M3: Discuss the effects on self-esteem and self-confidence of the physical changes associated with ageing.

M3: Discuss the effects on self-esteem and self-confidence of the physical changes associated with ageing.

In this task, I will discuss the physical changes related with ageing and how these changes affect my mothers self-esteem and self-confidence.

As my mother grows older, she is gradually experiencing physical changes which affects her life.

physical appearance:

Wrinkles are creases, folds or ridges in the skin. Most commonly, wrinkles appear as we get older. However, they may develop after our skin has been immersed in water for a long time. The first wrinkles to appear on our face tend to occur as a result of facial expressions. Sun damage, smoking, dehydration, some medications, as well as a number of other factors may also cause wrinkles to develop. 
Wrinkles are an inevitable part of the natural aging process. As we become older our skin gets thinner, drier and less elastic. Our skin’s ability to protect itself from damage is also reduced as we age. Eventually, wrinkles, creases and lines form on our skin. Apart from the factors mentioned above, a person’s genetic makeup also influences how wrinkly we become, and when and where wrinkles start appearing.

My mother is experiencing deep set wrinkles that are appearing all over her face. My mother is beginning to lose her self-esteem and has considered saving up to get some botox. My mother has suffered from depression all her life and this seems to be worsening her mood, because it has lowered her self-esteem she finds it difficult to be around people that aren’t friends or family.

My mother has also been losing teeth since she was 50,but as she has got older she seems to be losing them more frequently.

My mother has a lot of confidence by losing her teeth, she struggles to smile and laugh as much as before as her teeth are becoming more noticeable.

She finds it difficult to eat hard food as she is unable to as well as she has in the past, she finds it extremely embarrassing if we have dinner out as she think that people are staring at her which lowers her self-esteem. My mother believes that she has lost some of her integrity which could lead to a stronger onset of depression.

 Incontinence:

There are several types of incontinence:

Stress incontinence – this is the most common kind of urinary incontinence, especially among women who have given birth or have gone through the menopause. In this case stress refers to physical pressure, rather than mental stress. When the bladder and muscles involved in urinary control are placed under sudden extra pressure the person may urinate involuntarily.

The following actions may trigger stress incontinence:

• A sudden cough
• Sneezing
• Laughing
• Heavy lifting
• Exercise

The amount of urine that leaks out unwillingly depends on how full the bladder is and how affected the muscles are.

Urge incontinence (effort incontinence) -, also known as reflex incontinence. This is the second most common type of urinary incontinence. The bladder is either unstable or overactive. There is a sudden, involuntary contraction of the muscular wall of the bladder (detrusor muscles) that causes urinary urgency – an urge to urinate that cannot be stopped. There is an involuntary loss of urine for no apparent reason while suddenly feeling the need or urge to urinate. When the urge to urinate comes the person has a very short time before the urine is released regardless of what they try to do. The urge to urinate may be caused by:

• A sudden change in position
• The sound of running water (for some people)
• Sex (especially during orgasm)

People with urge incontinence tend to have to pass urine frequently; sometimes having to get up to go to the toilet during the night.

Bladder muscles can activate involuntarily because of damage to the nerves of the bladder, the nervous system, or to the muscles themselves.

Overflow incontinence – this type of urinary incontinence is more common in men with prostate gland problems, a damaged bladder, or a blocked urethra. The enlarged prostate gland obstructs the bladder; the person often only manages to urinate in small trickles and has to go frequently. He may feel that his bladder is never really completely emptied, even after trying hard.

Put simply, overflow incontinence is an inability to empty the bladder, the patient frequently dribbles urine. Some patients constantly dribble urine (as opposed to frequently).

Mixed incontinence – if a patient experiences both stress and urge incontinence he/she has mixed incontinence.

Urinary incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine; in simple terms, to wee when you don’t intend to. It is the inability to hold urine in the bladder because voluntary control over the urinary sphincter is either lost or weakened.
Urinary incontinence is a much more common problem than most people realize. In the United Kingdom it is estimated that at any one time at least 3 million people – 5% of the total population – suffer from urinary incontinence. The US Department of Health and Human Services estimates that approximately 13 million Americans suffer from urinary incontinence.Urinary incontinence is more common among women than men. 10% to 30% of American women/girls aged 15-64 years are thought to suffer from it, compared to between 1.5% and 5% of men. Over half of all nursing home residents are thought to be affected by urinary incontinence. The Department of Health, UK, estimates that 20% of all women over the age of 40 are affected by urinary incontinence.
The main symptom is the release (leakage) of urine when you don’t want to. When and how this occurs will depend on the type of urinary incontinence.

Functional incontinence – the person knows there is a need to urinate, but cannot make it to the bathroom in time due to a mobility problem. If a person has a disability they may not be able to get their pants down in time; this would be an example of functional incontinence. The amount of urine lost may be large. Common causes of functional incontinence include:

• Confusion
• Dementia
• Poor eyesight
• Poor mobility
• Poor dexterity (cannot unbutton pants in time)
• Depression, anxiety or anger (unwilling to go to the toilet)

People with functional incontinence may have difficulties in thinking, moving or communicating – these difficulties may prevent them from reaching a toilet.

Functional incontinence is more prevalent among elderly people, and is common in nursing homes.

Functional incontinence may occur when there is nothing physically wrong with the person. If you are on a long trip and dying to urinate but there are not toilets nearby.

Gross total incontinence – this either means the person leaks urine continuously all day and night, or has periodic uncontrollable leaking of large amounts of urine. The bladder is unable to store urine.

The patient may have a congenital problem (was born with a defect), there may be an injury to the spinal cord, and injury to the urinary system, or there may be a fistula between the bladder and, for example the vagina.

– the person knows there is a need to urinate, but cannot make it to the bathroom in time due to a mobility problem. If a person has a disability they may not be able to get their pants down in time; this would be an example of functional incontinence. The amount of urine lost may be large. Common causes of functional incontinence include:

• Confusion
• Dementia
• Poor eyesight
• Poor mobility
• Poor dexterity (cannot unbutton pants in time)
• Depression, anxiety  or anger (unwilling to go to the toilet)

People with functional incontinence may have difficulties in thinking, moving or communicating – these difficulties may prevent them from reaching a toilet. Functional incontinence is more prevalent among elderly people, and is common in nursing homes.
Functional incontinence may occur when there is nothing physically wrong with the person. If you are on a long trip and dying to urinate but there are not toilets nearby.

Urinary incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine; in simple terms, to wee when you don’t intend to. It is the inability to hold urine in the bladder because voluntary control over the urinary sphincter is either lost or weakened.

As my mother has gotten older she finds it very difficult to hold her urine if she needs to use the toilet, this has made very self-conscious as she believes that if she were to go out she is at risk of worsening her embarrassment even further. My mother suffers from functional incontinence this means that it is difficult for her to get to the toilet by herself without taking to long. This has effected my mothers confidence a lot as she believes that she is causing the people that are around her embarrassment, lowing her pride and self-esteem. She also believes that she has given people a false image of the person she wishes she was.This affects my mother as she thinks that she is now worthless and a burden to the family because he cannot move independently.

 Deafness:

Hearing loss is a common problem that often develops with age or is caused by repeated exposure to loud noises.

Action of hearing loss estimates that more than 10 million (about 1 in 6) people in the UK have some degree of hearing impairment or deafness.

