Human Development
October 14, 2014

In order to gain more knowledge about young Psychosocial Development in Merging and adulthood, I interview a young lady in college who is approaching her 30th birthday in January. For the purpose of this interview I will called the young lady Paige, a factious name to protect her privacy. Paige is the only child for her parents. She grew up in an upper class neighborhood in Greenwich where money wasn’t an option for luxury. Both her parents are still alive and a fixture in the social life like Donald Trump. When I asked Paige about what influences her path and becoming an adult, she answered with angelic smile that life experience and her environment forces her to be an adult at an early age as 13. For example my mom had been sick at home with Osteoporosis (a joint disease) since I was 12 years of age. I had to make sure she was properly care for at night, by assisting with medication and her frequent bathroom visits. My parents had so much pride to have a living care giver. They don’t want the stigma of been sick and unable to be a nursing home picture to anyone in their social circle. I noticed at the end of her answer she got really joyfully like a child getting her first Barbie doll. In addition to that, Paige mention that she her parents thought her at early age that financial and educational success is not an option. She was helping her dad in his Law office every other weekend which earned her $20.00 “chuckle”. Moreover, Spanish and Piano classes was an after school program that I enjoyed because I get to socialized with my wealthy friends like the Jacksons.
Due to the fact that my parents was and still involve in my life, my time away from home made our relationship more emotional attached. My mom would recited a Maya Angelo poem, “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it. This would made me felt like I can be the next Oprah. My dad on the other hand would make sure that I am in need of everything money can buy. However, Thanksgiving was like an energy buster for me because it give me more time to bond with my mom and shared personal college life experience. Like talking about my first kiss and heart break. At this point, based on Paige’s candid honest answers to my questions, I asked her if she believed her personality has changed during adult hood. Paige responded stating that the credential of adulthood for merging young possess many challenges for various reason: Education, adjustment and family life. To answer your question, yes it does. Not having a roommate in college forces me to be more independent and self-reliable. What I am saying is not having my meal served to me when I wanted it was major change for me. My personality was over bearing with a lot of negative complaint about college life. For example, my dorm is too far from the cafeteria, the food is horrible and I can’t stand walking in the snow to class. In addition to that my career goals change from Doctor to Journalist and finally my view on social class has change. My Boyfriend is from Marcy Project in Brooklyn. It’s not where you are from but where you are going.
While interviewing Paige, I realized that she has experienced varied paths to adulthood. For instance she was forced to be responsible at an early, helping her mom at night when she should be sleeping. In the book Papalia consider Paige changes as Influences on Paths to Adulthood- Individual paths to adulthood are influenced by such factors as gender, academic ability, race and ethnicity (page 452). Another important concept was Developing Adult Relationship with Parents- Young adult leave home, they must complete the negation of autonomy begun in adolescence and redefine their relationship with their parents as between adulthood. (Papalia 455). In this concept Paige parents made frequent phone calls to maintain their relationships and ensure that all her necessity is taken care of financially. As for Paige personality changes, it is similar to Erikson’s four views on Personality Development: Normative-stage Model –Theoretical models that describe psychosocial development in terms of a definite sequence of age –related changes. (Page 457).
Timing-of events models- Theoretical model of personality development that describes adult psychosocial development as a response to the expected or unexpected occurrence and timing of life important life events. (Page 458).
Trait Models – Theoretical models of personality development that focus on mental, emotional, temperamental, and behavioral traits or attributes. (Page 459).
Typological models- Theoretical approach that identifies broad personality types, or styles. (Page 461).I believed she had gone through all these four stage base on her final answer about personality changes.
In summary, this interview with a young a young adult confirmed my believed that young adults struggles with Erikson’s psychosocial stage of development. For instance, the challenges of finding meaning full connection without losing oneself in the process. This interview also helps enlighten me on the fact that emerging adults firmly affix to their parents or guardian who view them as having used an authoritative child—rearing style are more likely to have coordinated parents social class or educational belief. In their own world.
Reference: Papalia Feldman