Essay: Psychology of Childhood, Adolescence, and Old Age

This essay explores various psychological concepts across the lifespan, starting with the significance of early childhood attachment and its impact on development, explained through Bowlby's attachment theory. It then examines the effects of parental conflict during adolescence, linking it to social media use and sleep deprivation, explained by the Preservation and Protection theory and Goffman's theory of self-presentation. The essay further investigates the challenges of adulthood, specifically the 'empty nest' phenomenon and the impact of adult children returning home, analyzed through Frédéric Le Play's theory on intergenerational co-residence. Finally, it delves into old age and the positive effects of sensory environments on dementia patients, relating it to the Biophilia hypothesis and biophilic design. Each section includes a critique of the research methodologies and discusses the real-world implications of the findings.

Running head: ESSAY
Psychology
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Section 1- Childhood (Attachment)
Summary- The article states that early attachment of children to their parents has
influential significance, in relation to the capability of the children to learn, speak, and think.
The article was based on a study conducted by the Sutton Trust and emphasised on the fact
that parents who are not secure, encounter several challenges in providing security to their
children. The article cited that when toddlers and babies are not capable of developing strong
parental bonds, they display an increased likelihood of exhibiting poor behaviour and poor
language during their school years.
Theory- The findings of the study can be explained by Bowlby’s attachment theory.
According to Bowlby, a child would develop one fundamental attachment, commonly
referred to as monotropy during the initial days. This attachment figure typically plays the
role of a secure base and provides the opportunity to the child to discover the surrounding
world (Van Rosmalen, Van Der Horst & Van der Veer, 2016). In the words of Bowlby,
infants have a common need and demand of seeking closeness with their parents or
caregivers, under threatening or stressful circumstances. In other words, the theory describes
attachment as a prolonged psychological association with a significant individual, which
results in immense pleasure, at the time of interaction. Attachment to a caregiver also calms
down the infants during stress (Heard, 2018). The theory elaborates on the fact that quality of
attachment of infants with adults creates a significant impact on development, and is also
associated to a plethora of aspects of positive functioning, more commonly psychological
wellbeing.
Critique- The research by Sutton Trust was grounded on a thorough and
comprehensive analysis of as much as 100 investigations related to the topic of attachment,
and also comprised of children observation, assessment, and home visits. The basic

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advantage of this methodology can be accredited to the fact that it allowed collection of
information from a vast range of scientific sources, thereby increasing replicability of the
results (Mansournia, Etminan, Danaei, Kaufman & Collins, 2017). Moreover, analysis of
around 100 articles provided a sense of rigour and also augmented transparency of the
review. Moreover, home visits also allowed the researchers to determine the family and home
situation, with the aim of gaining a sound understanding of the type of attachment. However,
researchers might have overlooked important grey literature.
Implication- The attachment theory is important in real world owing to the fact that
attachment of infants to a protective and secure caregiver provides them the much needed
assistance to control their negative feelings and emotions. These feelings are typically
encountered during period of distress and fear, and also invoke a frightening stimuli, thus
preventing exploration of the environment. Therefore, it is known from the theory that secure
attachment exerts a crucial influence on the brain of a child, thus governing its emotional and
social development. Its impact in real world can be accredited to the fact that secure
attachment with parent helps the child have varied experiences and fosters a greater number
of connections in the brain (Singer, 2017). In other words, if the caregiver is responsive,
consistently available, and nurturing, the child will be able to develop empathy, thus
successfully attend to the needs of surrounding people.
Section 2- Adolescence (parental conflict)
Summary- The article suggests that teenagers who are obsessed with social media
demonstrate a reduced likelihood of being sleep deprived. It was found that the more time
teenagers spend in social media, the more susceptible they become to sleep deprivation. The
article was based on a research conducted in Canada and suggested that an estimated three