Hearing loss can occur suddenly, but usually develops gradually. General signs of hearing loss can include:

• difficulty hearing other people clearly and misunderstanding what they say
• asking people to repeat themselves
• listening to music or watching television with the volume turned up high

My mother has had a problem with hearing since she was in her 40’s, due to ageing this has become more of an issue as the condition has only worsened with age. She struggles to understand one to one conversation as she’s gotten older, the hearing aids are not proving as successful as she gotten older. My mother feels like she is a burden a lot of the time, she feels guilty that she might not be able to hear my children grow up and learn things. Because my mother is unable to hear things clearly this means that she has to see an object e.g phones, flashing lights for when someone at the door. My mother feels like she is getting worse and she believes that its not fair that i have to look after her, this has given my mother self-doubt as she thinks that if she causing all this fuss she may be better in a home. Moving to as residential home could either make her feel better about herself or worse.

P5: Explain the physical and psychological changes which may be associated with ageing.

P5: Explain the physical and psychological changes which may be associated with ageing.

Physical changes associated with ageing:

1. Hormones and the menopause:

A hormone is a chemical substance made by an organ like the thyroid gland or ovary. Hormones control different body functions. An example of hormones are estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and thyroid hormone. In a woman’s body during the menopause transition, the months or years right before menopause (her final menstrual period), levels of several hormones, including estrogen and progesterone, go up and down irregularly. This happens as the ovaries begin working less and less well. Menopause is a normal part of aging. It is not a disease or disorder. Women who have symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats may decide to use hormones like estrogen because of the benefits, but there are also side effects and risks to consider.

You can find out more at: http://www.medic8.com/healthguide/menopause/female-hormones-and-menopause.html

My Mother was effected by the menopause when she was 55. It has been speculated that the age at which your mum experienced the menopause could give you a clue about when to expect symptoms. This is because the age at which the menopause occurs tends to be similar in mothers and daughters. Her mother experienced the menopause at 54, so this supports that theory that when your mother goes through the menopause you are likely to around the same age.

The menopause usually happens gradually. Your periods may become irregular and infrequent before they stop completely. You may also have other symptoms. Some of these can begin up to six years before your final menstrual period and continue for several years after your last period.

Symptoms of the menopause can include:

•   hot flushes and night sweats
• feeling your heart racing (palpitations)
• changes to your vagina, such as dryness, discomfort, itching and pain during sex
• difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
• loss of interest in sex (libido)
• changes in your mood, such as feeling tired, irritable, depressed or anxious
• having difficulty concentrating or poor memory
• urinary problems – such as recurrent urinary tract infections, loss of bladder control (urinary incontinence)

My mother experienced hot flushes and night sweats this made her feel uncomfortable as she felt like she was being stared at and it made her feel like she wasn’t very hygienic. Her mood swings also got increasingly worse as she got further into the menopause she felt a range of different emotions like tiredness, got increasingly more irritable, depressed and anxious. Concentrating also become a very big issue, she was no longer able to draw when she was going through the menopause as she would get frustrated and rip the drawings up.

Degeneration of the sense of organs.

2. Hearing.

Tiny hair cells inside your inner ear help you hear. They pick up sound waves and change them into the nerve signals that the brain interprets as sound. Hearing loss occurs when the tiny hair cells are damaged or die. The hair cells do not regrow, so most hearing loss caused by hair cell damage is permanent.

There is no known single cause of age-related hearing loss. Most commonly, it is caused by changes in the inner ear that occur as you grow older. Your genes and loud noise (such as from rock concerts or music headphones) may play a large role.

The following factors contribute to age-related hearing loss:

• Family history (age-related hearing loss tends to run in families)
• Repeated exposure to loud noises
• Smoking (smokers are more likely to have such hearing loss than nonsmokers)
• Certain medical conditions such as diabetes
• Certain medicines

My mother experienced some difficulty with her when she turned 62. They say that age related hearing loss can be genetic, my mothers father had some issues with he’s hearing this could have made my mother more likely to develop hearing problems. They also say that diabetes can affect a persons hearing, my mother suffers with diabetes so it added to the likely hood of her developing hearing problems.

Symptoms include:

• Difficulty hearing people around you
• Frequently asking people to repeat themselves
• Frustration at not being able to hear
• Certain sounds seeming overly loud
• Problems hearing in noisy areas
• Problems telling apart certain sounds such as “s” or “th”
• More difficulty understanding people with higher-pitched voices
• Ringing in the ears

My mother often has to ask a person to repeat what they have said as she has a trouble hearing what they have said.  My mother has to use a hearing aid, this means that she can hear what a person is saying more clearly which allows her to reply more successfully. A hearing aid is a quick fix for someone who only has a difficulty hearing it should not be used if they are completely death. Sometimes she does profess to hearing loud ringing noises this is a symptoms of age-related hearing loss/difficulty.

Psychological changes associated with ageing:

1. Role changes:

The majority of older people enjoy effective social networks with only one person in five experiencing a degree of isolation. For many people retirement provides more of an opportunity for contact with grandchildren and other relatives.

Older people are more likely to vote than any other age group suggesting more involvement in politics, whereas younger people may be more disengaged from politics. Loss of work role, loss of partner and loss of income may also result in major life changes that are difficult to deal with.

As my mother’s health got worse she had to learn to rely on me, this was a big change in my mother’s life she believed that I was to young to accept responsibility for her. My mother had to make herself comfortable with the idea of having me look after her as we had no other family that were in the picture, or none that were willing to help. My mother had lost her independence at a relatively young age, this made her depression worse and she began to disconnect from the community.

My mother blamed herself for me having to look after her as she was unable to do things by herself. This role change made my mother uneasy as it happened to early, my mother had put herself on a self-destruct mode giving up entirely on even trying to make herself better. This had to be one of the lowest points of her life as she thought that I’d be better off without her, the depression worsened and she began to take me down with her as she was on a self-destructed mission and all I could do was watch. My mother needed to see that she was still a huge part of my life she needed to regain control. After she realised that i needed her, my mothers self-confidence began to grow and her self-esteem rocketed as she new that my life was based on how stable she was.

2. Ageism:

Ageism is discrimination or unfair treatment based on a person’s age. It can impact on someone’s confidence, job prospects, financial situation and quality of life. It can also include the way that older people are represented in the media, which can have a wider impact on the public’s attitudes.

My mother is be discriminated against because of her age. A lot of people have a lot to say on this subject and it is often said that old people are useless, she hears a lot of stuff being said off of people that aren’t aware that what they are saying is effecting her confidence. My mother gets told that she cant do certain things because of her age, she believes that it should be her choice whether she takes parts in activities or work. She also gets patronised a lot because shes old they tend to talk to her like shes incompetent of understanding what they mean. It has been speculated that no one has respect for their elders anymore pushing them to the back of society, not respect her at all because she doesn’t have the ability to provide what they want because of his age. Hearing and being at the centre of those words could make my mother feel vulnerable and worthless. This lead to anxiety and depression.

 

D2: Evaluate the influence of two major theories of ageing on health and social care provison.

D2: Evaluate the influence of two major theories of ageing on health and social care provision.

In this task, I will evaluate the influence of two major theories of ageing which are the social disengagement theory and activity theory on health and social care provision.

During the ageing process, the elderly may take different approaches to aging and may apply to different theories of aging such as the disengagement theory and the activity theory. All elderly individuals will deal with ageing in different ways, they may wish to stay active or they may wish to disengage themselves due to depression or they may be unable to deal with the processes of becoming older. Both of these theories of ageing have completely different thoughts and views of the ageing process. There are many services which are available to the elderly population, these services are usually provided to help people remain active, socially, physically, emotionally and intellectually. All of these aspects are extremely important for elderly people to keep mentally and physically healthy.

