Life analysis: John McCain
Introduction
In the life of human beings, there are contemporarily two different perspectives namely: biosocial and social lives. Since humans are as a result of evolution which was a long procedure for their development, they still are biological creatures. The biosocial perspective is as a result of interacting with both the social and biological factors surrounding their lives. In the regime of biological creatures, humans still retain a close connection with other living organisms with the difference being in the intensity of advancement and in the differentiation of the cerebral cortex which resulted to adaptations like the use of an elect posture, use of tools, and language which resulted to communication.
This biological development resulted to what is now called the historical development of the social systems. The life of a human has three aspects of life, maturity and death, with the life consisting of infancy, pubescent, youth, young adulthood, adulthood, sophisticated life, old age, senility and complete decline. During the process from birth to complete decline, cognitive development is very crucial and is mostly associated with the thinking skills and it is important that the parents to a child see to it that they participate in this development. Lastly, the human development involves the psychosocial development which describes the various personality levels at different stages in the cognitive development.
The psychosocial development is well described by Erik Erickson’s theory with eight different stages: infancy (0-18 months), early childhood (2-3 years), preschool (3-5 years), School age (6-11 years), adolescence (12-18 years), and Young adult (19-40), middle adulthood (40-65 years), Maturity (65 years till death). The purpose of this paper is to discuss the life of a person in Erik’s stage of Maturity, 65 and more years. The person of discussion in this case is the republican president of America; John McCain. His life analysis will entail infancy and toddle to toddlerhood, childhood life (early, middle and late), and adulthood (early, middle, and late) and a conclusion.
Infancy and toddler to toddlerhood- 0 to 2 years
John Sidney McCain III was born on the 29th day of August 1936, making him 65 years to date, in Arizona. Like all other infants, McCain’s infancy was filled with so much of radical adjustments, associations with hazards, preview of early childhood life among others (Rosdahl and Kowalski 2008). Some qualities that developed during this stage include doubling of weight by 6months, expansion of brain size, increased visual systems, and attainment of head balance, at about 7 to 12 months walking among others. From zero to six months, the baby McCain could locate source of sounds, follow moving objects, and hold things using their mouths and developed trust to caregivers all the while participating in the breast feeding events.
From the age of six years to twelve months several developments occurred majoring in the physical, social emotional and intellectual development (Rosdahl and Kowalski 2008). The physical development included, sleeping in the morning and afternoon, the introduction to solid foods other than breast milk starting with small quantity and increasing the quantity as the baby grows. Breast feeding continues but does not form the main part of the babies’ meals. By the age of eight months, McCain like most children could sit down with lots of ease, crawl, and stretch hands to reach for objects and hold them, or for people to hold him and stand while holding on furniture or support (Nicholas 2009). At twelve months, the baby could now comfortably walk alone with an average body weight thrice the birth weight.
Socially and emotionally, the baby between 9 months and above could respond to own name, established bonds with parents such that he gained fear of being left, and got frustrated whenever his needs were unsatisfied. When placed in front of a mirror, the baby could be heard talking to himself and trying to reach for his reflected image. Cognitively, the baby McCain could wave bye-bye at and make sound of “baba” and “Mama”, enjoyed the tune from shaking rattles and could pretend by acting out recognizable actions.
Toddlers are children who can walk and are usually between one to two years of age. Some problems associated with this stage are malnutrition, lead poisoning, lack of cuddling, and restricted physical involvement.
Early childhood (2-5 years)
It is at this stage, four years that one McCain was enrolled for pre-schooling. At the age of two years, McCain’s brain was about 75% adult weight and by the time he had attained five years, the brain was about 95 %. The eyes, brains and reading were closely related as the child could now recognize letters and small shapes than children much younger in age (Rosdahl and Kowalski 2008).
This indicated the development of coordination in the neonate senses of biosocial development. Further coordination was observable at the age of five years when the small boy could now use the eyes and hand coordination being in harmony to both the right and left directions and with such, it becomes possible to differentiate directions in letters like ‘b’ and ‘d’ or ‘p’ and “d” (Nicholas 2009).
In addition, the age of 2 and more years, the left hemisphere of the brain was now fully development and language became easier for the baby McCain and so was the right hemisphere in the differentiation of visible shapes which was useful for him in his elementary school then. This indicated a positive development in the brain together with the mass callosum and the anterior lobe (Nicholas 2009). Another major development in this stage was the mastering of the motor skills especially from the age of two years to six years.
Some of these motor skills that were visible in him were the ability to run steadily while coordinating his movement and the ground; jumping was also easier compared to toddler ages when he just used to fall on attempt. Young McCain could also throw objects like a playing ball or push a worn out vehicle tyre with ease while controlling its speed. This was a show of commendable skills and the gracefulness in performing tasks (Nicholas 2009).
