On the 4th of April 1965 in Manhatten , Newyork cityAn American Actor , writer , producer , cinematographer and director Robert Doweny and his wife actress Elsie Ford welcomed their second child Robert Downey Jr into the world . He appears to have been gifted with all of the best that nature and genetic inhereatance can provide , good looks , a gifted actor , singer and a great sence of humour . The success he appercaiates today was however very nearly shortlived . In this article I wish to look at his life from early beginnings to present day . The question for him as with many of us , which has been debated by psycologist for many years , is has the life you have lived and will live (Life stages) down to nature or nurtre . That is to say is it down to the environment in which we live and learned behaviour or due to our genitic makeup . That is to say inhereted ?
To answer I have chosen to look at the life of Robert Downy Jr who from a young age perhaps even birth has lived a very complex life where environmental factors have diffently played a major role in the way in which he lives / lived his life how much inheretence was involved with his physical intellectual emotional social development known as P.I.E.S is perhaps something that will be answred by the end of this article , so to be begin at the beginning .
For the perpose of this article I have chosen to break up the the life cycle into five sections to see how Roberts P.I.E.S has been effected in each area . birth and infancy – 0-3 years childhood – 4-9 years adolecence- 10-18 years adulthood – 19-65 years older adulthood- 65+( the final stages of life )
There are five stages of human growth these are pre-natel , Infancy , Childhood , adolescence and adulthood , including later adulthood 'twilight ' years . conception is the fertilization of the egg from the female by the sperm from the male and its implantation in the uterine wall usually after sexual intercorse although there are other methods such as I vf if you have problems concieving in the usual manner .The egg then becomes fertilised leading to pregancy , hopefully provided there are no complications this will lead to a full 38 to 40 week term . Known as the gestation period, which in turn is broken up into three stages called the trimester . For the first eight weeks the being growing is known as the embryo after which it is called the fetus . During the first three months the bone's begin to harden and organs begin to form ,this is followed by the lungs and eyes developing , the remaining time is allowing the nevous system to develop and lungs to muture to enable breathing .
Whilst during this time it can be argued that as the baby is not yet born emotional development does not take place , I have found many mothers would argue that a baby does in fact pick up on the mothers feelings , worries and anxity whilst in the womb It can also be argued that by hearing a mothers / fathers voice whist in the womb the baby begins social development .Once fully formed and providing the mother as gone full term labour should begin this again has three stages the cervics is dilated to around ten centimeters so that the head can pass through .The baby then gets delivererd hopefully head first facing backwards then as the baby rotates the shoulders come out one at a time ,this hopefully prevents damage to the mother such as tearing . The placenta is then removed this should whigh almost as much as the baby and be in one piece .
The baby is now completely dependent on it's mother / parents .Once home the mother and infant are cared for by the community practitioners the midwife at first and then the health vistor until the child is five . During this time not all children will develop both physically and mentally at the same rate this is due to many factors I.e how much interaction is given from other family members , the size of the family children with a lot of older siblings may begin walking and talking sooner than those without . There may also be medical problems such as autism , brain damage at birth , both hearing and visual problems which are basic tests preformed by the midwife and health vistor . Muscular dystrophy all 0f which usauly show signs before the age of five , a poor diet can also lead to problems with growth and development . The baby begins to take control of it's movements from the top moving down to it's feet . The chart below is a guide to the usaul growth of a child ,
Age | Physical /Motor Skills | Language /Communication | Thinking /Cognitive | Social /Emotional | Birth to 3 Months | Makes jerky arm movements Holds hands in tight fists Brings hand within range of eyes and mouth Head falls back when unsupported Raises & moves head side to side when lying on their stomach Begins reflexes including, sucking, grasping & holding their tongue to the roof of their mouth | Infants pay close attention to sounds and language Responds to speech by looking at the person speaking Reacts to changes in tone, pitch, volume and intonation Communicates with movements including crying, jabbering and laughing Attempts to mimic sounds | Most infants can see within 13 inches clearly Starts to focus & follow moving objects and people Can see all colors Distinguishes tastes involving, sweet, sour, bitter and salty Preference for high contrast items Responds with facial expressions to strong odors | Begins to suck fingers Watch and Observe Hands Responds positively to touch Starts to recognize body parts, examples, arms & legs