Unit 4: Development through the life stages
P3- Explain the influences of two predictable and two unpredictable major life events on the development of an individual
Marriage
Marriage is a predictable life event because it something which an individual expects to happen. Jenifer Aniston got married to Brad Pitt.
Marriage created a positive effect on Jenifer’s physical development because it is good for your health as she will have felt happier and healthier. It will have also made Jenifer less likely to suffer from mental health problems therefore, meaning she will have a longer life expectancy.
This affected Jenifer’s emotional development positively because she had made an emotional attachment with her partner. It allowed her to develop trust in another person who she felt comfortable around. Also, both Jenifer and Brad were able to express how they felt and they would stand by one another ensuring they were happy.
Marriage will have affected Jenifer’s intellectual development in a positive way because it creates a partnership which involves one another supporting each other throughout work and forming unity in all areas of life. Marriage is a support network.
Marriage also allowed Jenifer to experiencing intimacy; this could have affected Jenifer socially in both a positive and negative way. It could have created a negative effect because she felt like she had a loss of independence and no longer had a choice in what she wanted to do due to feeling threatened for example; she may spend less time with her friends. On the other hand, it created a positive effect because she felt love and respect both towards and from someone else; this made her happy and developed a strong relationship with them, creating a positive self-esteem.
Employment
Employment is a predictable life event because it is something which an individual expects to happen. Jenifer Aniston began her acting career in 1994.
Employment creates both a positive and negative effect on physical development. It creates a positive effect because employment will have enabled Jenifer to afford gym fees but on the other hand it creates a negative effect because Jenifer may work long hours leaving her tired and therefore, developing bad dieting habits and less physical exercise.
Employment created a positive effect on Jenifer’s intellectual development because she had a solid work role allowing her to feel good about herself and expand her knowledge. Also, in the long-term it will have created a positive effect on her development because she will be able to progress and work her way higher and higher in the career. Having a solid work role meant she was secure and didn’t need to worry about being fired of losing the job.
Employment allowed Jenifer to earn an income. This meant she could gain independence and confidence during her work. Jenifer was able to spend the money she earns on what she wants, whether this was on household bills/appliances or luxuries.
However, employment could have been a struggle for Jenifer’s social development as she may have experienced a difficulty adapting to the environment due to it being a change in her lifestyle. Jenifer could have struggle with the new demands from the job therefore, she may have sleep loss and spend less time with her friends effecting her social development negatively.
Divorce
Divorce is an unpredictable life event because it is something which you don’t expect to happen. Jenifer Aniston went through a divorce with Brad Pitt.
Divorce could have created a negative effect on Jenifer’s physical development because she may let herself go and stop exercising. She may also have stopped eating meaning she will lose a serious amount of weight of she may have eaten more un-nutritional foods causing her to have a bad diet.
Divorce could have caused Jenifer to experience grief which is a negative effect on her social development because she may have socially isolated herself and stopped going out spending time with friends. Grief could occur because of the loss of the relationship, her marriage had broken down which could become an extremely emotional time.
Divorce could have created a negative effect on Jenifer’s emotional development because it could lead to her developing depression or resentment. Resentment is when someone develops hatred towards something else; during a divorce partners could begin to resent each other due to the reason behind them divorcing. Depression is when an individual cannot deal with everyday life and things get on top of you.
Jenifer would have had to adapt to a brand new lifestyle where she isn’t surrounded by someone else’s company, this could be positive on her development because she may feel that she is gaining her independence back.
Family dysfunction
Family dysfunction is an unpredictable life event because it is something which you don’t expect to happen. Jenifer Aniston suffered a family dysfunction when her mother betrayed her and they became estranged for 10 years.
Family dysfunction could have caused Jenifer to feel alone and unwanted by her family. This is due to feeling hurt at what has happened. Emotionally it will affect her negatively because she will be upset as she trusted her mum with her life and she then had to live without talking to her for 10 years which will have been a struggle.
Socially family dysfunction could have affected Jenifer both positive and negatively. It could have affected her positively because she may have become closer to her friends as they provided her with support and comfort throughout the emotional time. On the other hand it could have affected her negatively because she could have isolated herself and not gone out or gone to work due to feeling destroyed and heartbroken.
Family dysfunction could create a positive effect on Jenifer’s development in long-term because she will have more independence and may have realised that she doesn’t need the support of her family to be successful in life.