At this age, the child could learn motor skills by training themselves or simply learning from others like using a fork and knife to eat which the child simply learnt by observing his parents and learned by imitation. This technique of learning was used basically for all or most of the fine motor skills. The process of learning fine motor skills is quit involving and for this reason, his parents and tutors remained supportive by encouraging him whenever he failed till he fully mastered the concepts.
At this stage, the hazards, accidents and incidents are quit numerous now that the child can run jump, and throw things to others. Additionally, the child was full of curiosity to learn fine motor skills and becomes quit experimental (Nicholas 2009). Some of the hazards included falling off heights or even ditches, poisoning or drowning due to the experimentation anxiety and finally chocking due to the experimentation to chew as much as his father.
Late childhood: 6-12 years
This age is mostly known as the troublesome age since children are no longer willing to do what is required of them and at the same time acquire fundamentals of knowledge well thought-out to be considerable for preparation of early adult life. In addition, this stage there was also characteristic of team work both from his siblings and from other children at school by team spirit in innovative works and activities involving play with age mates (Rosdahl and Kowalski 2008). By the time the child was eleven to twelve years he had acquired skills of delegated roles in work and cooperation in work. He also performed well in autonomous responsibilities and duties and for this reason he acquired leadership opportunities in school to assist other students to get work done.
Adolescence (13-19 years)
In this stage, puberty starts and is mainly associated with the changes in hormonal levels which cause the rapid shifts in emotions. For boys like McCain was then, hormonal changes also alleviated the thought on sex (Rosdahl and Kowalski 2008). This stage was responsible for quick body changes with some being the last ones in a person’s life. It was at this stage when McCain’s shoulders broadened, with body becoming more muscular. His voice also deepened and it became clear to the parents their son was almost becoming a young adult who would soon learn to depend on himself. The growth spurt was also associated with increased body height and weight, which apart from minor changes formed the 5.7’ McCain we all know.
At the age of 18 years, McCain graduated from college and later joined the military, which his grandfather and father were veterans, to graduate at the age of 22 years. Like most, adults, McCain experiences instances fights and disagreements with both his parents and older sister as he felt more independent and self-sufficient like an adult. The cause of such conflicts are mostly stress which affect the production of hormones.
Early adulthood (20-40 years)
At this stage, most people now acquire the title of independence and stop relying upon their parents for normal decisions or problem solving (Rosdahl and Kowalski 2008). The stage is also known as prime life. At this point stage in life, McCain joined military forces of the United States and graduate at the age of twenty two years. He was very healthy with little or no instances of sicknesses. At this age, he also searched and found a sole mate, started a family and currently has seven children with three adopted as their parents died and four for his own.
With a family, this stage is full of responsibilities some of which are risky to oneself. At the age of 31, McCain almost lost his life when a missile accidentally fired from a close distance plane and struck his plane’s fuel tank making him survive death narrowly and instead of going back home; he went ahead with his task of service to the nation (McCain 2011).
Middle adulthood: 40 to 65 years
This stage was full of physical development, cognitive variations and biosocial development. Physical changes involve sensory and health functioning. Major characteristics that were visible in the life of McCain at this stage were mainly due to his experiences in the navy and in life. At the age of 46 years, McCain joined politics as the Arizona governor. In 1976, John McCain joined politics when assigned as the Navy’s liaison to the US senate and retired from the navy in 1981 then married a second wife.
At the age of 54, McCain was diagnosed with facial and arm skin cancer lesions and doctors related that to a similar one removed in 1993 and which was productively unconcerned. Like most men in the middle adulthood, McCain underwent regular prostrate surgery due to an enlarged prostrate on August 2001.
Late adulthood: 65years and more
There is not much to say but it is expected that at one point or the other in his life, the reasoning levels will change due to the effects of aging with are inevitable hence a decline in cognitive functioning (Rosdahl and Kowalski 2008). More often than not, this age is associated with slowing of the mental processes; decline in memory, and less use of memory procedures. Nonetheless, memory level at this stage is not as weak as it is thought.
Conclusion
In this paper the main issue was to explore the stages of development in the psychology of a human being. The first is infancy and toddlerhood where the main developments in the human life occur since one must learn to be dependent. At this stage, one develops physically socially and intellectually and the frequent observation and assistance of the parent is vital for the child’s growth. In the early childhood, the child’s brain size increase and language develops with the ability to express one self.
The middle and late adulthood is characterized experimentation, adolescence by rapid body changes and growth visible in increased weight and height. The middle adulthood is the prime life where one is so energetic and prosperous in career with little to worry about in sicknesses. Finally, the late adulthood has so many disorders associated mainly with aging and the most common is loss of cognition.
References
Bio true story, (2011). Biography. A&E Television Networks. Retrieved on 18-05-2011 from http://www.biography.com/articles/John-McCain-9542249?part=2.
Nicholas, L., (2009). Introduction to Psychology. UCT Press. Lansdowne: Cape Town.
Rosdahl, C., and Kowalski, M., (2008). Textbook of basic Nursing. Walters Khrweer Health. Carolina: USA.
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