Developmental Psychology

After taking a general look at psychology and some of its major theories, we will trace psychological thought about the human life by focusing on human development. We will look at models of human development put forward by Saint Thomas Aquinas and other Catholic philosophers, Jean Piaget, Sigmund Freud, Erik Erikson, and Lawrence Kohlberg, as well as a few others. Students will not only learn about psychology, they will also learn a lot about themselves.

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Case Study Analysis

Factors Contributing to Juvenile Delinquency

  • Parental influences/dysfunctions
  • Parenting style Permissive parenting style
  • Responsibility-Freedom balance Too much freedom too soon à making bad choices
  • Broken family Father left (lack of father figure leads to desire for “manliness”); good relationship with mom, but she is always working; older siblings
  • Peer/friend influence or problems – social Group negative identity formation? Spoiled à independence / thrill seeking?
  • Biological – hormone imbalance
  • Biological – psychological disorder
  • Traumatic event (molestation, abuse, etc.)
  • Socioeconomic pressures (being poor à “need” to steal, etc.)
  • How well complete Havighurst’s tasks
    • Havighurst: preparing for career good grades, personal skills, did well on jobs, variety of jobs
    • Havighurst: assurance of economic independence Saved $4,000; 2 struggling siblings; 2 siblings doing ok; comparing self to rich friends?
    • Accepting physical make-up Good looking & knows it, arrogance, a bit insecure about looks – perfectionist
    • Relationships with peers of both sexes Girlfriend, friends who follow him, pleasant personality, class officer
    • Social competence racism, good work ethic, good relationship with adults, never stole from people he knew
    • Prepare for marriage & family Girlfriend, treats her with respect, buys her expensive gifts, sexual relationship
    • Dealing with reality does not think about consequences of actions, deals with present not future, does not think about effects on his friends & family, laws are optional, loud music <à good at school, seems to have sense of importance of work
  • Identity confusion Wants to be Catholic, but not to accept teaching, Wants to seem perfect but steals and lies à Foreclosure (expectations of peer group à stealing; parents & teachers à model student, athlete); Diffused à no real attempt to define himself
  • Cognitive: frustration caused by difficulty with concrete operations Possible Signs of frustration: sex, smoking, stealing
  • Cognitive: late formal operations à frustration in school, social difficulties, morality would be black & white
  • Psychoanalysis: Id stronger than ego Seeks pleasures (smoking, sex) – may be seeking thrill by stealing
  • Moral development: egocentricàperspective reversal seek reward
  • Social: Need for attention Being rejected by the priest/Church/God à sense of social acceptance

posted by Jeffrey @ Tuesday, January 03, 2006

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home