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Alyssa Cooperman

PSYC 207

207 Final Paper

Maya

Maya Angelou’s childhood is a journey of incredible resilience. Born into undesirable

circumstances, Angelou trudges through innumerable hardships. Written in 1969, she reflects

upon these times in her autobiographical novel, ​I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings​. The mental

and emotional growth observed throughout the book can be related back to developmental

psychology studied all over the world. Maya’s relationship with her mother-figure is

inextricably tied to the psychological effects of authoritarian parenting. Maya’s brother, Bailey, is

a true source of support in her life, as the relationship they share works to see her through such

trying times.

For Maya Angelou, her resiliency seems to be what kept her from ending up as a statistic.

Resilience is defined as “the ability to adapt effectively in the face of threats to development”

(Berk, p. 10, 2013). Resilience can be explained by features within the child as well as features

around the child, as seen in Bronfenbrenner’s social ecology model. Bronfenbrenner’s social

ecology model demonstrates the way in which a child develops in different social contexts

(Lecture Notes, November 28, 2017). The microsystem of a child is comprised of the immediate

environment in which one lives. The macrosystem of a child is explained as the cultural values

and laws set forth in society. For Maya, her microsystem includes her family, church, and

neighborhood environment. Unfortunately, the macrosystem in which Maya found herself was

extremely racist and discriminatory. Maya’s macrosystem is what determined the resilience