Timeline Life Events
Influences of Timeline Events on Identity Development Identity can be personal when we think of ourselves individually. However, it can be defined as identity is the concept you develop about yourself that changes over your lifespan. These changes are or may be influences that include how you perceive work, school, marriage, family, values and beliefs. Some of these influences may be positive or negative. Nonetheless, impacts of various factors become developing instruments to making us unique individuals and our outlook on life (Broderick & Blewitt, 2010).
The identity of an individual has unique differences depending on the association with his or her personal and social functioning in society, especially during the formation of identity in the adolescent years of development (Crocetti, Rubini,, Luyckx&, Meeus, 2008). The influences of personal identity development will illustrate through the time line of my life events from birth through adulthood.
Life event analysis
Life Event I: 1966-1972 Born to a family with a stay at home mother and working father and Started elementary school This event was an age-graded event of particular significance to my development of identity because of the way it affected my attachment style. My mother was a house wife for a while until the birth of my second brother. As a young child, my father …show more content…
worked in another state, therefore my contact with him was primarily on weekends. Because of this, my mother was my primary caregiver. Although my father was a big part of my life in spite of his job, I believe his absence impacted my attachment style negatively. Therefore, as a result to my relationship with my father, I developed anxious avoidant attachment style. With this attachment style a child develops avoidance towards the caregiver towards and shows very little emotion when care giver returns. (Bowlby, 1988). When my father left to work, there was never a time that I recall when myself or brothers were emotionally tearful or upset when he would leave. With my mother, the attachment style I had with her was definitely secure attachment style. Often times children that are exposed to family violence, marital conflict, maltreatment, any other types traumatizing events develop insecure attachment styles. As result of these conditions my attachment style with my father, became insecure (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). As an adult, this transformed my over to my relationships with other people. I developed trust issues, low self-esteem, and a constant feeling of insecurity. The ability to cope with this change, brought about feels on contestant insecurity in platonic and romantic relationships with men. Similarly, in regards to the parenting styles, of both my father and mother had; father predominantly authoritative, and mother permissive style was interwoven with their attachment styles. Therefore, resulting in emotional self-regulation, and poor coping skills for me (Milevsky, Schlechter, Neet & Kheen, 2007). Life Event II: 1978-1980 Biological experiences and graduation from junior high school The biological experience of me growing from a “little girl” to a young adult was an event that strongly impacted my identity. This impact was such a shock to me because one day I was a little girl, and the next day so it appeared to begin new life physically as an adult with changes inside and outside my body. The glandular awakening of primary and secondary sexual characteristics where developing all along, however due to me being an overweight and quite obese child I didn’t notice the changes beforehand. In the 6th grade while I was on a school trip to Hersey park. After finishing riding the largest roller coaster, I went to the bathroom only to find myself bleeding. I thought I was injured from the intense turns of the ride. When I reported it to another parent who was chaperoning, she informed me I was injured it was my period. Menarche in girls usually occur on the average of 13 (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). My parents, never talked to me about sexuality or adolescent physical development. Presently until this day I still don’t know why this was a subject never discussed. Perhaps it was their upbringing, I don’t know.
