Psychology Paper Assignment #1

Research Interview of the Lifespan and Development of Female Subject

Tanya M Bennett 3/1/2013 Psychology A150-Lifespan Development Dr. Bosek

Results of a research interview with a 60-year-old female of Caucasian and American Indian heritage, demonstrating the effects of health, life choices, social and psychological factors on the development of the subject.

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A research interview was conducted with an adult female of mixed racial extraction, residing within the Municipality of Anchorage, for the purpose of learning from, and evaluation of her development from conception to present day. Subject, identified as BG, also offered her own forecast regarding her continued development into late adulthood. BG is a 60-year-old female in poor health, living in near-poverty, with a long-time male partner in a marriage-style relationship. Subject identifies as Caucasian in both race and culture, and has roots in both the Cherokee and Sioux bloodlines from ancestors three to four generations in the past. BG has been back in Alaska for a little over one year, having been in Florida for the previous three years. Prior to this, she was a resident of Alaska, in various communities, since 1985. Subject was adopted, and provided information on her adoptive parents, her biological mother, and both natural and adoptive siblings. Information on her biological father is not available; what little is known is contradictory and suspect given the ages, at the time, of those who remain able to offer information in this area. Much of BGs knowledge prior to age three years has been made available to her since being reunited with her biological family, who found her in 2005. BG has experienced extremes in the areas of health and socio-economic status. Among current health issues are: accelerating deterioration in her joints including knees, hips, feet and hands; developing cardiopulmonary issues; diagnosis of a seizure disorder; recently discovered evidence of small strokes; and a growing list of secondary health concerns related to advanced, chronic type II diabetes. Chronology of Development of Female Subject BG Born in 1953, BG was a low-birth weight infant, the last of seven children and the only one born in a hospital. The birth mother was in her mid-thirties when she delivered the 19-inch baby weighing five pounds, six ounces. Subjects biological mother was a known heavy drinker

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and smoker, and may have continued to drink and smoke throughout pregnancy. It is unknown if birth mother used any medications during pregnancy or delivery. Birth mother lived in rural Georgia during most of the pregnancy, but was hospitalized during the last two weeks leading up to her birth. Birth mother had been swimming in stagnant water with an open sore on her skin and developed an infection, which quickly spread through her body. Records available to BG indicate that she experienced relatively normal prenatal development, with exception to the lower birth weight. BG lived with her biological mother for the first eight months of life, at which time she was adopted by another family. BG gave the reasons as economic and sociocultural in nature: economically, mother struggled with seven children and few resources; the potential stigma experienced in a small rural town as the mother of a child with an absent father contributed to the decision. It is unclear whether the birth mother was married to the father. The adoptive family lived in Savannah, and was affluent. The family would stay in this area until her tenth year. Available information seems to indicate relatively normal development past infancy and into toddlerhood. Her mother told her she first tried walking unaided at nine months. Her first memories were around age two years. She recalls walking and running, climbing on things, talking with people, playing with animals and children, and being anxious when her mother was out of sight. This discomfort could be a sign of disturbance or interference during the early phase of attachment. Subject remembers visually recognizing individual letters and a single word: dog. BG also reported being told that she read a lot of small, individual words at this time such as big, pig and dad. In early childhood, between ages three and four years, BG recalls not understanding that people die. She remembered an exchange with her mother, in which she told her that when it

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was BGs turn to be the mama, then her mother would take a turn at being the child and BG would take care of her. When her mother tried to explain that people grow old and die, it being similar to when a dog dies, she became angry because dogs are animals, and her mama was not an animal. BG insisted that when her mother got old, she would trade jobs with BG and BG would become the mama. After age three years, BG began having difficulty walking well due to a problem with the development of the ball of her hip joint, known as Perthes. Rather than develop in a rounded shape, like an egg, it mushroomed, causing pain and difficulty walking. At age five years, she was prescribed to use crutches and a sling attached to a belt that lifted her foot up by the ankle and kept the leg bent at approximately a ninety-degree angle. In middle childhood, partway into her seventh year, she was in a wheelchair until a specialist was found. At age eight, she was put into a body cast from the waist down with her legs separated by a long steel bar. The necessary hospital bed, in which she slept and ate, was set up in the family den. She was in the cast for about fourteen months, during which she had friends visit her. Subjects education was interrupted during this time, and she had to repeat the third grade. To help minimize the impact on her education, her family helped her use such skills as reading and math. Other than this interference, BG recalls that other developmental milestones were achieved within normal ranges. She restarted school and broadened her social circle from family and close neighbors, to include people from schools, church, and her parents acquaintances She started in the Girl Scouts as a Brownie, participated until being placed in the cast, and resumed her involvement afterward. At age nine years, there was a painful period during which she learned how to walk again. No rehabilitative therapy was provided; reasons for this are unknown.

