PSY 211 Project One

1. Describe the ways in which Piaget’s research applies to Kelly’s development.

Piaget’s theory of cognitive development views development in stages and emphasizes the child’s active

role in constructing their own view of their environments, or constructivism (Sigelman & Rider, 2017). He

viewed development as a process that combined the normal biological processes of maturing with

environmental factors (Mcleod, 2023). Kelly has grown up in a chaotic, unstable environment. Her

mother, Judi, struggles with mental illness and substance abuse stemming from childhood trauma. It is

well known that children of alcoholic parents experience early interruptions in their development, and

this is because of the environmental factors in Piaget’s theory of constructivism (Windle, 1996). If Kelly is

forming her opinions of the world, development, and behaviors from interactions with her environment,

it is clear how they would turn out maladaptive. All she has known is instability, grief, low socioeconomic

status, and an emotionally absent mother. Judi grew up in a chaotic and abusive environment and

developed Piaget’s schemas, or cognitive structures, based on this information (Sigelman & Rider, 2017).

Unfortunately, she is now passing these traits on to Kelly by providing the same environment with which

Kelly must interact.

2. Describe the ways in which Vygotsky’s research applies to Kelly’s development.

Vygotksy believed that learning comes from social experiences (Sigelman & Rider, 2017). Vygotksy stated

that there was a zone of proximal development, or a gap between what a person can do themselves and

what they can do with help from someone who is more knowledgeable and experienced. He believed

that the best way to further cognitive development was to close this zone of proximal development and

learn from those who know more than you (Sigelman & Rider, 2017). Kelly has been unable to use this

type of learning, since her mother, the “more knowledgeable other” or MKO, has not been able to

model healthy ways of living and coping for her (Mcleod, 2023, para. 6). If Vygotksy’s theory is accurate,

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 and behaviors are learned from social interaction, then it makes sense that the behaviors exhibited by

Kelly are modeled for her by her mother. Therefore, we can conclude that Judi may display angry

outbursts, trouble regulating her emotions, exasperation, and anxiety. This is also supported by the fact

that Judi herself grew up in an abusive environment. It is possible that these were the behaviors

modeled by her parents, or MKO’s, and that this is now just how she behaves.

3. Identify factors that could have influenced Kelly’s physical well-being during the prenatal, birth, and

early childhood stages of development.

Factors that could have influenced Kelly’s physical well-being could have stemmed from Judi’s low

socioeconomic status (SES). Judi has trouble finding and maintaining good jobs and only has a high

school education. It is probable that she did not have good health insurance and therefore could have

missed valuable prenatal care. Low SES could also contribute to other factors affecting Kelly’s physical

development at any stage. If they were living in a cheap, older home, or some kind of run-down rental

unit because that is all Judi could afford, Kelly could have been exposed to any number of environmental

toxins (Paley & O’Connor, 2011). There is a known association between lead and ADHD-like behaviors,

and children are most often exposed to lead through paint in old buildings, but it could also be found in

the water if it comes off pipes (Donzelli et al., 2019). Judi likely also had poor nutritional habits due to

her low SES. It is possible that, in utero, Kelly did not get the nutrients that she needed for optimal

development, as well as to support that development after birth. Between Judi’s excessive drinking,

depression, and failure to maintain a healthy lifestyle, it is highly unlikely that she exercises or has much

physical activity. Studies show that when mothers of children 0-3 have active, healthy, lifestyles, the

children are 27% more likely to follow suit (Wang & Geng, 2019). When Kelly is home, it is likely that her

mother is working, drinking, or preoccupied, so Kelly probably has had a very sedentary, unhealthy

lifestyle, being babysat by the television, and eating cheap, unhealthy food. Also, the stressors present

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 in Judi’s life, such as the alcoholism, drugs, abusive relationships, and mental health struggles all

contribute to putting Kelly at substantial risk for physical abuse and/or neglect (Austin et al., 2020).

4. Identify factors that could have influenced Kelly’s cognitive well-being during the prenatal, birth, and

early childhood stages of development.

While it is not immediately clear if Judi’s excessive drinking continued during her pregnancy with Kelly, it

could be highly likely, especially considering her behavior. The average age of children being referred for

a diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is 9.5 years, making Kelly just the right age (Paley &

O’Connor, 2011). Even if Kelly does not officially have FAS, her cognitive function is indicative of

someone exposed to alcohol in utero. Common behaviors of exposed children are poor emotional

regulation, social skills, and executive dysfunction, along with learning disabilities and motor deficits

(Paley & O’Connor, 2011). Kelly has outbursts of anger, has trouble having a good relationship with

peers, and has ADHD, of which executive dysfunction is a hallmark (Resnick, 2023). Judi’s own struggles

and lack of financial security likely mean that Kelly did not have much access to toys, books, play groups,

or other resources that contribute to cognitive development (Drago et al., 2020). Since Judi does not

take care of herself physically, and maternal obesity is associated with childhood ADHD, it is possible

that this affected Kelly cognitively as well (Fitzgerald, 2020).