Learns to feel comfort with a familiar adult Will respond to touch Begins to smile and express pleasure to social interaction | 3 to 6 Months | Becomes stronger and more alert Begins movements utilizing large muscle groups including rolling over and pushing the body forward Starts to reach for objects Grasps objects and puts them in their mouth Makes discoveries of object’s qualities including the noises they make when moving them | Loves to have conversations through exchanging sounds, facial expressions and bodily gestures Recognizes familiar voices of mom, dad and caregiver Listens to conversations Repeats some sounds involving vowels and consonants | Begins to recognize faces Can differentiate people by the way they look, sound or feel Reacts to and mimics facial expressions Starts to respond to familiar sounds Starts to anticipate routine events including changing, feeding and bathing | Will begin to initiate social interaction Plays peek-a-boo Starts to recognize their name Can laugh out loud Smiles more freely | 6 to 9Months | Babies becomes more mobile Starts reaching and pulling up on furniture Begins motions to crawl Grasps and pull objects towards themselves Transfers items between hands | Vocals increase Begins repetitive jabbering Can associate gestures with small words and two word phrases like “hey” and “bye-bye” Starts to use vocal & non-vocal communication to express interest | At an early age, babies try to learn how things work Begin to stare longer at suspended objects Can distinguish between nonliving and living objects Uses size of objects to decipher how close or far away they are | Begins to show preferences for familiar people Expresses more emotions Will respond to voices & gestures Will display discontentment at the loss of a toy | 9 to 12 Months | Babies will begin to sit and stand without support Starts walking with assistance Can roll a ball and throw objects Will pick up and drop toys Begins picking up objects using thumb and one finger | Children begin trying to talk Babies can recognize the names of familiar individuals and objects Displays understanding by responding with body language and facial expressions Can say a few simple words Understands and responds to “No-no” by stopping | Responds to simple questions & directions with gestures, sounds and some words Expresses pleasure when looking at picture books Explores how things work Experiments with physical objects, turning items over and fitting them into larger containers | Imitates simple actions Become responsive to their name Will begin to feed themselves finger foods Starts to hold cup with both hands and assistance Expresses apprehension when separated from mom or dad Waves “Bye-bye” | 1 to 2 Years | Self-initiated movements become easier Begins to walk alone Will try to walk backwards Picks up objects while standing Can seat self in children’s chairs Pushes and pulls objects Can walk up & down stairs with assistance Moves in response to music/singing Begins to scribble using fisted hand | Starts to repeat & understand many words & simple phrases Follows series of simple directions Can communicate a few words clearly Can say single words to explain an event or request for an object At 18 months children begin learning about 9 words a day | Spends a great deal of time observing and imitating adult’s actions and language Understands words & instructions by responding correctly Begins matching like objects Starts recognizing characters in books & movies with help Can distinguish between “you” & “me” | Will begin to recognize themselves in pictures and the mirror Obeys few commands Begins to play by themselves & mimic adult behaviors during play Shows pleasure in new accomplishments Expresses negative feelings Starts to help with small tasks | 2 to 3Years | Become more comfortable with motions, increased speed and coordination Begins movements such as, running, jumping with both feet, walking on tip toes and kicking Can stand on one foot with support Turns pages of books Holds drawing utensils with thumb and finger, not fist Children are able to maneuver small objects with more control | Starts to join words to form short sentences Begins to use modifiers (adverbs and adjectives) Begins to point to familiar objects as they are named Names objects based on their descriptions Responds to simple questions including “where?” and “what?” Enjoys listening to stories and reading books Starts to recall and explain events that occurred that day | Begins to group objects by category Identifies themselves in the mirror or pictures Chooses picture books Starts to identify objects by sound or picture Enjoys role-play and imitating adult actions, for example playing house Can stack items in order of their size Relates what they are doing to what others are doing | Starts to identify gender differences Indicates the need to “potty” Assists with dressing and undressing themselves Is assertive about their preferences Uses “I” “me” and own name Illustrates fear of things Becomes defensive of possessions Participates in activities such as singing, clapping and dancing | 3 to 4 Years | Children have improved movements & balance including, walking in a line, running around objects, balancing on one foot and steering push toys Begins to ride tricycle Starts to throw and catch a ball Can build towers with blocks Begins drawing shapes Can use slide without help | Language becomes more complex Able to communicate more understandably Uses more correct grammar such as