Richard Russo’s memoir, Elsewhere, provides a son’s narration of a lifetime of adventures and tribulations with his mother, Jean. The piece also provides an ideal case study of development, experiences, challenges, and transitions across the adult phases of the human lifespan, thereby allowing for an application and analysis of adult psychology theories and concepts that are commonly presented in more objective and less narrative works. First, attention will be paid to the roles and relationships that Richard and Jean Russo establish throughout their lives. Then, cognitive aging and decline will be discussed in relation to Jean’s physical and mental health and her dementia. Richard’s role as Jean’s primary caregiver will be studied through …show more content…
In reflecting on childhood trips to the soda parlor or the beach with his mother, Richard provides a glimpse into the early roots of his and his mother’s lifelong relationship. In Chapter 6, Bjorklund (2013) discusses social relationships and defines attachment as the strong affectionate bond formed between an infant and their primary caregiver. Research suggests that the attachment bond that one has with one's caregiver in childhood significantly influences the relationships that one forms in adulthood. Russo describes the relationship that he and his mother formed throughout Richard’s childhood as one in which “we, the two of us, were all we needed [because] as long as we had each other, we’d be fine” (Russo, 19, 2012). This characterization foreshadows an adult bond of interdependence and reliance, one in which Richard and Jean would rely on each other to provide guidance, counsel, and meaning in life. As such, Richard’s transition into adulthood, marked by his move away to college at the University of Arizona, is complicated by his relationship with his mother. Arnett (2000) describes the period of emerging adulthood …show more content…
With time, Jean exhibits cognitive and physical declines that correlate with an increase in her reliance on the care and company of her son. Salthouse (2003) writes that age-related cognitive decline is relatively significant and begins in early adulthood. Some of these changes can be mitigated by strong relationships and social competence, which – O’Connor (2011) explains – predict positive development throughout adulthood. Jean, however, struggles with both relationships and social competence and is, as a result, more susceptible to physical and cognitive declines of aging. It is also important to recognize the role of Jean’s environment and background – one of little education, low income, poor mental health, a working-class background, and a lower socioeconomic status – in her complex mental health (APSY244 Notes, 1/31/17). Accounting for biological and environmental factors, one might conclude that Jean Russo was predisposed to poor physical and mental health. Later in the memoir, Richard reflects on a scene in which he encountered his mother disoriented, confused, and fixated on the clocks in her home. Richard immediately brought his mother to her primary care provider: “when he finished his examination, [Doctor] Mark took me aside. ‘Your mother is suffering from dementia,’ he said” (Russo, 177, 2012).