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quarters of teenagers spent at least one hour, surfing social media websites regularly, thus
having sleep difficulties.
Theory- This can be explained by the "Preservation and Protection" theory. The
theory elucidates that sleep plays an adaptive role. Sleep provides protection to individuals,
during the time they are awake, during the 24 hour cycle. Therefore, lack of sleep places all
people at high risk (Honkavuo, 2018). The theory further elaborates on the fact that
organisms do not want 24 hours for feeling themselves, or meeting the basic necessities of
life. Moreover, individuals sleep at instances that helps them to maximise their safety, taking
into consideration their habitat and physical capacities. The article is also based on Goffman's
theory related to presentation of self. He suggested that when a person comes in contact with
another individual, he takes efforts to guide or control the impression that the latter will
develop of him. This is generally done by modifying his own appearance, setting and
behaviour (Geurin-Eagleman & Burch, 2016). Goffman highlighted that the only segment of
the stage where people can shed their fronts and be themselves is the ‘backstage’.
Nonetheless, with an increase in the number of hours that teenagers spend on social media, a
decrease has been observed in the backstage.
Critique- The research was based on a school-based survey that was conducted across
schools, since 1977. The survey was conducted at an interval of two years. The biggest
strength of this research methodology can be accredited to the fact that it assessed the
participants in their natural settings, thereby providing significant insights about the target
population. Moreover, it also provided researchers with the opportunity to modify the vantage
points. The use of survey for data collection was a correct step since surveys are
comparatively easier to administer to participants and are cost-effective (Couper, 2017).
Additionally, surveys can even be conducted remotely, and help in collection of a wide range
of information. Nonetheless, the respondents might not always feel motivated for giving

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honest and accurate answers. In addition, data errors originating due to non-response might
reduce reliability of the results.
Implication-The findings from the article and theory on sleep is relevant in real world
since sleep deprivation creates a significant impact on physiological and psychological
wellbeing. Sleep deprivation modifies the normal functioning of concentration and attention,
thereby disrupting the capability of the person to emphasise on environmental sensory input.
Prolonged sleep loss becomes a characteristic symptom of undiagnosed sleep disorder
(Touitou, Reinberg & Touitou, 2017). Moreover, lack of adequate sleep prevents
strengthening of the immune system, thus leading to insufficient generation of cytokines
(Wright et al., 2015). This in turn increases the time that a person will take to recover from
illness. Likewise, more time on social media will decrease face-to-face interactions, isolate
the teenagers and subject them to sexual misconduct and online predators.
Section 3-Adulthood (empty nesters)
Summary- The article elucidated that when adults move back home, after being away
for a long duration, they lead to conflict and stress amid their parents. Parents having children
who relocate to family home demonstrate a deterioration in their wellbeing and quality of
life. The findings of this article highlighted that the quality of life of declined when an adult
child of parents ‘boomeranged’. The study found that this deterioration in wellbeing
particularly occurred when the parents did not have any other children at home. There was no
significant impact on parents who had one or more children at home.
Theory- This circumstance can be explained by the theory proposed by Frédéric Le
Play. During the nineteenth century, it had been proposed by Frédéric Le Play that economic
progress and development played an important role in the deterioration of intergenerational
co-residence. Conventionally, it was argued by Le Play that generations remained bound