plurals and tenses Understands & recognizes size comparisons involving big and small Understands time concepts and narrates past occurrences Can sing songs and repeat nursery rhymes | Begins sorting objects based on physical attributes, including matching colors and shapes. Organizes materials without help Can identify parts of a whole Starts to learn how to write their own name Can tell you their full name & age Can attend to an activity for an extended amount of time | Begins to follow directions Can wash hands & blow nose when reminded Begins to share toys & take turns Uses term “we” Initiates or joins other children in playing Starts to create own games Plays pretend (example, acting as animals, parents or objects) | 4 to 5 Years | Children are more confident with large movements including walking backwards, skipping, jumping forward, hopping on one foot, and walking up & down stairs alternating feet Begins turning flips and learning somersaults Can use children’s scissors and cut in a continuous line Copies more complex shapes Children can start writing a few letters | Tries to retell stories, sometimes confusing a few facts Combines thoughts to form sentences · More curious, starts asking “when?” “how?” and “why?” questions Can follow a series of unlike commands Undrstands sequencing of events and comparatives using “er” & “est” Begins using words like “can,” “might,” "will," “should,” and “shall.” | Can mimic and make sounds of letters Begins to make rhymes with words Can point to and name colors Comprehends order and processes Learns to write name Describes pictures Can draw a person with details Counts to five Is able to articulate their street address and town | Shows understanding of good & bad behavior Begins to compare themselves with others Acknowledges others feelings Develops friendships Begins imaginative play Curious of opposite sex & other children’s bodies Becomes Competitive |
Four is the age that Robert as with all other children of his age would have began to become more confident and self-assured, usaully begining to develop fears espically when ill, overtired or hurt and he as with most children would have turned to his loved ones for support . Emotions would have started to apper around the age of five including the abilty to show shame and the wish to do well in life .the rebellous stage usually degins around six or seven where Robert would have also began to show moods such as anger ,temper and also sulk if he didn't get his own way There is no evedince to suggest that Robert Downey Jr did not develop physically in the normal way as shown in the gragh /chart above. However socioly there does appaer evidence to suggest that he did infact devate to that of other children of the same age . At this stage when it is usual for a child to form friendships Robert was going to the studio to begin his acting career. Robert made his acting debut at the age of Five in his father's film 'Pound ' and was in several of his fathers films after that . His Father was himself an alcolic and drug abuser who allowed his son to smoke Marijuana from the age of six or eight .At this stage in Roberts development the effects of marijuana would be effecting both himself and his Dads as a carer , for instance at present there is no concrete evidence to suggest long term mental illness .However it has been known to cause problems with short term memory ,with a shortened attention span and other cognitives abilities this in turn could have effected Roberts performance at school given a faulse intellegance rating . Also causing the teachers to feel that emotionaly and socioly Robert was somewhat lacking .Physically it has been known to increase the heart rate and cause balance and co-ordination problems , this could mean he was thought of as a clumsy person , It may have also been a contributing factor as to why Robert did not enjoy school and helped him to decide to leave at an early age .
At the age of ten Robert along with his family moved to England for a number of years at this stage in his deveopment Robert would have grown in height , weight would have increased , with both physical apparence and organs having developed along with his intiellctual ,social and emotional skills . The family returned to the states, where at the age of thirteen Roberts parents devorced . At this stage in his development he would be getting taller and begin forming a more masculine body ,his voice would be changing causing embarssment and perhaps as in a lot of casses awkeredness .perhaps as in a lot of casses awkeredness .Puberty would have begun his body shape would be continuing to change , his sexual organs would be developing . He would be growing more independent which meant intullictally he was ready to make decessions on his own and solve his own problems . He moved with father to california . Dropping out of school at sixteen to follow an acting career , back with his mother in Newyork . The teenage years is when friendships become more important ,they usaully go round in groups of both sexes and begin dating , teenagers usaully spend more time with their friends . In Roberts case his friends consisted of other famous teenagers and was known as a member of the brat pack .The following quote is from robert himself
“I think part of my destiny has to be realizing that I'm not the poster boy for drug abuse. I'm just this guy who has a really strong sense of wanting home and wanting foundation and having not had it, I now choose to create it.”
