-Investigative Report-
By: Dr. R. Peralta
A Developmental Analysis - Adulthood
The adulthood cycle is and has always been a challenge one for each and everyone; furthermore, throughout this assignment an examination into Mrs. Maria’s personal life will be performed; such as, personal life choices and how she was affected by the aging process.
Also, Maria’s spirituality and satisfaction—transitioning into middle adulthood; cognitive changes in her adulthood, family feud and divorce challenges; and above all, Maria’s physical, cognitive, and social changes as whether negative and/or positive outcomes occurred from middle adulthood to adulthood as a whole.
In fact, a thoroughly observation in Maria’s time of life of her visible reminders that time is passing by; Maria’s marriage and family dynamics examination will take place. And how Maria’s personality-traits were affected during such times of her life while taking into consideration the fact that everyone’s life will eventually get affected in negative and/or a positive manner. As Ecclesiastes 9:10 states, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.”
Postformal Thought According to Perry
The observations of Maria’s cognitive changes, academically declaiming, were developed according to Perry, due to her parents’ abandonment and disparity. Furthermore, it is modest to say that Maria’s positive changes, in her middle adulthood, were as Perry’s student development theory indicated, in which, from dualist to relativist philosophy were effective.
For instance, Maria had taken the choice of viewing the truth of her past obstacles in absolute terms of good and bad; attained from right and wrong authorities to single-out several and conflicting types of truth—aiming to positive choices.
It is valid to say that Maria’s past has invited her to empower, encourage, and to challenge broader types of dualism; such as, dualism modified, relativism discovered and being compromised in relativism developed in order to accomplish today’s solid fulfillment of college education.
Consequently, Maria has well-cultivated, in the field of student development, the capacity to analyze evidence and arguments, and built rational bases for her personal beliefs; but most importantly, she has grown-up for self-examination of the reasoning process called critical thinking. As Proverbs 23:7 states, “A she thinks in his heart, so is he,” (New King James Version).
Adult Attachment and Relationships
In the process of growing up, Maria’s attachment to her parents and adult siblings was a non-accomplished task leaving permanent physical, mental and emotional scars. Furthermore, it is also clear that as a future Christian counselor, one must suggest “that early bonds with caregivers could have a bearing on relationship building throughout the life span” (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015, p. 439).
Now, when it comes to a peer and/or romantic relationships, Maria had a hard time being pro-social, rather yet, antisocial was her easier way out for her to accomplish in the adulthood developmental process.
Maria’s lack of attention from her direct guardians, Mom and Dad’s and/or caregivers marked her down for life, and to the point of being divorced twice before her 30th birthday; such events happened due to the fact that, “the attachment process unfolds is a function of the caregiving relationship. Depending on the caregiver’s sensitivity and responsiveness, an infant becomes securely or insecurely attached to that caregiver” (p. 439). Such events have been today’s results on Maria’s life (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015).
Maria’s own personal challenges were many; because, and regardless of any degrading care to one’s own, or as an adult, a care-provider continues to be needed at all times for mental, emotional, and functional support.
Maria’s needed that particular and significant support even after deciding to attend her college years, at her local hometown, being provided with family support is and has always been a number priority for students away from home and/or nearby at the local academic institution; but the only and unique support given to her came from, a Christian old-lady, and yes, she happens to be Maria’s Grandmother, a solid believer and a passionate Christian for life.
In the process to succeed, Maria has decided to search for faith, the one element taught every Sunday morning by her Grandmother’s Biblical studies; moreover, after finding faith from within, Maria took some time away, some type of personal retreat in Christianity, and at that particular location, she met a young doctor by the name of Jose and fell in love with him immediately.
Maria’s vivid experience of church attendance has definitely paid off, finding elements of intimacy in her personal early morning prayers, such as, she found personal family satisfaction, passion, commitment; and above all, physical, emotional and mental stability, as Fowler and Dell (2004) reported.
Consequently, Maria faced with a marital conflict in which her husband Jose ran away with another woman; Maria has learned to communicate with education in a passive way and she did not avoid any conflict-elements while being serene in the conversation. The conflict resolution found from part of Maria was forgive and forget, early taught by Maria’s Grandmother; Maria’s early church lessons paid off because the faith within is “the advantages of having a secure orientation when it comes to solving problems” (p. 451). As Mark 9:23 states, “If I should lose this fight [my personal life]; all things are possible to him who believes” (New King James Version).
Identity Development
Having to known one’s own identity is always important because it helps one to search for what, how, why and when is vital, from the first day an individual is brought into this world until his or her death, in our physical, mental and emotional necessity.
It is clear to mention that “personal identity and interpersonal attitudes are continually evolving from birth to death” (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015 p. 11). Maria’s personal and professional experiences happened to have vivid events from her middle adulthood (Generativity vs. Stagnation) and into the late adulthood (Ego Integrity vs. Despair).
Maria’s great and positive efforts through morning prayers had made her realized that making solid contribution to the next generation, by producing, mentoring, studying and creating something of long-term values, as Political and Judicial Science Bachelor and Counseling in Executive Leadership will have a great impact in the community; therefore, Maria has come to terms with her life’s successes and failures, and other missed professional opportunities and dignified of her own-life through faith and by responding God’s call with commitment, taking ownership, and forgiveness to those who have offended me personal and professional; faith and morning prayers is considered by Maria the positive influence that helped her navigate efficiently to the next level and/or stage. As Matthew 5-8, 16-18; 1 Corinthian 9:17, 4:5 state, “Jesus gives rewards for the spiritual disciplines we practice with the right motives.”
