Unit 4 Assignment 1
Capella University- Psyc 7220
For this course project the child I chose to analyze is Jeremiah Wilson, he is a strong, bright African American boy. His parents are married and belong to the middle class in the economic status. His father is a Marine who deploys overseas frequently, his mother works long hours and it is difficult for her to help Jeremiah with his homework and involve him in extracurricular activities that will benefit his strong athletic personality. He has one sister who is two years old. The family resides in an urban setting , in a safe neighborhood where children are often playing outside. An aunt cares for bot Jeremiah and his sister after school hours.
Jeremiah is a thoughtful and kind boy, although he becomes somewhat aggressive when he gets frustrated, and loses control. After pediatrician and neurologist evaluation there is a suspicion of Attention Deficit Disorder. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity ( ADD/ ADHD), however by age five both practitioners agreed it was too early to diagnose. It is normal for children to have trouble behaving and focusing from time to time, however children with ADHD do not grow out of these behaviors . Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder is a common childhood disorder and can continue through adolescence and adulthood. Children with ADHD have a problem with inattentiveness, over activity, impulsivity, and or a combination of these. Some symptoms of ADHD would be the inability to stay focused, difficulty controlling their behavior and hyperactivity.
The two development theories that I think are most closely affiliated with Jeremiah are the behaviorism theory and Piaget’s cognitive development theory. These theories are most applicable to this case study. Behaviorism is perfect for Jeremiah because it can give me a better understanding as to why he is acting out aggressively. By coming to an understanding of “ how the organism’s body
References: Berk, L.E. (2012). Infants, children and adolescents (7th edition). Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon. Gober, S.Y. (2002). Six simple ways to assess young children. New York:Delmar. Vianna. E. (2006). Embracing history through transforming it: Constrating Piagetian vs. Vygotskian theories of learning and development to expand constructivism within a dialectical view of history. Theory and Psycholgy, 16 (1), 81- 108.