Running head: PRISM III

PRISM III
Sarah Overland
EDU 220
12/09/2015
Professor Theri L. Wyckoff
College Of Southern Nevada

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Introduction
Kyle is a fifteen year old boy that lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. Both his mother and father
are college educated (Career One Stop, 2015) and work as business professionals, described as
the creative class (Badger, 2014) . Kyle is in 10th grade, and is the second and youngest child in
his nuclear family (Edwards, 2009). His only brother is an adult that no longer lives in the home.
Kyle and his family regularly attend Catholic Church and practice the religion (Pew Research
Center Religion & Public Life, 2015). Maslow would agree that Kyles four most basic needs,
physiological, safety, belongingness and love, and esteem are met abundantly based on the close
relationship that he has with his family and the generous provisions that he receives at home
(Snowman, 2013, p. 252). Kyle is expected and eager to attend a four-year University after his
high school graduation.
I had the opportunity to observe Kyle in two different settings. I spent an evening with
his family in their home as well as observed him while out at the ice skating rink with a few of
his friends. While in their home, I observed Kyles interactions with his family as well as helped
him with his algebra homework. At the ice skating rink, I observed Kyle with five of his friends.
Both family and social life are very important to Kyle, so I thought that this would give me the
best opportunity to observe Kyles truest behaviors.
Physical / General
Kyle was 15 years old as of July 14, 2015. According to Callaway (2013), At age 14,
boys are on average 64 inches tall and weigh 112 pounds. A 16-year-old boy is on average 68
inches tall and weighs 134 pounds. Theoretically, Kyle should fall somewhere between these
two descriptions. Kyle is above average for both height and weight at 73 inches and 180 pounds.
Kyle does not look overweight; he has a muscular athletic build. He plays baseball and tennis for

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his high school as well as works out with a trainer two days per week. Although above average
in height and weight, Kyles rate of growth seems to be right on track according to Snowman;
Significant and large changes in physical development occur during adolescence The peak
year for boys is about 14, during which they can add 16 to 17 pounds and about 4 inches (Kail
& Cavanaugh, 2010).
Considering that I have known Kyle for several years, I have seen a definite change in his
attention to his own sexuality and his attention to his appearance, especially when trying to
attract the opposite sex. During my observation of Kyle at the skating rink, I noticed that a
majority of his attention set towards gaining the attention of the girls in the group.
(R) Emotional
According to Snowman, Many psychiatric disorders either appear or become prominent
during adolescence. Included among these are eating disorders, substance abuse, schizophrenia,
depression, and suicide (Snowman, 2013, p. 67). Kyle has very close and open relationships
with his family member which implies that Maslows second tier in the hierarchy of needs,
safety, is being met (Snowman, 2013, p. 252). I was able to observe Kyle during a very
emotionally trying time when his maternal grandmother recently passed away, and Kyle was able
to talk about his feelings and show what seemed to be healthy emotion. I dont see any potential
risks for Kyle as far as psychiatric disorders. Kyles independence is something that talks a lot
about, while still depending on his mom and close family for necessities. Kyles self-reliance is
definitely something that he takes pride in as he talks a great deal about getting his drivers
license next year and the independence he looks forward to when he goes to college.
Intellectual/Cognitive

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During my observation, I had the opportunity to help Kyle with his algebra homework.
According to Piaget, Able to deal with abstractions, form hypotheses, solve problems
systematically, and engage in mental manipulations (Snowman, 2013). Kyle is right on track.
His grades are very important to him, and he seems to do well with little help. According to
Snowman (2013), Vygotskys theory on mediation is a great description of Kyles school life.
Kyle likes to have friends that are older than him and more experienced. Of the group of friends
that Kyle was with at the skating rink, only one of the other kids was younger than him.
According to Vygotsky, these social interactions will produce advances in cognitive development
(Snowman, 2013, p. 34).
Snowman (2013) states that, High school students become increasingly capable of
engaging in formal thought, but they may not use this capability (Snowman, 2013, p. 68), which
goes along with Sternbergs triarchic theory of intelligence and what he says about a childs
analytical ability. Analytical ability involves breaking ideas and products into their component
parts, making judgements, evaluating, comparing and contrasting, and critiquing (Snowman,
2013, p. 74). Kyle, like most typical teens, does have the ability to do what Sternberg describes,
however, still being a child in some respects, chooses not to use those capabilities. Kyles life
includes many extracurricular activities which, according to Gardners multiple intelligence
theory, learning in out-of-school settings should lead to increased transfer of learning in school
subjects (Snowman, 2013, p. 78). Kyle would likely score highly in Gardners interpersonal
intelligence category due to the frequency of, and his high desire for social interactions.

