Question

Select a theory and describe non normative life-span development starting from prenatal development to adulthood. Include cognitive and emotional development, intelligence, personality, moral development, parental and child attachment styles and romantic relationships.

Answer 1

In developmental psychology, Non normative development indicates unusual occurrences that have a major impact on an individual's life. Non normative factors which influence the trajectory of lifespan development includes events which do not happen to all people in the population. Examples can range from death of a parent when child is young, to teenage pregnancy in adolescence, migration to another state or country, unexpected career opportunity, etc.

The psychoanalytic theory of development can be said to champion the cause of non normative development and it highlights on the unique individual experiences of people which lead to differences in development. According to the theory, infants’s experience with the birth trauma sets the course for a life of anxiety which may fixate the course for anxiety, feelings of fear or hostility, dependence, etc later in life. Moroever, certain environmental And biological factors can set the course for prenatal abnormlaities which may have long term consequences on the health of the new borns. For instance, the parental history of substance abuse can alter the gradual course of development in the infant leading to genetic mutations inherited from parents, abnormalities in the development of the brain, height and weight, etc.

Then during infancy, experiences such as parental neglect, maternal abandonment, malnutrition and inability of the parents to respond to the inffant’s Needs etc can lead to experience of frustration and insecurity in the neonate and it can adversely affect physical growth of vital organs, emotional development of emotions of such as happiness, joy and lead to suspicious and/or avoidant attachment style.

As the infant grows into childhood, Non normative factors such as death of a parent, birth of a sibling etc, can alter the emerging interpersonal relationship of the young child and it affect the child’s attachment style as well as alter his/ her social and cognitive development based on the loss or lack of parental attention and stimulation which is required for the development of cognitively skills such as learning a language to communicate.

Then, during adolescence, as the individual moves towards exploring his/ her sexuality and sense of identity, experiences such as bullying, harsh and repressive parenting, etc, can influence their social and emotional development by increasing risk taking behaviour, delinquency, low self esteem which leads to low cognitive gains in the form of changes in an individual's thought, intelligence, motivation to learn and perform in school, and refine language skills with others. Instead of being socially integrative they may develop rigid or socially withdrawn tendencies.

Then during adulthodd, as individuals move towards the stage of exploring their financial identity as an independent person with a relatively stable job, and interpersonal intimacy, factors such as a severe medical illness, accident or political and social factors like unemployment, prejudices against one’s racial community, etc., can bring about changes in an individual's relationships with other people, emotions, and personality. At this stage, expanding personal and social involvement and responsibility, reaching a level of career satisfaction becomes important developmental goals.

Thus, according to psychoanlytic theory, an external factor which hampers achievement of stage specific developmental goal can set the individual off the regular course of development of intelligence, emotional stability, physical development attachments, and social skills results in nonnormative development of an individual’s physical health and psychosexual identity.