These services may include day centres for elderly people, this will encourage the individuals to stay social and interact with people.
These services which are available to the elderly are:
Nursing Assistance, Occupational or Physical Therapy-Licensed personal that may be provided by insurance (NHS) if the patient’s doctor prescribes their need or they can be hired on your own. This will help the elderly with everyday chores so that they remain fit and healthy.
Friendly visitors Volunteers from civic organisations, church, senior center, or service organisation will come and spend time with the individual. They could read, play cards, bring a video to watch, take them for a walk or whatever is needed. They are there to socially connect with the individual as well as offer support and monitor their wellbeing. These kind of services will help elderly people who may not have many family members or friends to stay socially active, it will give them the chance to make friends and interact with people.

Charities for the elderly:

Elderly people naturally disengage from the community due to heath conditions or diseases. The Government should do more to help the elderly, there are some charities like Age UK that are there to help our older generation. Age UK is a registered charity in the United Kingdom formed on 25 February 2009, and launched on 1 April 2009, which combines the operations of the previously separate charities Age Concern and Help the Aged to form the UK’s largest charity for older people. The charity operated under its original charity names as “Age Concern and Help the Aged” until the new brand launch on 19 April 2010.  I believe that as people going in later adulthood the Government should give them what they require, this could be medicine, equipment and free care if they are unable to pay for it themselves or don’t have any family that are willing to help provide for them.

Elderly people can become very lonely if they are away from friends and family, this could lead to more health problems depression, anxiety etc. Elderly people need to know that there are people out there that care about them a want to help aid them, this could mean that having someone that is willing to go and sit in with an elderly person once a week for a ‘chat’. Elderly people need more day care centre’s as they exist to help them, the activities that will help elderly people boost up and restore their self-confidence and self-esteem which I think is the most important thing on their age. Of course, because of their age many people will underestimate the elderly’s capability of doing simple tasks, a lot of people think that they are useless and burden in the society because of this they will slowly lose their self-confidence and self-worth.

The freedom pass:

 For the elderly that would like to remain part of the community the Government offer a freedom pass, this allows them to travel freely on public transport.

why could the freedom pass help the elderly?

Travelling in London is very expensive which will affect elderly people as they will have retired by the time they can be award the freedom pass. This problem will stop them from engaging in the community. However because of the Freedom Pass they have the chance to enjoy and go anywhere they want in London as they now have more time to do so. The freedom pass will allow them to visit their friends and family members without a having to pay the bus or train. If the elderly weren’t able to get the freedom pass they may not be able to travel because of money they may not have enough to pay for the transport to get to visit friends and family, this could lead to anxiety and depression, but this Freedom Pass will help them remain physically active.

I applaud the Government for offering the elderly the opportunity to travel and remain a part of the community. It gives the elderly the opportunity to remain active and maintain social interactions with other people. It is important for them to remain active as it will make them better physically and mentally and boost their self-confidence.

NHS based residential care for the elderly:

After a community care assessment has been carried out and it has been decided that the elderly person that your looking after needs support, they will be given a means-tested financial assessment. This is to assess whether they have to contribute towards the cost of the services.
Support services needed at the home of the person you’re looking after may be provided free of charge by the local authority. A local authority can choose whether or not to make charges for a service. However, there are certain services local authorities are never allowed to charge for.
If it does make charges, the local authority has to follow the Department of Health’s fairer charging guidance.

The local authority has discretion when it comes to charging for non-residential services. The person you’re looking after can ask the local authority to use its discretion if there is a dispute about charges.

Local authorities will consult with those using their services before they make any changes in their policy about charging. This is particularly important if an increase in charges is proposed. Consultations must give service users adequate information about the change in charges.

read more at: http://www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/guide/practicalsupport/Pages/Chargingforcareathome.aspx

Your local authority is in control of NHS based residential care, they decide whether the case that you have put to them is strong enough to dignify paying for. I believe that this gives the elderly the opportunity to socialize in a care based environment, this allows them to feel safe and secure. This is a service that most elderly people who haven’t got family around or the family are unable to provide the amount of care they need are able to access. I think that the Government should provide more funding for projects like this as they have a common goal in trying enable the elderly to remain a part of the community.

M2: Discuss two major theories of ageing in relation to the development of the chosen individual.

M2: Discuss two major theories of ageing in relation to the development of the chosen individual.

Social disengagement:

I believe that my mother will disengage from the community as she gets older. As my mother gets older her health will deteriorate even more, and she already struggles to leave the house by herself now. My mother health has had a big effect on her personality, I can see my mother giving up now and she’s only 47. It’s a big worry that she wont bother to try to become part of the community and totally distance herself from her surroundings.

I believe that my mother will move out into the countryside when i leave home. This only worries me more as if she moves out into the countryside she really will be secluded, as she will be surrounded by fields not people. If my mother does decide to do this she will be leaving what remains of the family behind, the visits would decrease over time as it just take to long to get there and no one has that amount of time to spend travelling. It would very hard for my mother to travel to far places as she may get dizzy and it may be painful for her to sit for a long period of time due to ageing. Therefore, this will affect him from socializing with other people.

My mother has not been able to work for a while now due to her disabilities, she has already lost contact with work colleagues over the years. My mother may find it hard to use phones as the text they use is relatively small, so texting, or using the phone for phone calls may not be able to be done without using glasses. The brightness on the phone may also become an issue as it could be to dark or to bright. Vision is one of the main problem of getting old. This problem will prevent her from maintaining contact with friends or family.

Activity theory:

My mother might develop some new hobbies if her health improves. My mother wont be able to take part in many physical activities because of her conditions, however she could take part in some courses (painting, cooking, drawing etc.). These courses would allow her to get out and socialize without putting her body or health at risk. Participating in some of these activities would stop my mother feeling secluded, which could help her in the long run against her fight with depression.

My mother may begin to travel and explore the best bits of growing old widening her knowledge and enjoying the time she has left. She may begin to see what she has missed out on whilst having poor health, therefore she might appreciate travelling a lot more. As my mother gets older she will be able to spend her money on what she likes, she wouldn’t have been able to do this when she was younger.

My mother may decide to take up new hobbies (cooking, swimming, decorating etc.). She could join the local elderly home which organise activities for people who may find it hard to motivate themselves, this would her the opportunity to meet new people and keep up her socializing so that it doesn’t dwindle.

P4: Explain two theories on ageing.

P4: Explain two theories on ageing.

Social disengagement:

In 1961, the first theory of ageing was formulated by Cumming and Henry. According to them “aging is an inevitable, mutual withdrawal or disengagement, resulting in decreased interaction between the aging person and others in the social system he belongs to”.  

read more at : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disengagement_theory.

Disengagement theory states that as people age, they tend to withdraw from society and society withdraws from them. As people age, they tend to grow more fragile and their social circles shrink as they start to pull away and are less actively involved in most activities. A lot of people point out that often this disengagement is enforced, rather than voluntary.

Ill health : They may have health problems or diseases that stop them from interacting with other people. Some of these could be hearing impairment, visual impairment, mobility or breathing etc.

Geographical mobility : They may move to a place that is quiet and peaceful as they may become easily irritated by noisy environments. It could also mean that family members want more privacy. They move away to find a better job in another place.

Retirement : Is when they stop working completely as they will not be able to do their job as effective as before due to ageing. This means that they will no longer or have less contact with their colleagues.

Travel and technology : Technology – Some older people don’t know how to use computers or phones. Everything is technology based in this era, computers and phones are the most important thing to have as it will help you connect or communicate with your loved ones, friends and relatives. Older people who don’t have children or grandchildren the seclusion they face is even worse as they have no way to learn how to use any of the new technology that’s being offered on the market at the moment. Travelling – for older people travelling can consume too much time they may also find it difficult to sit in the same position for to long. The lack of travelling services may also be an issue, as if your over a certain age it might be difficult to travel aboard as the health insurance may not cover you. Older people also face difficulty with day-to-day activities by lack of mobility (not being able walk, or not owning a car).