My graduation from Junior high school embarked still another impact on my life, as I continued emerging into young adulthood. In the transition from junior high school represented a turning point for me in which meant a change in peers and social status. While examining my social environment; being raised in a predominantly white neighborhood, and being the only black in the classroom involved stress and self-esteem issues. The self-esteem issues were generated from ethnicity, and racial interaction with whites, as I only knew in school and the neighborhood. I knew I would be going to a new school with greater level of expectations and responsibilities, and a shift in redefining my social identity. My father believed in education as your meal ticket to success, however neither parent never had real involvement. According to Corner, (1988) poor minority children the idea of parents becoming involved with their schooling was met with resistance. Although, I was considered middle class, the attitude of my parents reflected a double standard in my education, which I believed was a part of their authoritarian parenting style. Erikson, stages of development included the Inferiority stage of development. During this stage there are major tasks to gain self-confidence through mastering skills and social interactions with others (Kraus, 2008). My transition from Junior high school to High school was consistent to Erikson’s stages of development. As a result of part of my adolescent development this promoted autonomy and supported assertiveness individually with me. This changed my development psychologically because I was forced to learn to grow up and become more responsible as expectations of mature behavior in high school. My parents had high demands but very little responsiveness in school activities, or interaction. For example: As a cheerleader, rifle guard, track runner, and hockey player, my parents signed the permission slip but never supported me by going to one game track event or even come to watch me march in a thanksgiving parade. It also impacted my development socially because I was more willing to interact with others for attention which helped to make me more comfortable with meeting new people and interacting in social situations. Throughout my lifespan, these two events have had an overall negative and positive impact on my identity development. In one way the negativity questions my self-worth, while the positive taught me independence which I lacked in the beginning of my transition from junior high to high school.
Life Event III:1985-1987 Graduation from high school and first job This event in my life is significant because it played a major role in identifying my place in society as a legal adult.
However, at this stage in my life I realized I was entering into the work force immediately after high school graduation. Although I decided not to go into college I decided to take a trade up and attend a trade school for two years, work and then go back to college. Nonetheless the biggest adjustment was societal and environmental pressures. According to Schaie’s theory emphasizes the importance of new roles, needs, and responsibilities that determine intellectual functioning (Broderick & Blewitt,p.417,
2015).
Life Event IV: Adult Events
1988-1993: Birth of a daughter and Marriage to my husband The birth of my daughter helped to understand my identity. The responsibility of becoming a mother was a new task. Nonetheless, it also helped me to identify my personality, gain personal growth, and the purpose in my life. Taking on a role as a new parent. Cognitive development was different than it was as an adolescent. According to Piaget’s seminal work, believed in shifts that occur in adult years (Brodweick & Blewitt, 2015). Problem solving and making decision, appeared to more logical. Piaget called this stage fifth-stage thinking. The marriage of my husband was an event that shaped my identity, my giving me a feeling of security. The marriage helped to build a secure attachment, and a sense of completeness within my family structure. In doing this change my perception about relationships, since this was my first marriage.
The identity of an individual has unique differences depending on the association with his or her personal and social functioning in society, especially during the formation of identity in the adolescent years of development (Crocetti, Rubini,, Luyckx&, Meeus, 2008). The influences of personal identity development will illustrate through the time line of my life events from birth through adulthood.
Life event analysis
Life Event I: 1966-1972 Born to a family with a stay at home mother and working father and Started elementary school This event was an age-graded event of particular significance to my development of identity because of the way it affected my attachment style. My mother was a house wife for a while until the birth of my second brother. As a young child, my father …show more content…
worked in another state, therefore my contact with him was primarily on weekends. Because of this, my mother was my primary caregiver. Although my father was a big part of my life in spite of his job, I believe his absence impacted my attachment style negatively. Therefore, as a result to my relationship with my father, I developed anxious avoidant attachment style. With this attachment style a child develops avoidance towards the caregiver towards and shows very little emotion when care giver returns. (Bowlby, 1988). When my father left to work, there was never a time that I recall when myself or brothers were emotionally tearful or upset when he would leave. With my mother, the attachment style I had with her was definitely secure attachment style. Often times children that are exposed to family violence, marital conflict, maltreatment, any other types traumatizing events develop insecure attachment styles. As result of these conditions my attachment style with my father, became insecure (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). As an adult, this transformed my over to my relationships with other people. I developed trust issues, low self-esteem, and a constant feeling of insecurity. The ability to cope with this change, brought about feels on contestant insecurity in platonic and romantic relationships with men. Similarly, in regards to the parenting styles, of both my father and mother had; father predominantly authoritative, and mother permissive style was interwoven with their attachment styles. Therefore, resulting in emotional self-regulation, and poor coping skills for me (Milevsky, Schlechter, Neet & Kheen, 2007). Life Event II: 1978-1980 Biological experiences and graduation from junior high school The biological experience of me growing from a “little girl” to a young adult was an event that strongly impacted my identity. This impact was such a shock to me because one day I was a little girl, and the next day so it appeared to begin new life physically as an adult with changes inside and outside my body. The glandular awakening of primary and secondary sexual characteristics where developing all along, however due to me being an overweight and quite obese child I didn’t notice the changes beforehand. In the 6th grade while I was on a school trip to Hersey park. After finishing riding the largest roller coaster, I went to the bathroom only to find myself bleeding. I thought I was injured from the intense turns of the ride. When I reported it to another parent who was chaperoning, she informed me I was injured it was my period. Menarche in girls usually occur on the average of 13 (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). My parents, never talked to me about sexuality or adolescent physical development. Presently until this day I still don’t know why this was a subject never discussed. Perhaps it was their upbringing, I don’t know.
