Life Span-Human Development

4 SHORT ESSAY QUESTIONS

1. In lecture on Chapter 11, you were introduced to Marcia’s four identity statuses and related research on identity formation. Use yourself as a case study by focusing on one domain of identity (career, religion, political ideology, sexuality, whatever) and describing which identity status you believe you are in right now and why. Then discuss how you got to this status, both in terms of other statuses you passed through and in terms of influences on you. 1 page double-spaced. 5 points.
2. These two descriptions of internal models of attachment appear in Chapter 14 (and it would help you to find them!):
3. Call her Annie: “I want to be completely emotionally intimate with others, but I often find that others are reluctant to get as close as I would like. I am uncomfortable being without close relationships, but I sometimes worry that others don’t value me as much as I value them.
4. Call her Blair: “I am somewhat uncomfortable getting close to others. I want emotionally close relationships, but I find it difficult to trust others completely or to depend on them. I sometimes worry that I will be hurt if I allow myself to become too close to others.”

What infant attachment styles and what adult internal working models of self and other do these two statements reflect?  Based on attachment theory and related research in Chapter 14/slides, what parenting did Annie and Blair likely receive early in life and what are they like as young adults in terms of their romantic relationships and functioning at work? 1page double-spaced. 5 points.

3. Mike and Muffy are close to divorce. Mike argues they should stay together for the sake of the children, Muffy that the children would be better off if they split (the children being Moosie and Muffin, a preschooler and a 3^rd grader). Referring to research on divorce, Chapter 15/slides, lay out the argument for staying together, lay out the argument for divorcing, and conclude by saying which position you think is more strongly supported and why. 1page double-spaced. 5 points.
4. Psychoanalytic theorist Bruno Bettelheim theorized that autism was caused by cold, rigid “refrigerator” mothers. How might he have gotten that idea? What study would you design to put the idea to the test? What are some alternative hypotheses you would want to be able to rule out? Answer this question using the lecture slides on Chapter 16. 1page double-spaced. 5 points.

Grading rubric:

1-2 points: has a lot right but also has some significant omissions and errors and/or communicates poorly; work is often vague—doesn’t dig into the specifics much

3 points: mostly good, specific material; may have a significant omission or error/misinterpretation or two; some issues with writing

4-5 points: shows excellent command of specific relevant material; does exactly what’s asked in clear writing; 4 is almost as good as 5.