Activity theory:

The activity theory of aging is the theory that there is a positive relationship between satisfaction and a persons level of activity. The persons level of activity actually influences how a person views his or her self. This theory also coincides with the disengagement theory. The disengagement theory is when an elderly person gives up some of their roles in life while still managing a sense of self-worth. This theory was proposed by Henry and Cummings in 1961.

It means that if older people will remain physically and mentally active and maintain social interactions their happiness will increase and this will also prevent them from disengagement.

This theory was made to believe that retiring from work is a good opportunity for older people to engage with the activities that they hadn’t yet experienced. When they reach retirement they will have enough time to travel to places that they would like to visit and spend their money on whatever they like.

P3: Explain the influences of two predictable and two unpredictable major life events on the development of an individual.

P3: Explain the influences of two predictable and two unpredictable major life events on the development of an individual.

A life event can change the direction of our lives, affecting our personal development. Some major changes in life can be predicted and even chosen, while others may be unpredicted. Predictable life events, such as starting school, going through puberty and retiring from work, often mark a transition from one stage of life to another, acting as milestones in our personal development. Unpredictable life events, such as sudden illness or injury, redundancy or the death of a friend or relative, occur unexpectedly and are often associated with loss, but may also lead to positive change in our lives.

Predictable:

leaving home:

This is a predictable life event. However, it can have an influence on an individual’s development. Firstly, the physical development will have an impact as an individual will have a change in their diet due to lack of cooking experience. In addition, it will also cause a lack of nutrition and an individual would need to change their diet. An individual could go out more and choose the wrong decisions such as drinking or smoking and gain/lose weight. Secondly, would be intellectual development as the individual would need to set up gas and water, learn about mortgages. Thirdly, would be emotional development as the individual would become more independent and have emotions to feel such as feeling lonely, scared or happy. Lastly, would be social development as an individual would be on their own and therefore, have no social to be around with. In addition, an individual could go out more and be around with more social class people.

When my mother moved out of her mothers she was 22. My mother wasn’t ready to move out of her mothers at that age, she just couldn’t cope with living with her step-father for any longer. My mother moved in with my father after being with him for just over a year, they moved out to Streatham. My mother never wanted to move this far away from her mother but the council were unable to give her anywhere close to where she had lived with her mother.

When my mother moved out her social life crumbled, due to having to pay for what they needed in the house (gas, electric, food etc.). However when she moved out of her parents instead of going out and socializing her friends would just come round her house these were called ‘house parties’.

After living in Streatham for 6 years my mother got offered a place round the corner from her mothers. My mother and father had been trying for a baby whilst living in Streatham but there was no luck as she kept having miscarriages. However as soon as she moved closer to her mother she became pregnant, my mother believes that it was because she felt truly relaxed and safe by being so near to her mother.

starting school:

This is a predictable life event. However, it can have an influence on an individual’s development. Firstly, the physical development will have an impact as an individual would be that they would start doing a subject of P.E which would give them a boost in psychical development and some individuals who do not get enough run around would be able to do their physical development at school. In addition, some individuals who do no get enough nutrition or meals at home could have school dinners and therefore, increase their psychical development. Secondly, would be intellectual development as the individual would need to know which classes they are meant to be at or to remember a teacher’s name. Thirdly, would be emotional development as the individual would become more independent and have emotions to feel such as feeling lonely, scared or happy. Socially starting school should allow an individual to make friends and adjust to certain peer groups.

In school, my mother learnt how to make new friends and socialize with them. Some of her friends were a good influence to her and some were bad. This made my mother realise that not everyone wishes and want the best for you, she gained friends that were determined to see her fail. My mother had a lot of trust issues during her adolescence this was because of her mother, this meant that she was never really able to rely on someone completely. Due to her lack of trust it meant that my mother was never really able to let her guard down, therefore no one really new what she was like completely they only saw what she allowed them to see.

My mother had a lot of activities that she participated in during her adolescence (drama, textiles and music). These activities allowed my mother to gain confidence and become the person that she aspired to be. My mother was in a few performances (grease, footloose and my fair lady) she desperately tried to gain her mothers attention, she thought by doing these performances she would be able to build her relationship up with her mother.

Education also helped her to be the person that she is now. My mother became more aware of her environment and the activities that were being offered. School was able to broaden her knowledge with the help of his teachers, she took a particular interest in drama. The interest in drama could be a result of the fact that when doing this subject she could pretend to be someone else, someone who was excepted for who they were.

unpredictable:

Illness/serious accident:

Most people will have some sort of illness in our lives, which aren’t usually serious. However sometimes people develop a condition or become ill where the consequences are permanent, some of these could be a result of genetic, developmental or environmental because of accidents or they may have developed as a result of infection. There are many types of disabilities, which could be a result of any of these conditions.

My mother suffers from many health conditions (insulin dependent diabetes, COPD, as only asthma etc) i have only listed a few here. The most recent discovery that has been made on my mother health is Pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is inflammation in the pancreas. The pancreas is a long, flat gland that sits tucked behind the stomach in the upper abdomen. The pancreas produces enzymes that assist digestion and hormones that help regulate the way your body processes sugar (glucose).

My mother also suffers from insulin dependent diabetes so when my mother Pancreatitis flares up her blood sugar sky rockets, this means that she is at terrible risk of going into a diabetic coma if it isn’t controlled. When the Pancreatitis flares up the amount of insulin she has to inject is usually doubled sometime it can even be tripled. Even after the Pancreatitis has returned back to normal the amount of insulin she has to inject will have to remain the same because her body adapts. My mother has to have an injection 4 times a day.

My mothers social life since she has had these health conditions has dwindled as she is unable to leave the house by herself as she would be putting herself at risk. My mother rely’s on me a lot more since she found out that she ha Pancreatitis and I have been allocated her full-time career as we have no other family that we talk to/or live close enough to help.

Relationship changes:

As we get older we change as people, this means that we can grow together and grow apart. A relationship can either get stronger as time goes on or it can get weak, this means that people may leave a relationship because they aren’t getting what they need from it (attention, love, affection etc.).

In my mothers case her and my father were very strong for 18 years  but after her mother died he changed towards her, he became very controlling. My mother felt like she wasn’t given anytime to grieve for her mother, as he wanted her to remain the same after her mother died not realising that people change after significant things happen throughout her life.

My mother started to recent my father towards the end of the relationship, this meant that they were unable to have a normal conversation without it turning into an argument. My mother and father tried to stay together for a further 2 years after her mother died, however it became clear that they were just making each other miserable so they decided that it would be best for them to split up.

My mother made it clear that she wouldn’t stop him from seeing me and that they would remain civil for me. My mother tried to get back with my father but it was made clear after a short time that they were no longer in love, so there was no point in trying to make their relationship work.

P2: Explain the potential effects of five different life factors, on the development of an individual.

P2: Explain the potential effects of five different life factors, on the development of an individual.

These are the five life factors on the development of an individual

• Genetic
• Biological
• Environmental
• Socioeconomic
• Lifestyle

1: Genetic – Psoriasis.

My mother inherited Psoriasis from her mother.

What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a common skin problem affecting about 2% of the population. It occurs equally in men and women, at any age, and tends to come and go unpredictably. It is not infectious, and does not scar the skin.

