themselves, or difficulty fitting different roles

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