Introduction
There is a variety of lifespan developmental factors that affect individuals throughout their lives. The factors might involve different phases, cultural, economic, social, or other components. While some might consider that people are only affected during their most vulnerable and formative years in childhood and adolescence, in reality, their identities continually shape and shift. When comparing personal experience with the Reyes-Wolter-Moss family, similarities in the divorce factor are evident, with differences in the phases and sociocultural and socioeconomic aspects, necessitating culturally sensitive, family-centered intervention.
Personal Lifespan Developmental Factors
When it comes to the personal lifespan developmental factors, firstly, the ‘Becoming an Adult’ phase has played a crucial role in shaping my individuality. The developmental stage, known as young adulthood, is when one family gives way to another (McGoldrick et al., 2015). Mature children start to take charge, learn to love people as much as a family, and start providing for themselves (McGoldrick et al., 2015). To facilitate this succession, parents provide a base of operations, cede authority, assume pride, and offer support and comfort to one another (McGoldrick et al., 2015).
During this phase, I have learned to be more independent and seek more opportunities that would shape my personality and the trajectory of my life. Moreover, in terms of relationships, young adults need to extend and transfer their strong familial bonds to people of both sexes in addition to severing links with their original families (McGoldrick et al., 2015). As a result, I can also highlight that I strive to build deep connections, make friends, and find a partner.
Moving on, another factor that plays a crucial role in my family is connected to socioeconomic status. It is a deconstructed and hierarchical pattern of educational and employment levels (McGoldrick et al., 2015). Income separates people into top, middle, and lower classes (McGoldrick et al., 2015). From a young age, our socioeconomic status has been an important factor influencing education, health, and lifestyle. For instance, being a member of a middle-class family, I have always had access to quality education.
Additionally, my family has always had opportunities to receive proper healthcare, focusing on both mental and physical well-being. Furthermore, our lifestyle has been defined by socioeconomic status, with greater exposure to activities and hobbies and opportunities to take vacations. As a result, socioeconomic status plays a crucial role in shaping a person’s growth and development. In other words, meeting basic needs creates more opportunities to focus on other areas of life.
Finally, the additional factor of divorce has had a profound impact on my family structure and dynamics. Couples going through a divorce suffer losses in their relationships, finances, emotions, and community (McGoldrick et al., 2015). The friendships that a couple once shared are frequently jeopardized when they separate (McGoldrick et al., 2015). In an attempt to avoid becoming embroiled in the couple’s dispute, friends may choose to support one of the divorce parties, put distance between themselves and the couple, or cut off all communication (McGoldrick et al., 2015).
Following their divorce, either spouse may cut ties with friends associated with their ex-partner or their failing marriage, in favor of making new acquaintances (McGoldrick et al., 2015). Research indicates that almost half of individuals going through a divorce tend to lose most, if not all, of their friendships during the process (McGoldrick et al., 2015). Indeed, in my family, divorce has brought about many changes and adaptations. For instance, both of my parents’ circles of communication changed, reducing the number of individuals who were once common friends. Moreover, the dynamics were affected by the need for children to spend time with each parent separately. Here, maintaining healthy relationships was important.
Lifespan Developmental Factors in the Reyes-Wolter-Moss Family
When discussing the factors in the Reyes-Wolter-Moss family, the first one is connected to the ‘Parents with Children’ phase, grappling with the challenges of raising adolescents and managing a blended family. Adolescents require both parents to provide them with affection, firm expectations, and a sense of belonging (McGoldrick et al., 2015). In the given family case study, the dynamics are affected by disputes and role confusion. In the family hierarchy, Emily’s 15-year-old son, Sam, and her ex-husband, Ken Wolter, play key roles.
Sam, a sophomore in high school, struggles with the normal issues of puberty, which are made more difficult by his parents’ divorce and the arrival of Felipe Reyes as a stepfather. His interactions with Felipe and Emily both suggest that he is going through a mental battle to balance his loyalty to his biological father with his stepfather’s growing influence. The 12-year-old daughter of Emily and Ken, Cass, assumes the position of the family’s mediator. Cass’s involvement becomes especially important when Sam and his stepfather Felipe are at odds. Her attempts to keep the family happy and at peace within the home contribute to the stability of the whole.