There is more likely to be a family history of psoriasis in people who get it when they are young than in those who develop it when they are old. A child with one parent with psoriasis has roughly a 1 in 4 chance of developing psoriasis too. If one of a pair of twins has psoriasis, the other twin has a 70% chance of having it too if the twins are identical, but only a 20% chance if the twins are not identical.

Treatments fall into three categories:

• topical – creams and ointments that are applied to your skin
• phototherapy – your skin is exposed to certain types of ultraviolet light
• systemic – oral and injected medications that work throughout the entire body

My mother finds it difficult to wear short sleeve tops as she doesn’t like the way that her skin appears. Its can also cause my mum some pain (burning sensations, itching and flakey skin). My mother has had this since she was a child and has been to see her GP who referred her to a dermatologist, he advised her of some treatment that may help the skin condition. She tries to attend sunbeds when her health isn’t bad, as the ultra-violet light helps the skin appear better and helps the psoriasis feel smoother. She also has a cream that needs to be applied twice a day, this should help the skin be less flakey and make the skin less likely to crack.

2: Biological – Smoking during pregnancy.

Babies born to mothers who smoke:

• are more likely to be born prematurely and with a low birth weight (below 2.5kg or 5lb 8oz).
• have a birth weight on average 200g (7oz) less than those born to non-smokers. This effect increases proportionally – the more the mother smokes, the less the child weighs.
• have organs that are smaller on average than babies born to non-smokers.
• have poorer lung function.
• are twice as likely to die from cot death. There seems to be a direct link between cot death and parents smoking.
• are ill more frequently. Babies born to women who smoked 15 cigarettes or more a day during pregnancy are taken into hospital twice as often during the first eight months of life.
• get painful diseases such as inflammation of the middle ear and asthmatic bronchitis more frequently in early childhood.
• are more likely to become smokers themselves in later years.

In addition, pregnant women who smoke increase their risk of early miscarriage.

In later pregnancy, smoking mothers are at increased risk of the baby’s placenta coming away from the womb before the baby is born (placental abruption). This may cause the baby to be born prematurely, starve of oxygen, or even to die in the womb (stillborn).

 for more information : http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/smoking/pregnantsmoking.htm

My mother’s mum smoked during pregnancy this meant that my mother was more likely to become a smoker herself as she go older and she did, my mother started smoking when she was 12 and continued throughout her life till she quit 2 years ago. Smoking during pregnancy can also cause health complications as they get older, my mother suffers with bronchitis and has done since she reached childhood. My mother spent most of her infancy in hospital this could be linked to smoking during pregnancy. They say that a baby who has a mother that smokes is twice as likely to spend time in hospital as a baby/child.

3: environmental – family dysfunctional.

potential problems.

• Social problems including withdrawal, loneliness, loss of confidence, school problems, learning disorders, anxiety and depression, alcohol and drug abuse (particularly associated with mental illness), suicide or self-harming, theft and criminal behaviour.
• Discipline problems including selfishness, defiance, unstable behaviour, recklessness, deceitfulness, violent behaviour and disruptive behaviour.
• Educational problems including disruptive behaviour, bullying, decreased learning ability and academic achievements.

Parent conditions.

• Family conflict and discord: lack of structure and discipline, disagreement about child rearing.
• Parental control that is too tight.
• Overprotection is a risk factor for childhood anxiety.
• Marital conflict, divorce or separation: most of the negative effects are caused by disruption of parenting. The parents’ ability to cope with the changes may be reflected in the child’s ability to cope.
• Involvement of the father; the emotional and social outcomes are significantly improved for children whose fathers play a visible and nurturing role in their upbringing. Father involvement is associated with positive cognitive, developmental and socio-behavioural child outcomes, such as improved weight gain in preterm infants, improved breast-feeding rates, higher receptive language skills and higher academic achievement.
• Maternal depression, including postpartum depression. Young children of depressed mothers have an elevated risk of behavioural, developmental and emotional problems.
• One study found that depressed individuals who are offspring of depressed parents may be at particular risk for the secondary deficits of depression. Such deficits may include physical dysfunction, pain and disability; anxiety, smoking, drinking-related problems and poorer social resources.
• Parental mental illness.
• Parental physical illness.
• Parental alcohol and substance abuse.
• Re-marriage/step families.

For more information on this: http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/child-parent-relationship-and-potential-problems

My mother was bought up in a lone parent family. She was bought up by her mother who was very different before she got re-married, her mother was her rock and tried to be both a mother and father. As my mother got older she began to resent her mother and her step father they never excepted her for who she was. Her step father tried to compete with my mother and her mother chose him rather than her daughter, that’s how the resent began to grow. Due to my mother being pushed aside she found refuge with food and began to gain weight which lead to her obesity at this point in her life. My mother also become rebellious during her adolescence and began to take drugs and drink a lot of alcohol to escape her troubles that she had left at home.

4: social-economic – peer groups.

A group of individuals or entities who share similar characteristics and interests. Peer groups, in the case of people, have characteristics which include similarities such as socio-economic status, level of education, and ethnic background and so on amongst its individual members.
In the context of financial markets, peer group usually refers to companies that operate in the same industry sector and are of similar size.

As a child you will have learned a lot about social relationships when you played with other children. During adolescence we are very influenced by people of their own age group (peer groups).

My mother was very popular as a teenager and had a lot of different peer groups that she orbited around. As she got older her peer groups began to get smaller as she grew closer to a particular group. This was a positive and also a negative as if she had a fall out with someone within the group she would become an outsider. The positive of having a small peer group is that your always aware of whats going on and whats being said within the group.

5: lifestyle – dietary choices.

Some people may choose to eat a diet that includes unhealthy fatty, salty or sugary foods. But some people may unhealthy because of the convince and cost. some people argue that convince food that has high fat, salt or sugar content is often cheaper than healthier or more labour intense alternatives people with low-income will find it harder to travel to supermarkets and stock up on cheaper food.a low income may push people to choose unhealthy diet, because it can be harder or more expensive to choose a healthier one.

My mother eat unhealthy food from a child, this may have been because her mother couldn’t cook, however after living with something for so long you become a custom to it. This may be linked to why she has been overweight for most of her life. As my mother got older and she started living by herself she had to become independent and this meant that she would need to learn how to cook. My mother began to watch her grandmother cook as a child so she had gained some skills. My mother still remained overweight throughout the life stages that she has passed, this may because she lacks determination to lose it. Diabetes has been linked to obesity however my mother already had this health condition, it has been said that having diabetes does make it significantly harder to lose weight. My mother has tried to eat as healthily if possible but cheap alternatives on the market make it harder to steer clear of  them, as sometimes the quick and easy route just looks better not to mention the fact that it is cheap.

M1/D1: discuss the nature-nurture debate in relation to the development of your chosen celebrity or family member-using factual information.

M1 – Discuss the nature-nurture debate in relation to the development of an individual

The historical debate regarding nature and nurture has been going on for years and is still unresolved. Many theorists believe what we have inherited and our genes, makes us the way we are and how we develop. Other theorists believe it is the way we are brought up and our experiences, that make us the way we are and how we develop.

Physically the way we look can be argued to be mainly due to nature. The genes we inherit from our parents make the basis of we look. For example, people often say ‘Don’t you look like your father/mother!’ Genetic inheritance can determine our eye colour, whether we have straight or curly hair or how tall we will be. We can also inherit certain disease which can seriously impact on our health. However, we can make decisions on how we look and change our appearance. There are many different cosmetic procedures available to alter our appearance. How we live our life and the choices we make can also have an impact on how we look. For example, eating junk food and not exercising can lead to obesity. The environment we are brought up in and the experiences we have, can influence our health which contributes to physical development. An example of how nature and nurture affect our

physical development is; we may carry genes that increase our risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but if we eat a healthy diet and get sufficient exercise, we may not develop the disease. The genes for characteristics we inherit are called genotypes. The actual express of these characteristics are phenotypes. The phenotypes are what decide our physical traits such as; eye colour and height – they can be seen. Genes we inherit can affect our health. For example, a daughter is more likely to have breast cancer if her mother has had it. However, our life choices and the environment can increase our chances of having breast cancer. For example, if we smoke.