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Subject was assaulted sexually at age nine years, following removal of the cast. Medical examination at the time revealed penetration and tearing of the hymen. Perpetrator was her maternal uncle, who vanished immediately following the assault. Mother responded negatively, accusing BG of doing something to instigate the assault. This was the first indication of future friction between mother and daughter. Father was supportive, providing medical attention and communicating to authorities; uncle was never prosecuted. BG began menstruating by age 11 years, following this adverse childhood experience. It was about this time that the family moved from urban Savannah to the more suburban/rural area on the outskirts of the city. Physically, she was stronger and healthier during adolescence. Social ties were developed, some still enduring until present day. She was physically active in sports such as field hockey, softball, cheerleading and horseback riding. BG maintained above-average academic progress, graduated high school early, and joined the military with her parents permission at age 17 years. Reported first signs of friction between herself and her father. She met her first husband and married later that same year. She became pregnant at 18 years. She gave her child over to her parents while she finished her tour with the military. She was discharged at 21 years and returned to claim her child. She began college upon her return. She became pregnant with second child, delivered live and healthy. The marriage deteriorated and she divorced at age 25 years. By this time, she had adversarial relationships with both parents, most other family members, and was a single divorc with two children. She struggled financially and socially. BG reports symptoms of depression and low self-esteem surfacing at this time. She quit school before completion and worked to support her children. Her drinking escalated, she started smoking, and drug experimentation began at this time. Met and married her second husband at 31 years old, having

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another child within a year. BG had a tubal ligation following this birth, which became infected. Protracted hospitalization due to multi-systemic spread of infection; BG believes that her physical health was badly compromised and weakened permanently, leading to a lowered resistance to illness, infection and disease. BG believes this contributed significantly to her current poor health. Her husband left, leaving his child from a previous marriage. Threatened with homelessness and hunger with three children and an infant, she committed forged a check to buy food, and was jailed for six months. She lost her children to social services. It was at this time BG realized she is an alcoholic. BG joined the carnival circuit at age 33 years. She met her current partner, BG2, in Pensacola in 1986. Drug use continued. Traveled around country, mostly on foot or hitchhiking. Settled in Colorado briefly in 1989, and moved to Delta Junction, Alaska in 1994, when she got her youngest child back. BG had reduced her drinking and drug use by this time, and experienced a decline in health. Her adoptive mother died in 1993 without reconciliation. BG was diagnosed with type II diabetes in 1999. Subject moved around Alaska, settling in Anchorage, year not ascertained, although it was prior to fall of 1998, when we met. BG experiences continued economic familial and social struggles through present day. She was reunited with her birth family in 2005, with mixed results. Impacts on present health include: homelessness and poverty; poor nutrition; escalating diabetes; smoking and stress. Had right knee replacement and cataract surgeries in 2004, followed by left knee replacement in 2006. During recovery for the second knee surgery, she contracted staphylococcus infection; the right knee joint was removed once and refitted. The right knee is due for replacement soon, it now reaching the end of the 10-year expectancy for the

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replacement joint. She was diagnosed with depression and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, both chronic and acute, in 2002. Medical review of subject has recently revealed scar tissue in the brain suggesting a series of mini-strokes or transient ischemic attacks, possibly accounting for severe headaches and periodic seizures. BG has cataracts and needs surgery, but physicians are afraid to risk bleeding into the eye which will accelerate potential blindness; her sight is fading. In 2010, BG had a carotid endarterectomy, to remove plaque and reduce the risk of stroke. She can no longer work or drive, and uses a cane to walk more than a few feet. BG identified several lessons learned through her life experiences and development, including: the revelation that she is alcoholic; the results of poor nutrition management on her health; and social lessons about crime. She never committed another crime. BG stated that she does not believe she will be alive in another ten years. Each medical issue affects all the others, and with several major systems being affected, including her brain and her vascular system, she doesnt see her health improving in any significant way. Being unable to work, she must rely on her life-partner, to whom she cannot be married because there was never a divorce from her last husband. The husband is himself terminally ill, and since they have been married for over 20 years, they have agreed they will not divorce so that his Social Security will pass on to her. As I examined the information provided by BG, and experienced her personal recollections, it became clear that developmental factors do not happen as isolated events, but that the impacts of them cross-over: weak social networks can exacerbate depression and trauma; lack of resources can affect nutrition and long-term health; cultural influences sway decisions that can have lifetime impacts on health and well-being.