5. Identify factors that could have influenced Kelly’s psychosocial well-being during the early and middle

childhood stages of development.

According to the American Psychological Association (2018), psychosocial factors include “social

situations, relationships, and pressures” in a person’s life that affect their physical and/or mental health.

It does not seem that Kelly has had much luck in social situations and relationships. She is fearful and

distrusting and tends to isolate herself in social situations. She does not have good relationships with her

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 peers, since her inability to control her emotions embarrasses her. She tries to make friends and ask for

more chances after her outbursts, but her peers do not want to oblige. This makes her feel rejected and

alone. Psychosocial factors can also include parental mental health and the parental-child relationship

(Drago et al., 2020). Judi’s mental health is clearly in shambles due to her childhood trauma, history of

failed relationships, substance abuse, and the tragic loss of her teenage child to addiction. No doubt

Kelly has felt the effects of Judi’s struggles as well. Parents with alcohol abuse problems often parent

inconsistently, resulting in the child experiencing reduced feelings of self-esteem and self-competence

(Windle, 1996). These issues can both be seen in Kelly’s reactions when she makes mistakes; she is

emotional and has uncontrollable outbursts. Alcoholic parents also tend to be less nurturing and

emotionally available (Windle, 1996). Since Judi’s mental health issues have been lifelong, it is safe to

assume that she was struggling while pregnant with and after giving birth to Kelly. This could lead to

attachment issues and an insecure relationship between Kelly and Judi. It would be reasonable to

assume that Kelly does not have any, or very few, supportive and loving relationships. There is also the

issue of intergenerational transmission of trauma. We know that Judi has suffered immense

psychological trauma in her life, including the loss of a child, a life-changing trauma for anyone. Research

is finding that trauma survivors sometimes externalize their symptoms through nonverbal behaviors and

other unconscious means, and that their children then become “a container for the unwanted, troubling

experiences of the parent” (Yehuda & Lehrner, 2018, p. 244). Without help and therapy, Kelly will

continue to take on Judi’s problems and continue to perpetuate the cycle with her own kids, if she has

any.

6. Evaluate the sociocultural factors that could contribute to Kelly’s maladaptive behavior.

According to Vygotsky, children learn through social interactions and from adults or “more

knowledgeable others” that teach them the ways of the world (Sigelman & Rider, 2017). Judi does not

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 have very many friends and is unable to maintain hobbies and interests. Kelly is now modeling the same

patterns of behavior, as she grew up seeing her mother’s lack of social ability. Judi’s lack of a social

support system extends to Kelly as well. Judi’s paranoia and hallucinations could also contribute to their

lack of social support. Children of parents with mental illness report that they do not like to have friends

over or are less likely to be able to participate in extracurricular activities, both because of financial

strain and because of the parent’s inability to participate in those activities (Strand et al., 2019). Kelly

and Judi both do not have many friends and are stunted in social development, which could contribute

to Kelly’s self-consciousness and awkwardness around her peers. Kelly is thus unable to do or

experience many of the simple things that children do at her age, like go to birthday parties, go to the

movies, or join clubs at school. A chaotic, fractured home environment, the low socioeconomic status of

the family, peer rejection at school, and previously untreated mental health conditions are all

sociocultural factors that have undoubtedly contributed to Kelly’s behavior.

7. Explain why it is important to consider the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial factors in combination

(versus separately) throughout the life span when evaluating an individual’s well-being.

It is difficult to tease apart the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial factors that contribute to Kelly’s

well-being because none can exist without the other. They all work together to shape development.

With Judi and her sister April, twins with the same DNA, their environments were completely different,

and that shaped who they became. Psychologist Nancy Segal from California State University Fullerton,

who studies twins, stated that “a strict dichotomy between genes and environment is no longer

relevant; they work in concert” (as cited in Brody, 2018). None of these factors individually make a

person who they are, and therefore they should be evaluated as a cluster across a lifespan rather than

one point at a fixed time in someone’s life.

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8. Describe the research or theory that best explains Kelly’s behavior. Explain your response.

In Kelly’s case, I believe the theory that best explains her behavior is Vygotsky's sociocultural theory. In

this theory, development is guided by our social and cultural interactions and by the adults that assume

the role of a mentor, like parents and teachers (Cherry, 2022). Kelly, like Judi, is a product of her

environment. With Judi, we saw a completely opposite lifestyle from her twin sister April. Since they

share the same DNA, it must have been their respective environments that contributed to their

differences. Vygotsky believed that all children are born with "basic biological constraints on their

minds" (Cherry, 2022, para. 7). They then use their environments to figure out how they should use their

cognitive skills to adapt accordingly. It is more than likely that Judi has passed down genes for anxiety,

depression, and other struggles to Kelly, especially considering the intergenerational transmission of

trauma. However, because of the chaotic, maladaptive environment that Judi has provided, Kelly has

adopted these behaviors herself. In a different environment with warmth, love, and support, it is

possible that Kelly (like April) would be on a much healthier and happier path right now.

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 References

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