The Psychological Development of VL

Introduction

This paper describes the psychological development of a young girl named VL. At the age of 3 years and 11 months, VL is vibrant, talkative, curious, engaging and enthusiastic. She has boundless energy, and is part of a Jamaican family. She also has an older brother who is 7 years old and has been diagnosed with autism. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate VL's development in five key areas as per the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST). This paper also applies the theories of Freud and Piaget to VL so as to better understand her behavior. Finally, it provides an analysis of her genogram and a cultural assessment.

Theorist Application

Freud's Theory

Freud's psychosexual stages of development propose that children pass through a series of stages related to sexuality and psychological growth. According to Freuds theory, VL is in the phallic stage, which occurs between the ages of 3 and 6 years. Freud says that in the phallic stage, the main focus for children is on discovering the differences between males and females (Jennings, 2022). In this stage, children can form a deep affection for the parent of the opposite sex; this observation is what led Freud to develop the theory he termed the Oedipus complex for boys and the Electra complex for girls. However, this theory has been widely criticized, particularly by Jung (former student of Freud), and is not so widely accepted today (Niaz et al., 2019).

The phallic stage is more applicable in VL's case in the sense of the child's exploration of her own body and as a stage where children assert their independence, often following the example of adult behaviors and roles. In VL's case, she showed a desire for control and autonomy that was evident in her interactions. For example, she took pride in identifying colors and characters on her nightgown, indicating her growing cognitive abilities and her desire to show off her knowledge. This is a common characteristic of the phallic stage, where children start to assert their understanding of the world around them (Jennings, 2022).

Also, VL's ability to clean up after herself, wash dishes, and mop the floor showed her desire to mimic adult behaviors, particularly those of her mother. This is a key aspect of the phallic stage, too: it is where children imitate the behaviors of their same-sex parent. VL's imitation of adult speech and her desire to clean like her mother could thus be seen as identification with her mother, which is a significant aspect of this stage (Niaz et al., 2019).

Freud believed that successful completion of this stage would lead to the development of a healthy personality (Jennings, 2022). The child would have a strong sense of initiative and would be able to balance their sense of ambition and responsibility. If this stage is not successfully navigated, however, the child might either become overly assertive or overly passive.

Piaget's Theory

Jean Piaget's cognitive development theory is a stage theory that describes how peoples ways of thinking develop as they interact with the world around them. Piaget identified four stages of cognitive development: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational (Pakpahan & Saragih, 2022). VL falls into the preoperational stage, which typically spans from ages 2 to 7. In the preoperational stage, children take part in symbolic play and this very much characterized VLs behavior. One point to keep in mind, though, is that their understanding of the world is still based on their own innocent perspective and they see things from their own central point of view, not realizing that others also have points of view of their own.

One aspect of the preoperational stage is the development of language. VL was able to name colors and engage in conversation with clear control of language. This showed a good example of her language development. She could name different colors and express her feelings well enough to be understood by an adult. This development represented a milestone in the preoperational stage.

The preoperational stage is also characterized by the emergence of pretend play. VL's imaginative play was evident when she pretended to clean, wash dishes, and mop the floor, and all of this showed that she was using her imagination and to engage in symbolic play. Children play like this when they practice their cognitive skills by putting themselves in different roles (like mother or teacher), which allows them to mimic what they see (Pakpahan & Saragih, 2022).

At this stage, kids also begin to understand the idea that one thing can represent or refer to another. VL connected the color of her nightgown to her slippers, which were the same color, and this would be an example of her having a sense of symbolic relationships. She was able to understand that the color "blue" could be associated with different objects.

At the same time, in this stage children are mainly egocentric, i.e., they view the world from their own perspective. VL's constant need for approval and reassurance from adults is a part of this. She wants that support to know she is doing whatever she is doing th right way.

Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST)

The Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) is a tool designed to identify children who may not be developing as expected. The test measures a child's development in four areas: personal-social, fine motor-adaptive, language, and gross motor skills (Vagha et al., 2023). It is used for children from ages 0 to 6.

The DDST can help identify strengths and areas where a child might need additional support. For instance, if VL excels in language skills but shows a delay in fine motor skills, interventions could be applied for this specific issue. The DDST also can be used for monitoring development over time. Regular evaluations can help detect any delays or regressions in development. Early detection can be a boon in terms of making it possible to implement early intervention...…to another.

Education is valued in Jamaican culture and VLs educational development is on par with what would be seen as good in the culture (Sinanan, 2019). Many families believe that education is the key to a good life. So for VL, this might mean that her family has high expectations for her academic performance and invests a lot of time and resources into her education.

English is the primary language spoken at home. This means that communication with healthcare providers will tend be straightforward, without the need for translation services. Additionally, the family identifies as Christian. This religious belief be a source of guiding education and relationships and also a source of support in times of conflict or illness.

The family also holds common health beliefs, and there is a history of working with doctors due to the autism of the older brother. There is no sense in the culture that there is any mistrust between the family and health experts in the industry.

As far as nutrition goes, the family appears to follow a standard Western diet. It would be beneficial to understand more about their specific dietary habits, such as their intake of fruits, vegetables, and processed foods, their meal patterns, and their attitudes towards nutrition and healthy eating, as this would help with making conscious health decisions. But in terms of social customs, the family appears to conform with traditional social practices. Gender roles appear to be traditional; child-rearing practices look traditional; social support systems are there and include the typical family supports.

Overall, VL's cultural practices and beliefs are likely to be heavily influenced by her family's values the way they all interact with one another. As she grows and interacts with them too, she will also find new sources of influence, such as from school and peers, and her cultural identity will continue to develop over time. For now, understanding the cultural context of VL and her family can help in providing culturally competent care. It can help avoid cultural misunderstandings that could impact quality of care and it can also be a useful guide in interventions that are respectful of and responsive to their needs when they arise. For example, understanding their Christian faith can be a helpful guide in discussions about health, faith, and illness in ways that are respectful of their beliefs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, VL is a thriving young girl who is meeting all her developmental milestones according to the Denver scale. Her behaviors help to show how child development theories can be applied in real world context. The genogram analysis shows the familial and environmental factors that contribute to her development. The cultural assessment shows the influence of VL's Jamaican and religious heritage on her development. The strong emphasis on family ties, respect for elders, and the importance of education in her culture have probably helped to shape her interactions, guide her behaviors, and mold her attitudes. Understanding this cultural context is of course always helpful…