What do you consider to be the most challenging change during this developmental period in your life related to family?

Answer 1

The most challenging change during this developmental period in my life regarding family is lack of closeness. Due to both distance reasons and the fact that we lead separate lives, they only get an overview of what I am doing, and the same for me with them. Another challenge is that I have attained s level of upward social mobility in comparison to my father, which should be great, but it leaves us little in common. In looking towards Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory, I can make some sense of this. While my father is, and mostly always has, been focused on himself and his mesosystem, I have tried to expand my learning through each system (macro, exo, and meso). By doing this, I have a broader sense of self, while my father has focused primarily in one area. I can see how the world effects me, and not just how my presence effects the world.

The most challenging change during this developmental period in my life in work is my particular status. I have to fill the role of a subordinate and a supervisor. This is true with most jobs, but at that stage of middle management where you have both roles to fill equally, it can cause role conflict. Piaget's cognitive-developmental theory applies to this struggle. When forced to make decisions, one has to apply the new information at hand to past experiences, or schemes. Every day, I assimilate new information, and then accommodate to make appropriate decisions. Eventually, equilibration is reached and I am equipped with more experience, or schemes. This is a never ending process, but ultimately I can begin attributing certain decisions to past similar experiences.