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together on the basis of property and materialistic possessions. Younger generations typically
remained with their parents at their ancestral homes with the hope of eventually inheriting the
fortune and the farm (Wright Jr et al., 2015). Moreover, they also provided labour, with an
increase in age of the family patriarch, and subsequently became the owner of the farm. With
significant industrial and commercial growth during nineteenth century, there was a reduction
in property that families could hand down (Holom, 2015). Hence, Le Play suggested that
more and more elderly citizens began to stay independently, from their progenies.
Critique- The methodology of the research was based on a direct analysis of
individuals, belonging to the age group 50-75 years, residing in European nations. The
researchers utilised data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe
(SHARE) and conducted a longitudinal survey amid the participants. Some of the basic
advantages of the research approach are that they are efficacious in exploring variable
patterns over a prolonged time and they guarantee research validity and clear focus. Though
this method utilises observation approach, without altering the world, it has more power in
elimination of time variants and unobserved individual differences (Patten & Newhart, 2017).
Moreover, using this approach provided great accuracy, while noticing the changes.
Nonetheless, it takes significant amount of time for data collection. The observation period
cannot be pre-determined and the data might not be 100% reliable. Panel attrition or reliance
of researchers on similar subject groups would also reduce reliability of results.
Implication-The findings are important in real world since the signs and symptoms of
empty nest syndrome generally go unrecognised. Owing to the fact that young adults
commonly move out of their ancestral homes, a dramatic decline in intergenerational co-
residence creates significant negative impacts on older adults (Mansoor & Hasan, 2019). This
results in loss of purpose and also makes the parents susceptible to depression. This in turn
can be accredited to the fact that departure of children from homes causes adjustments in the

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lives of parents, and makes the latter independent and self-sufficient (Osarenren & Udeaja,
2018). Therefore, their sudden appearance and co-residence again brings about modifications
in lives of parents and leads to direct violation of autonomy and control.
Section 4- Old Age (sensory street)
Summary- The article elaborated on a care home in Birmingham that has developed a
sensory street, containing post office, sweet shop and tea room, with the aim of stimulating
the dementia affected residents. It elucidated that on entering the sensory street, music from
the 50s can be heard. Moreover, there occurs direct interaction with different birds and pets.
This has proven effective for the recovery of dementia diagnosed older adults. The article
highlighted that the sensory street provides a stimulating environment that fosters social
interaction, thereby playing a substantial role in dementia care.
Theory- The findings presented in the article can be explained by the Biophilia
hypothesis. Also referred to as BET, the theory postulates that all individuals are in
possession of an innate inclination of developing connections with nature and different life
forms. The theory had been introduced by Edward O. Wilson who described it as the impulse
to associate with new forms of life. This theory explains that human beings subconsciously
seek connections with life. The theory proposed the likelihood that the deep associations
individuals have with different forms of nature and life are ingrained in biology. Contrasting
to phobias, which have been identified as fears and aversions that individuals have of
different things existing in their surroundings, philias are described as the fascinations and
positive outlooks that persons have toward species, organisms, processes, habitats, and
objects in the natural environment (Wilson, 2017). This hypothesis resulted in the
development of biophilic design. This design is generally developed in order to increase
connectivity of occupants with the natural environment, through the usage of indirect and

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direct nature. Not only has biophilic design been associated with better recuperation of
patients, it has also been found responsible for enhanced mental health, thus showing
consistency with the results of the article (Robinson, 2019).
Critique- The methodology adopted in this article was that of an observational
research. The strength of this research approach lies in the fact that the observation was made
in a detailed and extremely minute manner. The research approach allowed the researchers to
observe the dementia patients in their natural setting that is the Robert Harvey House.
Perceiving the different aspects of sensory street did not require any expert technical
knowledge (W Creswell, 2016). Nonetheless, some of the occurrences at the sensory street
might not have been exposed to observation of the researchers. Owing to the fact that several
social phenomenon are abstract in their nature, emotions, feelings, and affection of the
dementia patients in the stimulating environment might not have been detected properly by
the senses of the researchers.
Implication-The findings are relevant in real time settings since dementia results in
great suffering for the patients, in addition to their caregivers. Not only does the disorder
result in functional and cognitive deterioration, it also creates significant psychological and
behavioural complications that make treatment and recovery difficult (Jackson et al., 2017).
This in turn increases risk comorbid conditions, and also makes the patients more likely to
suffer from fractures, incontinence, infections, delirium, and other medical emergencies.
Findings from the articles can therefore be used to design a care home that will have an
identical environment, which in turn will positively affect the senses of the patients and
facilitate their recovery.

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