Week 8: Elliott: Mooney review

In week 8 we were to read chapters 1-5 in the Mooney text. I found the theory of Jean Piaget quite interesting.  Piaget was a scientist born in Switzerland who published his first paper at the age od eleven! ( Mooney,59). I found this quote in the text on page 59 very interesting,” Although Piaget is frequently referred to as a psychologist, he was really an epistemologist. “ An epistemologist is a person who studies the nature and beginning of knowledge.  Piaget was interested in how children know what they know.  Piaget’s theory stated that a child’s interactions with the environment are what create learning. 

Other psychologists of Piaget’s time believed that learning is either intrinsic which means it comes from the child or extrinsic which means it is imposed by the environment or taught by adults.  Piaget’s theory was that it was a child’s interactions with the environment are what created learning.  He said that children create their own knowledge by the meaning of the people, places, and things in their world.

According to Piaget there are 4 stages of cognitive development.  Beginning at birth to 18 months the child is experiencing the sensorimotor stage.  This is when the child is learning though their senses and reflexes. From 18 months to 6 years old the child is in the preoperational stage of cognitive development. During this time the child is learning based on their perceptions. The child is very egocentric at this point in their life. From 6 years old until 16 years old we are in the concrete operational stage of development.  Now the child is forming ideas bases on reasoning.  Finally from the age of 12 until death we are in the formal operational stage of cognitive development. Now we are able to think conceptually and hypothetically.  

I can relate to this theory because I babysit a lot. I can see how this theory can be true. When the baby is learning through reactions in the first stage they are becoming aware of the noises their toys make. At first the baby is startled by the sound of it when they shake it but once they learn that it makes noise when they shake it them they will continue to do it. This also reminds me of when I would play peek a boo with my cousins baby. This relates to the theory because at first she did not understand that I was just covering my face with the blanket, after playing for awhile she understood that she could lift the blanket off of me and I would be under it.

Week 7: Elliott: Chapter 12 reflection

In chapter 12 of the Lifesmart text, the topic is about death spirituality. At first I wasn't excited to read this chapter, I thought it would be super depressing and sad.  After reading the chapter I realized that although death is not the happiest subject to talk about, I learned some interesting facts.  I was surprised by the statistics found on page 280, the statement "In the United States, the mortality rate has declined from 17 per 1,000 people in 1900 to 8 people per 1,000 in 2004."  This was shocking to read, I know that we have had many medical advances and people are living longer sine the 1900's but learning about the difference in numbers of deaths was interesting.

I was also interested in the four types of death. I didn't know that death could be defined in multiple ways. Clinical death is defined when breathing and heartbeat have stopped. The text on page 281 of the Lifesmart text says that CPR can save and individual  from clinical death. The next type of death explained in the text is brain death. This type of death is when the cortex and midbrain cease functioning. (Lifesmart,282)  Next is biological death, this was interesting because it occurs when it is no longer possible to discern an electrical charge in the tissues of the heart and lungs. This causing permanent end of all life functions. Social death was an interestinf concept to me, this is when the person is treated as if they are dead but they are biologically alive. 

Week 6: Elliott: Chapter 9 reflection

Chapter 9 in the Lifesmart text covered early adulthood. I found it interesting to learn about when adolescence ends and adulthood begins. In the text on page 208, I like the way that they explain that adolescence is distinguished by physical changes and adulthood is marked by social and cultural changes. This made it easier for me to understand when humans switch from adolescence into adulthood. 

A lot of information was covered in the early adulthood stages of life. Many changes are happening this time period. The topic of initiation into adulthood was brought up in the text. This was something I had not realized was such a big factor to consider in developing into adulthood. It seems that around the world different cultures initiate adolescents into adulthood. As people emerge into adulthood there are many factors to considered. Depending on the persons religious and cultural views or their social and economic status.  In the Jewish culture boys and girls have a bar/bat mitzvah ceremony when they are 13 years old to initiate them into adulthood, in today’s society 13 years old is not considered to be an adult but years ago this age may have been one third of a person’s life. ( Lifesmart, 208) 

In my life I was considered to be an adult when I turned 18 years old. Although I was working and paying some of my own bills before this age, when I turned 18 years old I gained much more responsibility. I still lived in my mothers home but now I had to pay some of the bills to help her out. I was responsible to pay for my own college tuition, this was definitely a turning point in my life when I grew into adult life. 

Week Five: Elliott: Reflection on chapter 8

In chapter 8 of the Lifesmart text they cover the very touchy subject of adolescence. Adolescence is a very hard subject for people of all ages to discuss. It is difficult for young adults to go though this stage in life and it is also difficult for their parents/adult figures to talk about the changes that they will be going through. Although the changes that happen during adolescence are completely normal and happen to everyone, these changes such as: developing your sexual identity, going through puberty, and physical development make people uncomfortable to discuss.

I was interested in the two of the different theories of the psychologists that were covered on page 194 of the Lifesmart text. In Erik Erikson's psychologic theory adolescence is the fifth stage of development.  I really agree with the statement, " The main task is to achieve a state of identity, something to which on strives, rather that a final,definitive identity." ( Lifesmart, 194).  I think this is a great outlook on adolescence. I believe so many young adults struggle with identity at this age. They are trying so hard to find out where they fit in and where they should be going for the rest of their lives. I think this shows that Erikson believes that adolescents should try to focus on finding an identity that is appropriate for their age and allows them to develop their own personal values without being forced into an identity that is not what they believe in.

James Marcia's theory stresses two important factors in developing ones identity: crisis and commitment.   He says that the person must undergo several crises relating to choice. Then they must decide to commit to these choices. (Lifesmart, 194) I can personally relate to this idea when I was  an adolescent I remember trying to make the decision if I really wanted to follow my Catholic upbringing. My friends and I would discuss our religions and I can remember being curious about other religions. One of my good friends started bringing me to her Christian church and later to Christian bible camp. Although Catholics are Christians there were many beliefs and ideas that were much different from what I was taught as a child. I was interested in her churches ideas and I had to make the choice to change my beliefs.