“This is YOUR Life” Take Home Alternative Assignment

NOTE: Assignment will take the place of this week’s Lifespan Development Quiz. This document is to be typed up and
turned in at 9:30am Thursday, Oct. 14th sharp. Nothing accepted after 9:40am.)

1. Contact someone who knew you as a baby. Ask them to identify what type of temperament you displayed as an
infant and ask them to provide “evidence” or examples that highlight your temperament. (Please feel free to
insert a copy of a baby picture if you have easy access to one!)
a. Easy
b. Difficult
c. Slow to warm up
d. Average

Example?

When I was little I would always frown. My family and friends would always think I’m sad or
disappointed.

2. Ask this same helpful person which temperamental pattern you were more likely to display (in terms of your
reactivity level) when exposed to new people, experiences, and objects (and again, to give you an example):
a. High-reactive
b. Low-reactive

Example?

When I was little whenever I went on family vacations I would always get exited to go to a new place. I
would explore every inch of a place I could.

3. Characterize (by circling below) the attachment style that best represents the type & intensity of emotional
bond you had with your primary caretaker (i.e., a person who raised you)

Very Somewhat Uncertain Somewhat Very

Securely Securely Insecurely Insecurely
Attached Attached Attached Attached

Support your answer with an example or two:

When I was little I would always do things on my own.

 Are any of the research findings in the chapter regarding the type of attachment style and intensity you
experienced that you can relate to? If yes, what? If not, why do you think that is?

4. Considering your gender-role development:

a. How much were gender roles stressed during your childhood and adolescence?

Totally Somewhat Occasionally Rarely Never

b. Provide a detailed memory of how gender mattered (or didn’t) in your home.
I remember that I was never given any boy toys during birthdays and Christmas. also I would
never be allowed to play with my boy cousins.

c. Estimate how much your gender affects you NOW (i.e., guides or determines):
i. The way you display (or choose not to display) your feelings

Totally Somewhat Occasionally Rarely Never

ii. The types of things you tend to think and care about

Totally Somewhat Occasionally Rarely Never

iii. How you behave in the presence of others

Totally Somewhat Occasionally Rarely Never

5. In terms of your physical and sexual development, were you more of a(n):
a. Early maturing adolescent
b. Late maturing adolescent
c. Average maturing adolescent

Thinking back, do you regard it as a positive experience? If so, why? If not, why not? (Got a copy of an early
adolescence picture you can insert here?)

I was very insecure about my looks and appearance so it was a very hard time for me.

Which gender is likely to be more negatively affected when they are:

Early to mature? ________Female___ Later to mature? ____Male____

6. Which of the following parenting styles would you say most resemble your experience?
a. Authoritarian
b. Permissive-indulgent
c. Permissive-indifferent
d. Authoritative
 Provide an example or two to support your answer.

My parents would treat me like an adult. They gave me responsibilities and taught me moral lessons like
death, loss, discipline, and most other lessons.

7. Parenting Dos and Don’ts:

a. Which parenting style is recommended, based upon the psychological research?

Authoritative

b. Name two advantages of this style:

1. Children make decisions better and are sure in themselves.

2. Children are more friendly and social

c. Which parenting style tends to promote resentment and rebellion?

Authoritarian

d. Name another disadvantage of this style:

Children are more likely to avoid parents rather than form there own self discipline.

e. Which parenting style lessens a child’s likelihood to learn self-control and/or fail to strive to realize to
actualize all of their potential?

Permissive

8. According to the research, during what decade of life should you expect to peak in terms of your cognitive
abilities?
i. 60

9. Ask a biological family member (if you have one) how old your deceased relatives have lived to be.
a. The average life expectancy for men in the United States is _72_ and for women is _72_.
b. How do these national averages compare to the longevity of your own family tree?

Most of my family members lived well into there 90s

10. For the sake of this assignment imagine that you have just died of “old age.” Being the conscientious person that
you are, you wrote your own eulogy ahead of time to be read at your funeral. What does it say? Type your
eulogy on the next page, making sure to address all of the following:
 a. How did you matter, or make your mark on the world?
b. What did you do with your life? What were your achievements?
c. What did you value or cherish most in life?
d. What were your most significant relationships? (i.e., who you left behind)
e. What parting words of wisdom will you leave us all with?

My Eulogy

There comes a time in everyone’s life where the must accept the fact there this wonderful life must
come to an end. My life if, I am happy to say, was a wonderful one.
I would say I made my mark on the world as musician and an artist. I spent a majority of my life
devoted to art and music. I became a great performer and a teacher.
In my life I cherish the violin. The violin has brought me to where I am; my hopes and dreams were
all accomplished through the violin. I also value my family and friends.
The relationships that were most significant to me are my family and close friends. I left behind
everyone I knew.
My wisdom is that you must cherish every memory. The good and the bad are both important.
With out bad memories how will we enjoy the good ones? That’s my advice.