Personality and Temperament
Maria is a woman of solid and competent character, hard-working employee and a Christian believer. Maria’s personality-traits have been found to be: trustworthy, integrity, moral values, independence and responsible. At her Law-firm, Maria is given the liberty to manage the financial account, responsible for handling bi-weekly payments to colleagues, 24/7 entrance of the building, able to manage and work from home at any given time and able to perform daily routinely jobs at a remote location—making Maria unique in what she does.
As Matthew 10:40-42; Luke 14:12-14; Hebrews 6:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20; Mark 9:41; Luke 6:32-35 state, “Jesus gives rewards for dedicating everything you do to glorify God. Jesus gives rewards for keeping God’s Word pure. Jesus gives rewards for the way you treat others.”
Family Life Cycle
Maria’s family life happens to be a great one in today’s events, and getting better. Maria is a believer; furthermore, she and her kids attend to Sunday morning mass and twice a week daily mass and church outreach program for youths. Maria is a modeling-mother in which she would rather “observe and replicate the behavior better than they can understand complicated instructions for how to do a task” (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015, p. 15). It is Maria’s previous teaching method towards her kids, she considered to efficient and productive. As 2 Timothy 4:8; Luke 12:35-48; Mark 13:32-37 state, “Jesus gives rewards for being watchful for His return.”
Culture, Religion and Well Being
Maria is currently a Hispanic and an energetic female from the beautiful island of San Juan, Puerto Rico; a Christian by religion and beliefs and well-being created by God who believe in God’s call and to be prepared to respond. Maria will place two concepts that were found meaningful to her own development and they were: Intimacy vs. Isolation in which Erikson’s Psychosocial Stage of Development clearly expresses the following; in which adults become “willing to share identity with others and to commit to affiliations and partnerships” (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015, p. 12).
The positive outcome of Maria’s gesture is and has always been love and not fear of intimacy and/or distancing from others. Consequently, as John 1:3 states, leaders know that “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that were made,” (New King James Version).
Now, from Maria’s Christian worldview and biblical events, it is clear that as a future leading counselor Maria knows how a healthy relationship is cultivated, with positive influence and love, in what we do best.
And in order for Maria to be able to share identity with colleagues and followers, she must be able to compromise to affiliations and partnerships by learning the biblical-leadership concepts. The first one is reality and the second one is to say thanks. As Proverbs 22:17-19 states, “Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge; for it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; let them all be fixed upon your lips, so that your trust may be in the Lord,” (New King James Version).
A Comprehensive Overview - Ending Well
The best part of this project lays here in the next two to three paragraphs of ideas, life-comprehension and plenty of plenty of consideration for end of life care and my quality of life as a whole. It is clear and substantial that humanity goes through life like a rollercoaster, up and down, in a constant survival fight to win or lose in today’s live-jungle called planet earth; but with faith taught me to be patient, to forgive and to forget in order to be able to respond to God’s call when that time arrives.
My overall life satisfaction was when I ended up with my Grandmother; she taught me what everyone needs in past, present and future life what is called faith because faith is the light at the end of the tunnel.
Faith was the vivid concept that helped me to move on without looking back—finding this way the correct path into God’s kingdom. I used to control my frequency positive and negative mood-swings through prayers and faith. My personal standard on high-morality is based on integrity and trustworthiness; but above all, in being a hard-working woman, this is my personal and anticipated own dying process in which moral standards take place above all. Furthermore, As Proverbs 17:17 states, “A friend shows his friendship at all times –it is for adversity that [such] a brother is born,” (Complete Jewish Bible).
I am not able to measure happiness per say, because, what I have felt after visiting Sunday church classes is so impacting that I have no words to describe it, only my performance is able to describe that I have a soul that is fearless and no longer distance itself from others. After I discover what faith was, my life changed 180 degrees positive in all directions.
Consequently, having material items have made me control my life better, but getting to know God is a constant feeling for salvation and an intrinsic thought of salvation; this is what I called a life satisfaction and well-lived.
Richness is what I found to be in my heart close to God, and not in my personal wallet. I carry God, from within, and see Him 24/7 regardless of physical and emotional conditions. As Proverbs 12:25, 3:3 states, “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up. Anxiety pulls us down and makes us hide the truth from the ones we love.”
References
Broderick, P. C., & Blewitt, P. (2015). The life span: Human development for helping professionals (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Daniel, T. (2017). Grief as a mystical journey: Fowler’s stages of faith development and their relation to post-traumatic growth. Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling, 71(4), 220-229. doi:-org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.1177/1542305017741858
Fowler, J.W., & Dell, M.L. (2004). Stages of faith and identity: Birth to teens. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 13(17-33). doi: 10.1016/S1056- 4993(03)00073-7
Fowler, J. (1981). Stages of faith: The psychology of human development and the quest for meaning. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers.
Moran, M. M. (2013). The effects of typical aging on theory of mind. Journal of Behavioural Brain Research, 237, 32-40. doi:/10.1016/j.bbr.2012.09.020
Schultz, R., & Heckhausen, J. (1996). A life span model of successful aging. Journal of American Psychologist, 51(7), 702-714. doi:.org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.1037/0003-066X.51.7.702
Towns, E. (2007). Core Christianity. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.
Van Brummelen, H. (2009). Walking with God in the classroom: Christian approaches to learning and teaching (3rd ed.). Colorado Springs, CO: Purposeful Design Publications