Robert would have found that on becoming a young adult futher growth caused the teenage frame to disappaer .Love interests begin to form on a more serious level leading eventually to marriage and having his own children . By the time he was entering his twenties Robert was a fully fledged addict . By his late twenties he was known as a gifted actor however having had several failed attempts at rehabilitation ,he was also known as a troubled ,questionable character . In 1992 he married acttress Deborah Falconer after what has been discribed as 'an intence ' romance .He obvously felt he had reached mutarty both emotionally and intellectually to form this kind of commitment .However either due to a lack of emotional merterty and since the life changes required for this kind of commitment was not met and after several years of arrests and imprisonment due to indecentant behaviour , drink and drugs related charges ;He was arrested in 2000 and in early 2001 was sent on a drug treatment program by the courts this time it was successful,although he was now free from addiction abuse it was too late for his marriage which had already reached breaking point , they devorced in 2004 , they had one son .It was also difficult for him to find work In 2003 Mel Gibson gave him the lead role in a film called the singing detictive he also had to fund Roberts liabilty insurance as nobody would insure him due to his past behaviuor , In 2005 Robert married Susan Levin , he has said in many interviews that it is her that helped him to become the person he is today , by refusing to marry him until he could assure her he had given up drugs for ever .He now studies Wing Chung kung fu , and with support from friends and family has remained free from drugs . He now has two children with Susan and having worked his way back up the ladder so to speck by excepting supporting roles , is now once again a lead charcter in films such as iron man . This change has allowed Robert to improve in all areas of P.I.E.S Physicaly is fitter and looks in better shape than he has in a long time , His social live has improved as people are no longer worried about inviting him out incase he behaves inappropratly .Emotionally he has shown maturety in that he holds no grudge against his father infact he appears to get on well with him although he has limited the time he is allowed to spend with his grand children along with this sence of responsbleness has also come in improvement in memory or intellagence , he rememberes lines , turns up for work on time and seen in many interviews can hold a very intellegent witty conversation .
*Robert is 49 now I feel he will continue to make movies for as long as he can , He will enjoy life and make sure with the help of his wife that his children do not experience the childhood that he had , he once said that he felt that when he had drugs with his dad it was his dads way of showing love ,I doubt his children will ever feel like this . Due to medical advancement life expactancy has gone up and people are living longer the longest person to have lived on record was 122 .It is unlikly Robert will live as long as this.As his age increases Robert will experience physical changes skin will become less elastic and wrinkles will form .Psycologically his self esteem and confidence may go down although this is more evident in females than in males the old saying ' a woman gets old a man matures ' does seem to be true in society today .Ageing brings with it many changes in the body the internal organs become weak which can lead to constipation , the heart which my already have damage due to the abuse his body has gone through ,will find it harder to continue working properly .Lungs again due to the abuse are more likely to contract chronic deseases such as C O P D AND BRONCITUS . Over a period of time his reactions may slow down he will become more susesptable to illness and dieseas .His hair may thin or be lost altogeher .He may even suffer with phycosis and other illnesses related to the drugs he took . The side effects on his health in later years from the abuse he gave his body if any will show in time . After the age of 40 the skeletal muscles begin to detriate , although Robert may have slowed this process down as he does regular excerciss .
The cartilage between the bones begin to thin and be less effective with movement .Hearing and seeing also becomes less effective at there job .
