Winter in Depth
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What people want in life and how they go about attaining their goals is one of the forces driving development across their life span. Personal experiences, social interactions and private goals shape who they become, what behaviors and environments they select. This offers experts a frame to evaluate with the help of developmental theories, considering age-related changes in various domains of functioning (e.g., physical and cognitive development) from the minute of conception to death, passing through the various stages of life. Freud, Erikson, Piaget, Maslow and Carl Rogers are some of the few developmentalists who left a huge mark in human history. Although those specialists in life development did their studies from different perspectives and approaches, yet all shared one concern, to understand the change and growth that occurs during the human life span (Feldman R.S. 2008 p 4).
Papa Chris, as he likes to be called, is an active, light hearted and loving being. As of his late adulthood, loves gardening, “you have a green thump, thats what my dad used to tell me when I was young” Papa Chris said as he wandered off. When asked who influenced your life? “My dad growing up and my baby girl, the minute she came to life she made my wife and I whole”. Giving such statement Papa Chris exhibited that he is in the stage of “belongingness and love needs”, according to Maslows hierarchy of needs (Maslow in Myers D.G. 2010, p446), thus indicating that Papa Chris was having his needs met as he was advancing in life.
Moreover when Papa Chris explained that as middle-aged adult his main goal was to make a positive impact on the lives of his family members. First, by being a provider while his wife stayed home with their three children till middle school and then joined him in the working force. And also by having a family tradition of traveling each summer which allowed them to relax and expose their children to different cultures. Taking into consideration his childrens interest and the health of his familys relation and the people in his community above of what he wants first, Papa Chris according to Erikson was in the “Generativity-versus-stagnation” stage. Erikson suggests that humans pass through eight stages through their life span and with each stage a person must go through what he refers to as a crisis through which they either successfully or unsuccessfully pass. Further more Erikson believed that generative people want to make an impact in their environment, by influencing people around them, donating money to a charity and involvement in their community; . In contrast of a person who is focused on his own life and self-centered, would be stagnant. A person in the stagnant stage tend to look at himself as a person who have contributed little to the world, and thus feel frustrated, (Erikson in Feldman R. S. 2008, p 543). Papa Chris was meeting the criteria that of a generative person. After listening to most of the adventures that occurred during their various family trips and walking down memory lane. When asked, if he was currently happy with his life; A content warm smile covered his wrinkled face and answered, “I couldnt be happier.” He said that taking care of his wife and children, and being active in his community brought joy to his life. Currently happy and satisfied,