Lifespan Development: Interview Analysis and Essay Submission

This assignment for a Lifespan Psychology course involves a two-part project. Part 1 requires conducting an interview with an individual aged 50 or older, focusing on their life course, critical incidents, and major life events. The interview aims to understand how these experiences have shaped the individual's development. Part 2 involves analyzing the interview transcript and writing an essay that applies developmental theories to the interviewee's life story. The essay examines various aspects of adult development, including guilt reflection, identity crisis, role confusion, isolation, generativity, stagnation, despair, shame, and mistrust. The assignment aims to provide a practical understanding of how individuals organize their lives, the impact of significant events, and the application of psychological theories to real-life experiences. The interviewee, a 50-year-old woman, discusses her life, including the impact of her mother's death, her divorce, and her relationship with her son, offering insights into her experiences and feelings. The essay applies developmental theories to explain her experiences.

LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT
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Table of Contents
PART 1: THE LIFE COURSE INTERVIEW.................................................................................3
PART 2: LIFE STORY REVIEW ESSAYS...................................................................................7
References......................................................................................................................................10
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PART 1: THE LIFE COURSE INTERVIEW
Interviewer: Hello, I am doing this interview as a part of my course completion and also
because your life interests me a lot. I feel that I will get to know you better. I hope you have the
patients’ and interests to provide me the information I am looking for. It will take some time as I
will be noting down the discussion we have during the interview. It will allow me to understand
life course in a better way. To start with, I would like to know your age and your life activity as
chapters with some crucial incidents.
Interviewee: You have been a good neighbor since a long time period. I am not too comfortable
discussing my life events as chapters. I like to take life as it comes. You know LIFE….is kinna
…. challenging for me, at one time one turn at another time, another turn. Its too rough…what
can I say to you, you are very young. Knowing my life might make you have negative perception
of life itselt…I would not like that.
Interviewer: I feel your life is crucial and very important. We all have some good and some bad
chapters in life. Life at certain points teaches us extremely tough and challenging lessons. But
again we have some beautiful moments too. If it’s very difficult for you, let’s start with some of
the beautiful moments of your life. The life course events that you narrate to me, would allow me
to understand in practical ways, life advances in adulthood. It has been observed that critical
incidents affects us in life and leads to take some decisions or makes us the person we are. I have
learned this in the books but I want to apply my learning’s in a practical manner.
Interviewee: I am from El Paso and now I am 50 years old. Best moments of life…I must say…
(recalling)…when my son was born. He had head full of hair. I had a normal delivery and the big
boy, made my heart filled with joy. He was crying out so loud and was constantly moving his
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limbs…a sign of a healthy boy…I must say….Then after few days…(pauses)….it seems he
started walking. He used to throw all things outside the window, you know…hahaha!
Interviewer: Yes, I must say having children is the most beautiful part of life. It gives you
inspiration and energy to strive ahead. I would like to know more about any critical incident in
your life.
Interviewee: My mother passed away when I was only 18, my father is still alive. Death of my
mother was one of the most shocking and disheartening moment in my life. She suffered a
massive heart attack. I looked up to her, she was an extremely hard working lady, I tell you. She
raised three kids by herself, as my father used to be busy earning. It is difficult to bring up
children now-a-day. Worst part I feel is that…I always misbehaved with my mother…I was a
teenage girl that time. I don’t have good memories with my mother, but she always tries to guide
and protect me. I have two sisters and a brother. My sisters and brother visits me sometimes, I go
to them. But then that’s very rare! All the times I am living by myself…feeling lonely.
Interviewer: Anything you want to share about your family, husband…??? I mean if you want
you can go on talking about your mother.
Interviewee: My mother yes, I would like to talk about her…she was an extremely polite and
sweet lady. She cared for all three children, but I was the jealous kind. I always had the feeling
that she loved my brother more. It is not true, she done so much…I can’t believe I was so rude
with her. May she rest in peace in the heaven. I miss her badly. I wish she was alive.
Interviewer: Your mother played an important role in shaping your nature, can I say that. Who
else had an important part in your life.
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Interviewee: My husband and I got divorced after 23 years of marriage. That bustard…I caught
him cheating on me…That ass…I get pissed off whenever I talk about him….All life I did my
best to keep him happy and satisfied….Now looki he found a new girl. I tell you he will get
kicked off soon….old haggard
Interviewer: Your son has any say in the matter, I know he is an adult though. This incident
have affected you badly.
Interviewee: Yes he left with all the bloody cash that was there in our bank account. Now I have
to beg him or my son for money to keep paying my bills, and continue working till I am dead…
He did not leave any money for me…all gone to that whore.
Interviewee: See I did job all life, while bringing up my son….I no insurance …. I know some
insurance was there…but no I don’t have. Nothing I have…all he took with him…he is not
working…he needs the money for his new family.
My son is only 22 years old and has a very good job. He works as an assistant director at a child
development center. He still stays with me but plans to move out in next year after getting
married. He does contribute a lot towards this house. He is the one who takes care of me. He is
not…..like his father….more like me…loves me. After his father and I got divorced, he was very
heart broken for me. He cried a lot and even tried to convince his father not to take such drastic
step. But I wouldn’t have let the man stay with me anyways.