Comparison chart:
Nature Nurture What is it? In the “nature vs nurture” debate, nature refers to an individual’s innate qualities (nativism). In the “nature vs nurture” debate, nurture refers to personal experiences (i.e. empiricism or behaviorism). Example Nature is your genes. The physical and personality traits determined by your genes stay the same irrespective of where you were born and raised. Nurture refers to your childhood, or how you were brought up. Someone could be born with genes to give them a normal height, but be malnourished in childhood, resulting in stunted growth and a failure to develop as expected. Factors Biological and family factors Social and environmental factors
http://www.diffen.com/difference/Nature_vs_Nurture

Nature:

My mothers upbringing was very different to what it is at this day an age, her life could have been referred to as a difficult life, my mother was bought up by her mother as her father died when she was 6 months old. As she grew up with a father figure in her life you may say that she closed herself off emotionally from males in general. My mother grew up around a lot of uncles and aunt so she was always supported by family. My mother grew very close to her grandmother over the years as she wasn’t getting the kind of relationship she wanted off her mother, as after she had got remarried she had become very distant. After her grandmother died my mother was very isolated, she hardly ever spoke to her mother apart from meal times and after she’d get in from being out with friends. This got increasingly more awkward as time went on as the man who her mother remarried never showed any kindness towards her, so my mother stayed out to avoid the arguments.

Nurture:

Where my mother spent a lot of time in hospital during her life she was also slower to develop as a person as she wasn’t with friends often enough to have develop personality traits. As my mother got older she started staying out overnight and going to parties where there would be alcohol,drugs and sex. My mother also started hanging out with the older boys and girls, this meant that my mother was developing at a much faster rate than what she should have. My mothers environment that the she grew up in was very relaxed a calm and kind neighbourhood, there was hardly ever any trouble around where my mother grew up. However as she got older she began to get more curious about the rough area’s around where she lived (Packington, marquess and Bentham court)  later on during her life she found herself surround by people who lived in these rough areas. This changed the way my mother saw her own life and what she has been taking for granted.

D1: evaluate how the nature and nurture debate in may affect the physical, intellectual, emotional and social development of two life stages of the development of your chosen family member or celebrity.

Each cell in the body contains 23 pairs of chromosomes. One chromosome from each pair is inherited from your mother and one is inherited from your father.

The chromosomes contain the genes you inherit from your parents. There may be different forms of the same gene. These different forms are called alleles.

For example, for the gene that determines eye colour, there may be an allele for blue eyes and an allele for brown eyes.

You may inherit a brown allele from your mother and a blue allele from your father. In this instance, you will end up with brown eyes because brown is the dominant allele. The different forms of genes are caused by mutations (changes) in the DNA code.

The same is true for medical conditions. There may be a faulty version of a gene that results in a medical condition, and a normal version that may not cause health problems.

Whether your child ends up with a medical condition will depend on factors including:

• what genes they inherit
• whether the gene for that condition is dominant or recessive
• their environment, including any treatment they may receive

A genetic disease or disorder is the result of changes, or mutations, in an individual’s DNA. A mutation is a change in the letters (DNA sequence) that make up a gene. This is sometimes referred to as a “spelling” mistake. Genes code for proteins, the molecules that carry out most of the work, perform most life functions, and make up the majority of cellular structures. When a gene is mutated so that its protein product can no longer carry out its normal function, a disorder can result.

 

Genetic diseases can be inherited because they are mutations in the germ cells of the body—the cells involved in passing genetic information from parents to offspring. Genetic diseases can also result from changes in DNA in somatic cells, or cells in the body that are not germ cells.

Some genetic diseases are called Mendelian disorders—they are caused by mutations that occur in the DNA sequence of a single gene. These are usually rare diseases; some examples are Huntington’s disease and cystic fibrosis. Many genetic diseases are multifactorial—they are caused by mutations in several genes compounded by environmental factors. Some examples of these are heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

http://www.geneticalliance.org/diseases

Adolescence:

Physical&Social development:

Nurture affects the physical & social development of my mother. During adolescence my mother was on her way to becoming an adult, she thought that she’d have to change the way she looked to fit into society (as she was overweight). My mother began to blame herself and others because of the way she looked, she faced a lot of criticism off of close family members as they used to say stuff like “you’ve got such a pretty face but if you lost some weight you’d be so much better”. During this time my mothers looked at friends for acceptance which meant that to fit in she had to have the same stuff everyone else had (clothes, technology etc.). This was very difficult as because she was overweight she couldn’t purchase the same type of clothes, this made her stand out of the crowd which gave her extra attention that she didn’t want. Her mother and her grandmother we’re both overweight there has been a recent discussion/scientific experiments on whether being overweight can be caused by genetics. Scientists have identified certain mutant genes and hidden genes which are directly linked to a person’s weight. These ‘fat’ genes which are found to be present in some and absent in some are linked to weight but mostly in cases where people have been found suffering from obesity or morbid obesity! Genes have also been linked to ‘childhood obesity’, wherein it was found out lifestyle and diet had little roles to play in the child being obese! more information can be found on: http://www.medimanage.com/my-weight/articles/Overweight-Dont-blame-your-genes.aspx. My mother spent a lot of time trying to fit in during her teenage years but she found out that being herself was more important than losing yourself to fit in. My mother stayed up late playing/chatting with her friends.  Lack of sleep could also affect our body; it would increase blood pressure and cholesterol level, increase stress hormones, etc. Sleep is really important, at this age she should-be having at least 7-9 hours of sleep.

intellectual development:

Nature affected her intellectually during this period my mother wasn’t really sure on what type of career she wanted to do, however she had decided that she wanted to pursue a career that would evolve around helping people. She managed to get a job whilst being at school this would help her to develop some new skills and allow her to make her own money, although she knew that wasn’t the career path she wanted to stay in. My mother also began to volunteer at a care home, this is what made her decide on what career path she wanted to go down.

emotional development:

 Nurture affected her at the beginning of adolescence my mother had  poor self-image and self-esteem. She also began to resent her friends and her mother as they both wanted her to be someone else, when it was clear that she was never going to be able to keep the act up forever. During adolescence my mother began to question her own self-worth as friend we’re also making snide little comments whilst her back was turned. My mother at this started to hang around with males as she got into this life stage as she thought that they were a lot less cruel. The boys accepted her more as part of their group so she began to build up her self-image up again, giving her more confidence and self-belief.

Adulthood:

Physical development:

My mother was affected by nature during adulthood. During my mothers adulthood she discovered that she was at risk of developing a range of different genetic diseases (diabetes type one, lung cancer, breast cancer, asthma etc.). My mother also discovered that she may not be able to have children of her own because she has  Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) sometimes it runs in families. If any relatives, such as your mother, sister or aunt, have PCOS then the risk of you developing it is often increased. As she got older her hair began to get darker and she began to get grey bits through her hair, she also has had more problems with her teeth as they are falling out or being damaged due to decay. As she got older she also began to gain weight as her metabolism slows down. during this life stage my mother got pregnant with me, there were some complications during the birth as she had to have caesarean due to preeclampsia.

intellectual development: 

My mother  was less influenced by nature as an adult as she can make her own choices and decision.

