Masters in Psychology ~ 2.6

x AALiYah

Developmental Psychology

week 6 objectives:

• Human Life Span Development

• Conception to Death

• Late Adulthood, Death, & Dying.

discussions on death.

assignment for my late adulthood.

class objectives included developmental changes through stages and transitions.

excerpt on my additions to the discussion:

"Discuss age-related changes in conception of and attitudes toward death, including ways to enhance child and adolescent understanding of death and dying.

·       Young Age Conception and Attitudes Toward Death

o   Reading this topic of discussion for the week immediately made me think of the movie Kill Bill. Spoiler Alert in the movie, everything possible is done to beat, torture, and kill a soon-to-be mother whom is a runaway bride. She is first inaccurately pronounced dead, and subsequently taken to the hospital where she remains in a coma for four years. They even attempt to kill her in her comatose state. Upon awakening, she sets out on her journey of vengeance not knowing that her now toddler daughter is indeed alive. As she makes her way down the bloody path to the last of the snake-squad, she finds the initiator of the attacks on her fixing her daughter a sandwich. So, before the final battle takes place, the daughter is fed and put to bed to create space for the showdown. During the daughter’s moment before bed, a story is told about the daughter’s understanding of life and death – how even a young mind can understand life and death. The daughter had a pet fish that she took out of the fishbowl and stepped on it. She runs to the adult male crying because the fish was dead. He discusses with her to understand how it died and how she knew that it was dead. She initially tries to lie that she was playing with the fish but ultimately admits to how it go out of the bowl in the first place. She knew it was dead because one minute it was flapping on the floor and then it stopped.

o   Now at the time of watching the movie I was completely uninterested in this conversation and just wanted the Mother to raise hell, but, the example of the understandings we have at even the smallest of ages has been themed throughout this class. How as infants and into early and middle childhood we form opinions and standards for caregivers. To discussing adolescence and how the lost of their family placed them in foster care, wondering in what was the lack of the maternal bond impacted them. Learning what things are Nature, and what of nurtured ideals. Explaining death to the young is not hard in the sense of making them understand what has happened, it is having to tell them at all that is the difficulty. In this example the conversation with the toddler about death involved open-ended questions that led to both the adult and the toddlers understanding. This prompting allowed for flow in the answer’s arrival in an organic way.

·       Adolescence Conception and Attitude Toward Death

o   Death in the experience of the adolescent is particularly impactful because of what they are already experiencing in development. Nothing seems stable at this point and to experience death during this time can make things extremely more difficult to this stage. They may not be close to anyone at this time experiencing growth away from adults and difficulty in friendships.“Deaths of peers, friends, siblings, parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents bring death to the forefront of adolescents’ lives. Adolescents develop more abstract conceptions of death than children do. For example, adolescents describe death in terms of darkness, light, transition, or nothingness (Wenestam & Wass, 1987). They also develop religious and philosophical views about the nature of death and whether there is life after death.” (SANTROCK 2020, [pg 1327).

·       Adult Conception and Attitude Toward Death

o   “Older adults, though, think about death more and talk about it more in conversation with others than do middle-aged and young adults. They also have more direct experience with death as their friends and relatives become ill and die. Older adults are forced to examine the meanings of life and death more frequently than are younger adults.” (SANTROCK 2020, [pg 1327).

·       Enhancing Understandings of Death and Dying

o   Most psychologists emphasize that honesty is the best strategy.  (SANTROCK 2020, pg 1327). “Also, support programs for parentally bereaved children and their caregivers can be beneficial. In a recent research review, it was concluded that relatively brief interventions can prevent children from developing severe problems such as traumatic grief and mental disorders (Bergman, Axberg, & Hanson, 2017).” (SANTROCK 2020, pg 1326).

o   Death is defined as, “the permanent ending of vital processes in a cell or tissue; the personification of the power that destroys life, often represented in art and literature as a skeleton or an old man holding a scythe.” (New Oxford American Dictionary 2023) Interesting is the term being used in situation that can be survived such as clinical death, brain death, cell death, etc. – why is a permanency being used to describe something that can be survived? Interesting as well is the idea of hospice vs Kevorkian. And, also is interesting the etymology of names such as Euthanasia and Anastasia – one meaning to die slow and the other meaning resurrection.

o   There are mortals and immortals. At a basic level, mortals would be humans and immortal would be God. There are churches all over the world who believe the god they serve will deliver them from mortality and accept them into the heavenly realm of immortality in paradise. There is death of a physical body but not of the spiritual body or the Soul. Perhaps difficulty arises with the topic of death in general because there are lies being told about it. The entire concept of a funeral is odd on a deeper level – why would the word include the word “fun”? Often referred to as a celebration of life, isn’t it interesting that someone could spend their entire life never celebrating birthdays, specialdays, graduations, anniversaries with anyone, never going to parties, social events, or even talking on the phone to the many people who will show up to see their physical body laying on display in an apparent inanimate state?

o   In conclusion, honesty about death and dying is the best policy. And it is not expected to be one conversation that completes the understanding to either age group, but an open discussion to be discussed as feelings and thought arise.