I am a very negative person from the beginning. I am apprehensive in taking risks. When I was
young I wanted to start a business but could not. Why? I am scared of anything new. Unless I am
able to overcome that feeling, I cannot be or become anything. Now I am unable to walk
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properly. So, what new can I have in life. I cannot think after all these years…starting off life
again.
Interviewer: Thank You, very much for the interview. I appreciate the contribution that you
have done today towards my learning initiative. I would like to stay in contact in case I require
any more information.
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PART 2: LIFE STORY REVIEW ESSAYS
Adult development includes changes occurring in psychological and biological domains of
human life (Heckhausen, Wrosch & Schulz, 2010). some changes may be gradual whereas others
may be rapid reflecting negative, positive or changes from previous functioning levels. These
changes scientifically have been found to be related at the cellular level and are understood from
the biological theories in adult development and ageing. Applying those theories, there are ten
specific findings that are arrived at from the above interview.
1. Guilt Reflection: In-depth interview with the lady revealed her guilt prevailing in her
mind-set (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2018). She could not connect and have a good
relationship with her mother. She missed her mother after her passing away. She was
guilty of her aggressive behaviour with her mother during the early years of her life. She
wished she could have those days back.
2. Inferiority: My interviewee felt inferior to the girl whom her husband got married to. She
was in a state of psychosocial crisis. Her divorce after 21 years of married life ruined her
confidence levels. She felt insure and was financially instable. She felt disoriented from
her regular livelihood that she used to live.
3. Identity crisis: Post her divorce she was left with a sense of identity crisis (Newman &
Newman, 2017). She felt as not being needed in her family and in the society. Post her
marriage and having her son, she felt complete. However, after so many years of family
life, she felt sudden loss of her identity. Her personal beliefs, values and goals were
subsequently lost.
4. Role Confusion: Her role as a wife was suddenly gone, after 21 years of marriage. She
could now no more find a fit in her role within her life. Neither could she make much
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sense of it. All she knew was that she had to stay alive. She feels scared to take any
decision in her life. She is continuing in an uninterrupted manner in her life.
5. Isolation: She had enjoyed intimate relationship through her entire life. Her recent
divorce left her totally isolated (Wrzus, Hänel, Wagner & Neyer, 2013). Her son was
grown up now and was engaged in a work role. She had no one to share her pain with. It
left her with a feeling of incomplete relationship.
6. Generativity: My interviewee experienced generativity, when her son was born. It
brought about positive impacts on her life. Raising her child brought about positive
change in her. She was then more involved in the community activities. She derived a
sense of being a part of the bigger role in the society.
7. Stagnation: She was currently not able to contribute which led to her feeling a sense of
stagnation. She felt disconnected and uninvolved with the society. She was suddenly at
the mercy of virtue of care (Umberson, Pudrovska & Reczek, 2010). She was failing
continuously to be of assistance in the community. She was in need of care from her near
ones to overcome some aspect of this feeling. She was continuing with the same job for
21 years which also provided her with a sense of stagnation.
8. Despair: My interviewee was aged at 50 years and felt despair with her current state.
Sudden slowing down on her active role led to her dissatisfaction from life. She felt guilt
from her unaccomplished roles in past life. Absence of any alternate path let her develop
depression. She developed a sense of hopelessness with her current state.
9. Shame and Doubt: My interviewee developed a sense of shame and doubt after her
divorce incident. The incident of her husband getting married to a younger woman left
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her shocked. She could not face her relatives or the society. She felt ashamed in front of
her son as well. She began to doubt her own self and capabilities.
10. Mistrust: Her divorce left her feeling cheated. She started mistrusting everyone in and
around her. Her nature got completely altered even at such an old age. Her perceptions
changed. She cross-checked every time she interacted with someone.
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References
Cavanaugh, J. C., & Blanchard-Fields, F. (2018). Adult development and aging. Cengage
Learning. Retrieved from https://books.google.co.in/books?
hl=en&lr=&id=eA9EDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=life+issues+and+events+influ
ence+adult+development&ots=T6Agg2dz4H&sig=bAcRpCBIc0JyjI4qOoqdqqMYOrs#v
=onepage&q=life%20issues%20and%20events%20influence%20adult
%20development&f=false
Heckhausen, J., Wrosch, C., & Schulz, R. (2010). A motivational theory of life-span
development. Psychological review, 117(1), 32. Retrieved from
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2009-25263-018
Newman, B. M., & Newman, P. R. (2017). Development through life: A psychosocial approach.
Cengage Learning. Retrieved from https://books.google.co.in/books?
hl=en&lr=&id=lD2dDgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=life+issues+and+events+influe
nce+adult+development&ots=_7UjSuYgNH&sig=zb9WujqZUTG0I7lCeX8JLID0Teg#v
=onepage&q=life%20issues%20and%20events%20influence%20adult
%20development&f=false
Umberson, D., Pudrovska, T., & Reczek, C. (2010). Parenthood, childlessness, and well‐being:
A life course perspective. Journal of Marriage and Family, 72(3), 612-629. doi:
10.1111/j.1741-3737.2010.00721.x. Retrieved from
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2010.00721.x
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Wrzus, C., Hänel, M., Wagner, J., & Neyer, F. J. (2013). Social network changes and life events
across the life span: a meta-analysis. Psychological bulletin, 139(1), 53. doi:
10.1037/a0028601. Retrieved from https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2012-13785-001
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