When my mother was deciding on what course is she was going take after finishing secondary school, my mother knew what she wanted to after volunteering with an elderly care home. When she turned 20 my mother got her first job she was working double shifts because of the love that she had grown towards her job. After working in a care home for the terminally ill my mother decided that she wanted a change her job perspective and started working in a domestic abuse centre for women.

When my mother become pregnant with me she started doing hairdressing from home. This become more of a hobbie for my mother as she would only do people who were family or close friends. My mother had to give up her job at domestic abuse centre because it meant putting me endanger and the people at the centre wouldn’t allow it.

Emotional development & Social development:

Both emotionally and socially my mother was affected by nurture. My mother was influenced by friends and work colleagues in adulthood, as you grow more work connections as you get older. Emotionally she began to reminisce about life as a teenager, and realised that the decisions she made were the best for her. When my mother reached this life stage she found love and spent 20 years with my father which ended after trying to save the relationship for 2 years. Their relationship was very successful for 18 years, but after her mother died my father began to try to control my mother. My mother found if very difficult to deal after her mother died as she had regrets about the way their relationship finished.

Emotionally my mother also found out after her mother had past that she could inherit a range of genetic diseases. This made it hard for mother to focus on the positives after splitting up with my father and her mother dying.

Socially my mother relied on friends a lot more as she got older as her family didn’t really contact her after he mother had died. My mother had several best friends that were there to support after her relationship had ended with my father and her mother had past.

P1-unit 4 describe physical, intellectual, emotional and social development through each of the life stages.

Infancy 0-3.

Physically:

At around nine months after the baby being conceived my mother was born. My mother as a new born baby wouldn’t have been able digest food other than breast milk or a substitute. My mother wouldn’t have been able to hear everything as a baby’s brain isn’t fully developed at this life stage. My mother would have been able to tell the differences between the way things taste and the way her mother would have smelt. A baby is born with various temporary and primitive reflexes.

Some of these are:

A new-born baby will turn their heads towards any touch on the cheek. This is called the rooting reflex and helps the baby to get the nipple or bottle into their mouth to feed.

If you place a finger in a baby palm, they will grasp your finger tightly. This reflex is called the grasp reflex.

If a baby is startled, this could be by a loud noise, they will throw their hands and arms outwards, arching the back and straightening their back this is called the startle reflex.

If a new-born baby is held upright with their feet touching the ground, they will make movements as if their attempting to walk. This is called the walking reflex.

My mother would have the physical ability to recognise and interact with people. My mother would have preferred to listen to other peoples voices; this would have been a good thing as they learn to listen to their mother’s voice.

Physically my mother was born with dislocated hips so she had to have metal screws put into her hips to put them back into the correct place. The treatment of hip dysplasia depends on the age of the child. The goal of treatment is to properly position the hip joint (“reduce” the hip). Once an adequate reduction is obtained, the doctor will hold the hip in that reduced position and allow the body to adapt to the new position. The younger the child, the better capacity to adapt the hip, and the better chance of full recovery. Over time, the body becomes less accommodating to repositioning of the hip joint. My mother was also born with pneumonia meaning that she had a lot of physical complications when she was born. Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs caused by any one of several viruses and bacteria. The lungs become inflamed and filled with fluid, causing a cough and making it harder to breathe.

Although my mum faced all of this as an infant she was still able to reach the necessary millstones they were just slightly delayed because of the time she spent in hospital. However because of the dislocated hips she was unable to skip and jumping could be issues if she landed in the incorrect way. Nevertheless when is come to developing her fine motor skills she was very talented as she was able to do that frequently during hospital. She was also able to grow the same as all the other children, so the other thing her health complications hindered was her gross motor skills.

Intellectual:

Intellectually a baby should be able to recognise sounds as the brains grown fast. They are also able to make variations of sounds due to increased vocabulary.

Babies are born with the ability to sense objects. They are also born with a range of reflexes such as sucking this will allow them to feed, these action lead to motor actions which control the bodies muscles. The sensorimotor stage is when the mind is limited to thinking about sensing objects and preforming motor actions.

Emotional:

Gradual development of emotions e.g. happiness/enjoyment (perhaps of baths). They may show some preferences towards food and games towards the end of infancy.

Emotionally my mother would have become aware of those who are around her most (mother, father, grandparents and aunts/uncles) this means that she would have started bonding and creating relationships. She would have also developed other emotions, a few could have been developed whilst in hospital e.g. nerves and afraid feelings and thoughts. Emotionally my mother wasn’t able to form a bond with her father as he died when she was only 6 months old, therefore she may have tried to fill his place as she wasn’t aware of what was happening at this point, it could have also caused my emotional attachments towards her mother.

Social:

An infant will begin to enjoy routines (bath time, feeding and sleeping). They will also discover sensorimotor at the end of infancy e.g. waves, cries when left on their own, copies actions of adults.

Socially my mother was around a lot of different people because of her stay at hospital, this made it difficult to form bonds with family members as she was likely unsure of whom the person was which would make her bond with her mother even closer. As she was the only person she could be sure of, although my mother did have the chance to spend time with other infants at the hospital.

Childhood 4-10.

 

Physical:

Physically children begin to grow more gradually than they do during infancy. However when in the childhood life stage they have a growth spurt between 5-7. They also begin to develop fine motor skills e.g. writing. Children also begin to develop sense of balance making it less likely to fall over when doing activities. Children usually gain around 3kg and 5.8cm per year.

My mother’s childhood was also partly spent in hospital, this was because of the dislocated hips she had when she was an infant. Because this was a fragile part of her body it meant that there should be less strain put on them, as they could pop out again and they did quite a bit during her childhood. Physically my mother was able to go to school at this age so she was able to act like a normal child, and take part in most of the activities they had to offer. My mother was also overweight from a very young age the doctors began to think it was because she was unable to a lot of exercise because of her hips.

 

Intellectual:

Intellectually a child should have gained vocabulary which can allow them to have a conversation with people. At this life stage they are also aware of simple right and wrongs; they are also no longer egocentric. At this stage their brains are also developing at a much faster speed.

My mother was attending school which meant that her vocabulary was developing fast she was able to have a conversation with an adult and understand the responses they we’re giving. She also understood the right and wrongs of how to behave at both school and at home. She also understood that the world wasn’t going to evolve around her just because she was unwell; this meant that she was no longer egocentric. My mother was able to learn lots of things from both her teachers and her family (simple understanding of math, English).

Emotional:

At this life stage they are able to develop a wider range of emotions (happiness, nerves, frustration, and negativity). Children will also develop how to express emotion in different situations. Relationships with other family members may influence how a child feels valued, a sense of worth and self-esteem. This can also be influenced by teachers and friends this could cause positive or negative situations.

Emotionally my mother was able to experience a lot of different emotions at an early age because of the time she spent in hospital. She also felt what it was to lose someone because she understood why her father wasn’t there. During her childhood she also developed some issues to do with self-confidence as her mother was very hard on her because of her weight this meant she never felt like she was good enough. So she was always looking for acceptance off of friends and family during her childhood. My mother grew a very strong attachment to her grandmother, as she was able to except her for whom and what she was.

Social:

Socially children usually learn to share because of friends and siblings. The number of people that children know will begin to expand because of the friends that they will make during school. They also begin to compare themselves to other people when they reach this life stage.

Socially my mother was an only child so she only had the opportunity to learn to share at school. She began to make bigger school groups and friends whilst at school this gave her the opportunity to have sleep overs and grow better bonds with the people from her school. My mother also began to see that she was different form the other children as she was overweight this did effect the people that she chose to hang around with, because she was frightened that they may say something about it.

Adolescence 11-18.

