Developmental Crises

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Chapter 7

• Developmental Crises

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Developmental Crisis

• 1. Normal, expected, and often occur as we
  transition from one psychosocial stage of
  development to another.
• 2. Erikson proposes psychosocial tasks which can
  precipitate a crisis.
• Infancy Trust vs. mistrust
• Toddlerhood Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
• Preschool Years Initiative vs. Guilt
• Middle School Years Industry vs. Inferiority
• Adolescence Identity vs. Role Confusion
• Young Adulthood Intimacy vs. Isolation
• Middle Adulthood Productivity vs. Stagnation
• Maturity Integrity vs. Despair

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Evolutional Crisis

1. Often occur as family structures change and
   adjustment in role functions are required.
2. Minuchin offers the idea of subsystems and the
   need to meet evolving needs of family members as
   possible stages where crisis occurs.

Subsystem Adjustment Boundaries Role
A. Marital Families of Origin Spouse
B. Parental Children Parent
C. Grandparent Adult Child and Grandchild Grandparent
D. Siblings With Parents. Hierarchy
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Adolescent Crises

• Needs for individuation and identity may lead to
  risky behaviors.
• Need both autonomy and nurturance
• Failing family structures may lead to
  self-destructive behaviors
• Either too controlling or to lax may lead to some
  of the following issues

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Teen Pregnancy

• About 433,000 teens gave birth in the U. S. in
  2002.
• Highest rate in the industrialized world,
  California has the highest rate in the country.
• Often linked to dropping out of high school,
  dependence on welfare, substance abuse, child
  abuse, domestic violence, and unemployment

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Interventions

• Clinics and residential facilities have been
  created to meet the needs of this group.
• Can go to school
• Learn parenting skills
• Parents may be available to help
• May provide information about adoption and
  abortion agencies

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Gangs

• Gangs exist in most cities in the U. S.
• 84 of larger cities have gang problems
• 640 increase in reported gang problems in the
  past 30 years.

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Factors associated with gang involvement

• Family dynamics, self-concept, societal
  stresses
• Parental neglect, abandonment, family dysfunction
• Low self-esteem, absence of personal safety and
  adult guidance, social alienation and boredom,
  lack of job opportunities

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Intervention

• Prevention is key its harder to intervene once
  child is in a gang
• Education at elementary school level
• Educate community and encourage involvement
• Educate parents
• Create programs in community that expose at risk
  kids to social activities

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Runaways

• About 1,682,900 youths run away a year
• Some are thrown away.
• Ages 15-17 make up the majority of runaways
• Why? Achieve autonomy, unable to establish a
  mature identity, sexual and physical abuse,
  substance abuse

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Interventions

• Teen shelters provide crisis intervention to
  teen and the family
• Teach effective communication skills, and address
  the need for autonomy
• Cultural differences must be recognized and
  compromise sought
• Family therapy is the model rather than blaming
  the teen
• Deparentifying the teen may be helpful

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Eating Disorders

• Teenage girls make up 90-95 of those with eating
  disorders
• 7 million females and 1 million males
• 86 of girls develop before age of 20, 10 before
  age of 10!, 33 between the ages of 11 and 15.
• Usually white and middle or upper class.

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Types of eating disorders

• Anorexia Nervosa intense fear of gaining weight,
  refusal to maintain adequate nutrition, erroneous
  complaints of being fat, loss of original body
  weight at least to a level 85 of that expected
  based on norms, disturbance of body image and
  absence of at least 3 menstrual periods.

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• Bulimia Nervosa binges on high-calorie food then
  engage in self-induced vomiting, taking laxatives
  and overexercising. Take great efforts to
  conceal behaviors.

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Characteristics

• Emotionally reserved and cognitively inhibited
• Prefer routine and order
• Conforming and show deference to others
• Avoid risk, react to stress with strong feelings
  of distress
• Focus on perfectionism, negative self evaluation
  and fears of becoming an adult

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Intervention

• If life-threatening, need physician involvement
  and perhaps hospitalization
• Assess for suicide
• Family involvement must face the seriousness of
  the condition
• Explore her role in the family, her identity as a
  growing woman and needs for individuation

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Crises of Old Age

• Nearly 36 million elderly people in the U. S.,
  over 12 of the population.
• It is expected to almost double in 25 years.

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Alzheimers Disease and general senility

• 4 million afflicted
• Progressive degeneration of the brain
• Impaired memory, thinking and behaviors.
• Personality changes and inability to care for
  oneself require caretakers

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• Caretakers often seek crisis intervention because
  of the emotional drain.
• Feel guilty to put parents in a facility, but may
  have to.
• Respite care is available through the Alzheimers
  Association
• Knowledge of resources is vital