What general topics are you interested in?

eek 1-Age Range and General Topic Areas

PLEASE NOTE: This is just the first step that is being taken during the first week of class. You may opt to change your mind about your age range or topic choice in the weeks to come. The purpose of this exercise is to help you start formulating ideas and scaffold a framework that will keep you on track with as little last-minute stress as possible.

Step 1:

What age range are you interested in? Adolescence (late adolescence)
What general topics are you interested in? Birth order
PROCESS:
First, pick an age range/lifespan development range
Infancy
Toddlerhood
Childhood (you may opt to focus on early, middle, or late childhood)
Adolescence (you may opt to focus on early or late adolescence)
Emerging Adulthood
Early Adulthood
Middle Adulthood
Late Adulthood
Late-Late Adulthood
Second, pick some large topic areas.
If you are not sure, look through the chapter titles of your textbook.
These are the large content areas in Lifespan Development.
Third, think about topics that would be studied in this large content area.
One way to do this is to skim through the chapter. Does anything catch your eye?
Maybe you have specific topics that you know to fall into this area that you don’t see in the book. What is it? (Maybe you have topics that cross to large content areas that are okay too)

Fourth, what is the question you want to ask? Adler’s Birth Order Theory
First-Born Children
Second and Middle Children
Youngest and Only Children
Other Family Situations
General Notes
Written by
Ellen Swanson Topness
18 December 2018

Alfred Adler (1870-1937) developed theories of personality that focused on a therapist’s need to understand an individual within the context of the social environment. According to Adler, character traits and behaviors derive primarily from developmental issues, including birth order.

First-Born Children
Adler believed that when a child is born impacts their personality. Based on his theory, for example, the oldest child — prone to perfectionism and need for affirmation — tends to become intellectual, conscientious, and dominant in social settings. Adler attributes this to the child losing the parents’ undivided attention and compensating throughout life by working to get it back. In addition, this child may be expected to set an example and be given responsibility for younger siblings.

Adler believed that when a child is born impacts their personality.
In addition, this child may be expected to set an example and be given responsibility for younger siblings.
Second and Middle Children
Adler describes the second-born child as someone who has a “pacemaker.” Since there is always someone who was there first, this child may grow to be more competitive, rebellious, and consistent in attempting to be the best. Middle children may struggle with figuring out their place in the family and, later, in the world. They are eager for parental praise and thus tend to develop gifts in the arts or academia to accomplish this goal. Due to their “middle” status, they also may be the most flexible and diplomatic members of the family.

Adler describes the second-born child as someone who has a “pacemaker.”
Due to their “middle” status, they also may be the most flexible and diplomatic members of the family.
Youngest and Only Children
In Adler’s theory, the youngest child may be dependent and selfish due to always being taken care of by family members. However, this child may also possess positive traits of confidence, the ability to have fun, and comfort in entertaining others. Only children do not have to share their parent’s attention. They may have a hard time when they are told no, and school may be a difficult transition as they are not the sole focus of the teacher. On a positive note, Adler believed that, compared to others their age, only children tend to be more mature, feel more comfortable around adults, and even do better in intellectual and creative pursuits.

In Adler’s theory, the youngest child may be dependent and selfish due to always being taken care of by family members.
On a positive note, Adler believed that, compared to others their age, only children tend to be more mature, feel more comfortable around adults, and even do better in intellectual and creative pursuits.
Other Family Situations
Adler also addressed specific family situations, such as twins. With twins, one is usually seen as older and is stronger, and more active. This one often becomes the leader, though both may develop identity problems due to being treated as one unit instead of two people. Another example Adler describes is an only boy among girls. He suggests this boy may develop into an adult who is always trying to prove his manhood or, conversely, may become effeminate. An only girl among boys may become very feminine or, attempting to outdo the boys, may become a tomboy. She may tend to work hard to please her father.

Adler also addressed specific family situations, such as twins.
This one often becomes the leader, though both may develop identity problems due to being treated as one unit instead of two people.
General Notes
Adler offers some general notes for his birth order theory 3. He suggests that if more than three years are between children, various sub-groups of birth order may develop. In addition, a birth order position may be taken by another child if circumstances allow. Adler also acknowledges that for some people birth order may not be as significant an influence as parental attitudes, gender roles, or socio-economic issues. He encouraged practitioners to understand the psychological situation in each family is different; birth order is simply one possible tool to help guide and assess.

Adler offers some general notes for his birth order theory 3.
He encouraged practitioners to understand the psychological situation in each family is different; birth order is simply one possible tool to help guide and assess.
This will add another variable or two to your specific topic.

WHAT TO TURN IN under ASSIGNMENTS/Final Paper Week 1: In a word doc or PDF titled Week 1-Age Range and General Topic Areas answer the following
What age range do you want to investigate?
What large content area are you going to investigate for this assignment?
What specific topic do you want to investigate?
What question do you want to ask?
FOR EXAMPLE Week 1-Age Range and General Topic Areas-
What age range do you want to investigate? Childhood
What large content area are you going to investigate for this assignment? MEMORY
What specific topics do you want to investigate? HUMOR and READING MEMORY
What question do you want to ask? HOW DO HUMOROUS TEXTS IMPACT A CHILD’S RECALL OF THAT TEXT?

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