Social/ Psychosocial

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Kyles social life is very full, and he takes great pride in his activities. Kyles need for
peer approval is helping him to develop identity which is a crucial part of adolescence according
to Erikson; Identity involves acceptance of ones body, knowledge of where one is going, and
recognition from those who count (Snowman, 2013, p. 21). In comparison with Marcias
Identity statuses, Kyle seems to fall under identity achievement. (Snowman, 2013, p. 21) From
my observation, Kyle is logical in decision making, has high self-esteem, and is likely to form
close personal relationships. During my observation in Kyles home, he was having a discussion
with his mom about his plans to ask a girl to the upcoming homecoming dance at his school. This
decision was very important to Kyle and he was adamant about arranging the details. Based on
this particular observation, I saw that three of Maslows needs in the hierarchy; safety,
belongingness, and esteem, are being met with Kyle (Snowman, 2013, p. 252). Kyle feels safe
enough in his relationship with his mom to talk about his hopes for a date as well as his fears of
rejection all while showing a high self-esteem and confidence.
Moral
Along with sports, social life and school, Kyle is also involved a great deal with his
church. Kyles involvement with his church plays a part in his moral development. Kyle is still
attending church because of family influence; however, it seems that he will soon be going and
attending on his own free will. Noddings would attribute this to Kyles human desire for
goodness (Snowman, 2013, p. 44) or the development of his good moral attitude. Although
Kyle is still under his parents rule, Piaget states that at this age, rules became a set of
agreements reached by mutual consent (Snowman, 2013, p. 40). Kyle keeps an open line of
communication with his parents and follows their rules. According to Gilligan for adolescent
males, this marks a sought after developmental milestone; This process of detachment allows

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adolescents to assume a more equal status with adults (Snowman, 2013, p. 43). Kyle seems to
fall in Kohlbergs stage of postconventional morality. He has the ability to and regularly displays
through his actions that his [m]oral decisions should be based on consistent applications of selfchosen ethical principles (Snowman, 2013, p. 42). Kohlberg would agree that Kyle is well on
his way to becoming and honest and conscientious adult as long as he continues to make the
logical, moral decisions that he does.
Conclusion
Overall, Kyle is on track within every stage of his development. Physically, Kyle is tall
for his age however his weight is healthy and leads and extremely active lifestyle. He shows
great interest in gaining the attention of girls and is attentive to his own personal appearance.
Emotionally, Kyle seems very stable and well adjusted. He talks openly with peers and family
members about his feelings. Intellectually, Kyle show great reasoning abilities and his grades in
school are reflective of a good student that is focused on his education. Socially, Kyle excels
more than any other area. He is extremely extroverted and socially active. Kyle likes to have fun
and makes good logical decisions when doing so. Morally, Kyle takes great pride in his religious
practices and had a great moral attitude that will help him to develop into an honest and caring
adult. Kyle has a good promising future with an excellent family support system and is well on
his way to meeting the top tier of Maslows hierarchy of needs, self-actualization (Snowman,
2013, p. 252)

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References
Badger, E. (2014, September 29). Mapped: How the 'creative class' is dividing U.S. cities.
Retrieved from The Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/09/29/mapped-how-the-creativeclass-is-dividing-u-s-cities/
Callaway, C. (2013, August 16). The Average Height and Weight by Age. Retrieved from
Livestrong: http://www.livestrong.com/article/328220-the-average-height-and-weight-byage/
Career One Stop. (2015). Retrieved from More Education Means More Money:
http://www.careerinfonet.org/finaidadvisor/earnings.aspx
Edwards, J. O. (2009). The Many kinds of Family Structures in our Communities. Retrieved from
Family Structures: http://www.scoe.org/files/ccpc-family-structures.pdf
Pew Research Center Religion & Public Life. (2015, May 12). Retrieved from America's
Changing Religious Landscape: http://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/americaschanging-religious-landscape/
Snowman, J. (2013). Ed Psych. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cenage Learning.

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