As Roberts twilight years fall upon him He may become more insulated and socialise with old friends and family .I do thihk that there could be problems if anything should happen to his wife as I don't think he would cope very well .Although stytistactly unless it is divorce this is unlikly to happenas on average a man dies 7 years before a women and she is also much younger than him. As an elderly person his sence of self worth may suffer ,due to the stero typing of society I.e demented, useless and being seen as un nessarsary .Finacel concerns can also cause worry ,although in Roberts case this unlikly to happen..
At this stage Robert could easly withdraw from socioty this is called disengagement which according to Henry(1961)and Cumming (1961) this is normal due to the changes he as with others at the same stage of development would be experincing as explained above. Another theory which I feel is more appropriate to Robert is that of the activity theory in which Bromley (1966) believes that while staying disengaged they need to stay active .Stay involved with family and friends .
In this country provision is made to encourage an older person to remain active , bus passes are given out , free prescriptions to help maintain health there are variuos orginisations that arrange trips and shopping outings ,Day centres where they can remain in their own home but travel out to socalise when I was young Bingo was always known as the ' old person s social night ' Now however it is increasingly played by younger people .All age groups interacting . This incourages the activity theory .We also have homes or institutions for the less able (Rest Home /Nursing Home ) these while needed and a vast majority have improved cosmetically ,they do encourage disengagement every thing is done in house , games ,movie night , eating . While it is excepted that these places are needed and do serve a purpose we should remember that when caring for someone in whatever capicity an Holistic approch should be taken , allowing for the incorparation of P.I.E.S EVENYUALLY after a reasonable life period death will come this , is a hard topic to talk about for many .Death can be caused throuhg illness , accidents , even murder and manslaughter .As mentioned in the beginning the question is how much is natare and how much is nurture ,It is clear that our looks are inhereted by our ancistors it is still not clear how much our genes have impacted .However it is clear that both most diffently do have an impact on the way in which we turn out . If one of his parents suffered from a desease or was a carrier of a desease Robert could easily have been affected by nature .
Robert was infact abused in the sence of being allowed to take drugs this did prove that nurture played a great part in how he turned out ,However the fact that he managed to turn his life around leads us again to the question is it natre or nurture ? Or can natre override nurture does the need to want something bad enough allow a persons nature to become stronger than nurture as is clearly shown with Robert .There are many factors that need to be taken into account on what makes a person who they are accsess to education , health faclities , a balanced well naurashed diet all examples of the environment but also can effect a persons physical, intellectual, emotional and social development . In Roberts case a unpredictable event would be divorce and going to prison these were both life changing event s .Niether are easy to deal with emotionally ,Robert has however maintained a good relationship with son from his first marrage indecating finelly a growth of maturtey .ahae has also been known to say that being in prison has changed a great many of his veiws including politics . Predictable in Roberts case would be going to school something we all do but is life changing as we are left by our parents without them ,There is also the recognised fact that changing schools many times as Robert would have in itsself can lead to problems forming attachments particulerly with his piers , it would have been very emotional leaving friendships behind ,to try and start again else where .this can be a very frightening life change , a second one in Roberts case is that he would be an actor due to both his family history and early start in the film indudtry , he may have at times as many youngesters do dreamt of doing something different I.e Train driver , but enevetably he knew nothing else other than acting .This is debate that can go on does natre and geneti coding decide the life that you lead or is it naurtred ? From my own family we have third cousins distant aunts that are clearly related to myself so much so that we could pass as sisters in one instance , but this particuliar cousin lives in America on spending time with her I noticed a big differeance in the way she was educated, which was ,,well but showed no evidence of the world outside America so from our point of veiw she may not be as well educated , on the other hand she and her friends have bigger houses , more space and a much better outdoor life .From my point of view her life is well balanced and less stressful than ours over here.
The environment diffently did play major roll in Roberts life and certainly does seem to have an influence on not only his life but of that o his sisters as research does tell us she too went down the same road . Looking at Robert though there is an indecation that this can be changed , in his case he wanted to marry Susan and having watched many an interview with them it is clear that he has found contentment . So the question is was it his in built natar that made him want to change turn his life around has he has or nurtere from the women he loves . I am happy to think it is both and perhaps at what stage of life you are at determens which you allow to be dominent . What ever the conclusion The best of LUCK Robert and keep those films coming .
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