My graduation from Junior high school embarked still another impact on my life, as I continued emerging into young adulthood. In the transition from junior high school represented a turning point for me in which meant a change in peers and social status. While examining my social environment; being raised in a predominantly white neighborhood, and being the only black in the classroom involved stress and self-esteem issues. The self-esteem issues were generated from ethnicity, and racial interaction with whites, as I only knew in school and the neighborhood. I knew I would be going to a new school with greater level of expectations and responsibilities, and a shift in redefining my social identity. My father believed in education as your meal ticket to success, however neither parent never had real involvement. According to Corner, (1988) poor minority children the idea of parents becoming involved with their schooling was met with resistance. Although, I was considered middle class, the attitude of my parents reflected a double standard in my education, which I believed was a part of their authoritarian parenting style. Erikson, stages of development included the Inferiority stage of development. During this stage there are major tasks to gain self-confidence through mastering skills and social interactions with others (Kraus, 2008). My transition from Junior high school to High school was consistent to Erikson’s stages of development. As a result of part of my adolescent development this promoted autonomy and supported assertiveness individually with me. This changed my development psychologically because I was forced to learn to grow up and become more responsible as expectations of mature behavior in high school. My parents had high demands but very little responsiveness in school activities, or interaction. For example: As a cheerleader, rifle guard, track runner, and hockey player, my parents signed the permission slip but never supported me by going to one game track event or even come to watch me march in a thanksgiving parade. It also impacted my development socially because I was more willing to interact with others for attention which helped to make me more comfortable with meeting new people and interacting in social situations. Throughout my lifespan, these two events have had an overall negative and positive impact on my identity development. In one way the negativity questions my self-worth, while the positive taught me independence which I lacked in the beginning of my transition from junior high to high school.
Life Event III:1985-1987 Graduation from high school and first job This event in my life is significant because it played a major role in identifying my place in society as a legal adult.
However, at this stage in my life I realized I was entering into the work force immediately after high school graduation. Although I decided not to go into college I decided to take a trade up and attend a trade school for two years, work and then go back to college. Nonetheless the biggest adjustment was societal and environmental pressures. According to Schaie’s theory emphasizes the importance of new roles, needs, and responsibilities that determine intellectual functioning (Broderick & Blewitt,p.417,
2015).
Life Event IV: Adult Events
1988-1993: Birth of a daughter and Marriage to my husband The birth of my daughter helped to understand my identity. The responsibility of becoming a mother was a new task. Nonetheless, it also helped me to identify my personality, gain personal growth, and the purpose in my life. Taking on a role as a new parent. Cognitive development was different than it was as an adolescent. According to Piaget’s seminal work, believed in shifts that occur in adult years (Brodweick & Blewitt, 2015). Problem solving and making decision, appeared to more logical. Piaget called this stage fifth-stage thinking. The marriage of my husband was an event that shaped my identity, my giving me a feeling of security. The marriage helped to build a secure attachment, and a sense of completeness within my family structure. In doing this change my perception about relationships, since this was my first marriage.