Adolescence is when a person’s personality develops and if parents and family are not very understanding then the adolescence may become insecure.

Physical:

When you reach adolescence men a women develop different physical attributes.

Women: period starts, breasts develop and hips widen
.

Male: voice breaks, chest broadens, possibility of wet dreams, testes and penis grows.

During adolescence my mother started her period developed breast and her hips began to widen. She also began to experiment physically in relationships (sexual contact and sexual intercourse) she also experimented with drinking and drugs. My mother also developed many hobbies one of which was swimming this helped her to improve her health without being to straining on her hips.

Intellectual:

When you reach adolescence you gain more connections because you start secondary school. You also start to use abstract thinking which leads to arguments with authoritative figures. You also start to think independently this can be due to hormones rising.

During adolescence my mother started to attend secondary school, however due to peer pressure she started skipping lessons which was creating arguments between her and her mother. She also began to think that she was always right in every situation which had a tendency to get her in trouble with the authorities. During adolescence you also start to develop hobbies and my mum liked to swim, this meant that she was able to improve her physical state.

 

Emotional:

When in adolescence your mood is continuously changing due to hormones. You are also more likely to experience worry and stress this could be linked to your exams. Teenagers begin to make opinions on other people this could be linked to the way they have been treated by them, or they feel threatened or even because it makes them feel better about themselves.

My mum spent most of her time at her grandmother’s house because she and her mother were always arguing because her mother got re-married. During exams season my mother began to skip lessons because she didn’t see the importance of revising what she had already learnt this meant that she wasn’t going to get the grades she needed which also adding to the reasons she and her mother were arguing.my mum has never been one to talk behind someone’s back as she had deal with that herself during her childhood so this meant that she never really created any enemies.

Socially:

Socially during adolescence you begin to become more independent staying out overnight by themselves, attending parties. Becoming more experimental (trying out drugs, alcohol, sex and different friendship groups). They also develop the skills to negotiate this can be with friends, parents and teachers. Teenagers can also develop insecurity attachments meaning that they may get jealous and clingy towards others.

During adolescence my mother wanted to test her boundaries so she stayed out a lot by lying to her mother, she also went out drinking (clubs, pubs and house parties). Whilst she was at these parties she experimented with all different things some of which were drugs, alcohol and sex. She also had different social groups that she acted different with. She began to make deals with the authorities within her life, about school, friendships and her mother. My mother never liked to get into long term relationships as it meant that if it ended she would have to deal with being alone.

Adulthood 19-65.

During adulthood, promotion is often sought and most people find a partner, leave home and start their own families.

Young adults are often at the peak of their physical performance between the ages of 18-28. Older adults usually lose some strength and speed when they reach the end of this life stage. There are a number of age related changes the come apparent as you get older (glasses, loss of hearing and thinning of hair).

Physically when my mother reached this life stage she was told that she wouldn’t be able to have a family of her own as she had polycystic ovaries and blocked Fallopian Tubes. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition that affects how a woman’s ovaries work.

PCOS affects millions of women in the UK.

The three main features of the condition are:

Cysts that develop in your ovaries (polycystic ovaries)

Your ovaries do not regularly release eggs (ovulate)

Having high levels of “male hormones” called androgens in your body.

Blocked Fallopian Tubes are when the fallopian tubes are two thin tubes, one on each side of the uterus, which help lead the mature egg from the ovaries to the uterus. When an obstruction prevents the egg from traveling down the tube, the woman has a blocked fallopian tube. It can occur on one or both sides. This is also known as tubal factor infertility, and is the cause of infertility in 40% of infertile women.

Physically my mother also had to face 2 miscarriages before she had me. A miscarriage is a pregnancy that ends by itself within the first 20 weeks. “Stillbirth” refers to the loss of a pregnancy with fatal death that occurs after the first 20 weeks. Experts estimate that about half of all fertilized eggs die and are miscarried, usually even before the woman knows she is pregnant. Most miscarriages occur between the 7th and 12th weeks of pregnancy. However despite all of the odds being against her my mother was able to conceive me. She got pregnant with me at the age of 29 and gave birth to me at 30. She spent 72 hours in labour as she wasn’t dilating fast enough, although she has to have a Caesarean, I was born with no further complications. My mother chose not to breast feed me but used a substitute.

During the middle of adulthood she faced a lot of health complications, and spends a lot of time in hospital because of them. She has a lot of medical conditions that she has to live with on a day-to-day basis (pancreatitis, type 1 diabetes, depression, rheumatoid arthritis, sciatica, asthma, high blood pressure, loss of feeling in her feet, obesity and gastro problems).

Intellectual:

When you reach adulthood you’re more likely to develop new skills (budgeting, skills at work). You will also move out and experience living alone at this age or even living with a partner. Most people also experience raising children. People that want a better degree may also go on to further education, they will think about what goals and aspiration they want to reach at this life stage. At the end of adulthood their reaction times will get slower and they will begin to forget things (memories). Adults are better at make big decisions as they have more experience dealing with the consequences.

When my mother reached 19 she applied for a job in a battered woman’s shelter and developed some new skills, after staying at her previous job for 2 years she decided that she want to work with the elderly so she work in a care home for terminally ill patients, this job was designed to test my mother’s skills and emotional stability, my mother enjoyed it so much she decided to stay long term and was there for 7 years till she got pregnant with me. She also moved in with my father after 3 years. During this life stage my mother also has done a few courses on different things, (counselling, teacher’s assistant, NVQ in a care and catering). My mother also made the decision to leave my father after being with him for 20 years.

Emotional:

During adulthood you will be able to behave more maturely (being able to share, respond and listen). You also begin to control emotions and empathy. At this life stage you also begin to lose people that you are close to (people leave and people die).

Emotionally during adulthood my mother was able to improve her maturity by moving in with my father this was love then my mother got pregnant and they had created their own family someone to love more than anything or anyone else. My mother was also able to learn how to leave her emotional for the people she cared for at work. During her adulthood she lost her mother which left a big hole in her emotionally as they never had a good relationship after my mother turned 5, she always had a better relationship with her grandmother. My mother had a lot of regrets during adulthood and not spending enough time with her mother was one of them. Emotionally my mother wasn’t able to cope, knowing that she had no one else to turn to if things went wrong. My mother and my father started arguing a lot after my nan died and he started to control the things she did and who she done it with, my mother never took to well to the orders and they split up when I was 9. This meant that she was truly on her own with no family to support her so she developed depression, so she was unable to carry on with her job.

Social:

Socially during adulthood taking responsibility for others as well as themselves is a main part of them developing socially. Developing relationships both formal and informal are a part of adulthood too this could be in-laws etc. during adulthood, friendship networks continue to be very important. For most people adulthood is dominated by the formation of adult sexual partnerships and by the need to find employment/establish a career. For many people marriage and marriage and parenthood represents major social developments in their life. Many adults in their forties and fifties experience time pressures that may limit their social activity. Mature adults may have to spilt their time between work, care of parents, other family committees and wider social activities. Some mature adults report a reduction in the amount of a social activity due to these pressures.

Socially my mother was expected to look after me and her mother when she got ill; this became a fulltime job so she wasn’t able to see friends that often. My mother didn’t get on with her in-laws they never accepted her and she became an outsider which never made my mother feel as though she wasn’t a part of the family. After my grandmother became ill my mother was looking after 6 year old me and my terminally ill grandmother, my mother was left with little time to socialise this meant she lost friendships during this part of her life. My mother never wanted to get married even though my father proposed more than once.

M1/D1-discuss the nature-nurture debate in relation to the development of your chosen celebrity or family member-using factual information and be able to evaluate it.