Moreover, sociological factors are vital components of the family’s dynamics. Sam appears not to be interested in church, even if he goes with his parents, which could indicate a conflict in the cultural dynamics of the three families. Meanwhile, Cass’s willingness to participate in events that promote harmony and teamwork is demonstrated by her enthusiastic participation in both the Girl Scouts and the church youth group. In this case, as seen in Reyes-Wolter-Moss’s example, family members have different cultural perspectives and complexities.
Lastly, divorce and remarriage have a significant impact on family structure and further complicate the family’s complex web of interactions. Every family has distinct segments that experience different life cycle phases concurrently (McGoldrick et al., 2015). For example, some family members may be dealing with the establishment of a new relationship, others with becoming parents or going through young adulthood, others with beginning, and yet others with caring for others in later life or dying (McGoldrick et al., 2015). As seen in the example with children, there are issues connected to loyalty and understanding. While both Sam and Cass are beginning adolescence, their mother is additionally focused on maintaining communication with her ex-husband for the children’s sake and strengthening the current relationship.
Three important second-order tasks or modifications that the Reyes-Wolter-Moss family needs to implement to continue developing can be put into practice, according to my assessment. More specifically, family members will need to focus on enhancing communication, encouraging tolerance and understanding of diverse cultural viewpoints, and outlining clear roles and responsibilities. First, both children have different interests, which can significantly impact their relationship dynamics.
Second, a poor division of responsibilities and roles can create confusion among children and adults. Finally, poor communication can further divide the family members (McGoldrick et al., 2015). Thus, all the mentioned approaches aim to strengthen connections among family members and foster understanding. With these methods, it will be possible to ensure proper development and growth in adolescents while maintaining bonds among family members.
Comparative Analysis and Therapeutic Implications
Analyzing the differences and similarities between my family and the Reyes-Wolter-Moss family reveals common developmental factors. For instance, in both families, divorce has played an important role in establishing the family dynamics. At the same time, while in my family, divorce involved healthy communication and a clear division of roles and responsibilities, the family of Reyes-Wolter-Moss involved tension and miscommunication.
Moreover, while in my family, the socioeconomic and becoming-an-adult phases were the most vital, the Reyes-Wolter-Moss family was shaped by the parents-with-children phase and sociocultural aspects. If I were the family’s clinician, such similarities and differences would have a significant impact on the therapeutic relationship. More specifically, similarities in experience can facilitate the therapeutic process (McGoldrick et al., 2015).
I might understand the adolescents in the family more since I have been exposed to similar experiences. At the same time, I might be more distant from the adults in the case, since I lack such perspectives. Consequently, it will be possible to be more culturally sensitive and to appreciate the culture of adolescent clients while facing the challenges of relating to adult clients.
In terms of strategies to address potential challenges, the first is to use a family-centered intervention. Such an approach can help examine the bigger picture and understand each client’s needs (McGoldrick et al., 2015). Moreover, the intervention will recognize and tackle the effects of divorce and remarriage on the dynamics of the Reyes-Wolter-Moss family.
The second strategy is focused on creating a culturally sensitive approach to respect and integrate cultural diversity within the family (McGoldrick et al., 2015). As previously mentioned, while some family members are religious, others are resistant to such ideas. Therefore, by embracing family diversity and recognizing members’ needs, these issues can be addressed.
Conclusion
In summary, there are clear parallels between the Reyes-Wolter-Moss family and my own experience, with the latter requiring family-centered and culturally sensitive intervention. Regarding the developmental components of the personal lifespan, I would say that, first and foremost, my unique identity has been greatly influenced by the ‘Becoming an Adult’ phase. Another important component in my family is socioeconomic position. Lastly, the divorce has significantly influenced the dynamics and structure of my family. The first component relates to the ‘Parents with Children’ phase when talking about the Reyes-Wolter-Moss family.
Furthermore, sociological elements are essential to understanding the dynamics of the family. Finally, the elements of divorce and remarriage greatly influence the composition of their family and deepen the intricate web of relationships within it. There are similar developmental characteristics when comparing and contrasting the Reyes-Wolter-Moss family with my family. Strategies such as family-centered interventions and a culturally sensitive approach can help address potential obstacles.
Reference
McGoldrick, M., Carter, E. A., & Garcia-Preto, N. (2015). The expanding family life cycle: Individual, family, and social perspectives (5th ed.). Pearson Education.