References:

New Oxford American Dictionary Version 230 (294) (2023). Death. Apple Inc.

SANTROCK, . (2020). EBook online access for life-span development (18th ed.). McGraw-Hill Higher Education (US).

Response 1

Hi! This post featured an age-appropriate example to help young children understand what they were experiencing in the moment of the sudden car accident their relative was subjected to. The example of the peanut and the shell was on a level for anyone to understanding, making it success for the young. This can help adults as well, the simplest of terms can be insightful across multiple age ranges. Also mentioned was the many depictions of death in entertainment to include games. I wonder how many children and adolescents have their first contact with the subject by playing games. Games range from simple depictions to very gory ones. For pondering: isn't it something that the full game is not over when one dies, but that they must restart the level they died on, and that dying is completely apart of most games to gain skills to advance to the next level? In games like GTA, when you die you return to either the last saved space or if playing without a memory card, you reappear either outside of the hospital or jail and must rework getting back all of your money, armor, ammunition, etc. In games like COD, if you're playing on a team and you die, you must wait until the rest of your team either dies or succeed to continue forward. Is there something to be learned about the decisions during gaming designs or is it just a game for entertainment purposes only? As we know, majority of the players are in the younger age ranges.

Response 2

Hi! What prompted you to work with individuals experiencing these types of tragic events? What similarities and differences are had by those whose grandparent fought long battles and those subjected to unexpected car accidents?

Are there any solutions to lower the rates on car accidents? Where did school shootings come from: why is this an idea and why would someone choose to do this? 

Are the depictions of death in the various forms of media accurate? Do you think they should be in alignment with the truth or do you agree that they are fine the way that they are?"

excerpt on from my assignment:

• " Introduction

            Tupac Shakur and Muhammad Ali are two of the most outspokenly upright, righteous, and solid in moral principles angels that I know. For them to still be on my mind and on my daily playlist speaks to the legacy of these special guys. There are generative adult girls such as Lisa Left Eye Lopes, Dorothy Dandridge, and Dreezy, that I find equally inspiring, but there is something about the masculine testimony that resounds like rolling thunder.

            Since a child I have been told that I am wise and mature. Into adulthood, I found this increasingly true and since I was not placed around the generative adults that inspired me, I sought to surround myself with older adults thinking that their age brought them wisdom. My search and findings helped me conclude that age is just a number and though I was wise as a child, there were not many wise adults in my radius. Instead, I found envy, stagnation, and despair among them, and so though I could not physically be around my inspirations, I found ways to keep them near in spirit. Their music is timeless and so I continue to play it every day, their interviews hold truth which stands the test of time enduring to remain long after the speed and volume of lies are overpowered. And their works, no matter the role – such as Dorothy Dandridge as Aiché in 1958’s Tamango versus Melmendi the Queen of Ashuba in 1951’s Tarzan’s Peril – still showed me their range of talent, and their true character within their art shined a relatable and inspirational light to me.

Generativity v. Stagnation

“Erikson (1968) proposed that middle-aged adults face a significant issue—generativity versus stagnation, which is the name Erikson gave to the seventh stage in his life-span theory. Generativity encompasses adults’ desire to leave legacies of themselves to the next generation (Moieni & others, 2020). Through these legacies adults achieve a kind of immortality. By contrast, stagnation (sometimes called “self-absorption”) develops when individuals sense that they have done nothing for the next generation.” (SANTROCK, 2020, pg 1094). Through works and words passed down, Tupac and Muhammad Ali provided a sense of guidance for me as a child. Their contributions to culture and to the world showed me that I was cut from the same cloth and assisted in my development of skills in more ways than one – specifically in the standards for my moral development. As an adult, I circled back to these interviews and concluded that they had raised me by parenting, teaching, and leading me in ways those that I was physically around neglected me. As a generative adult my interests are in the continuation and improvement of those who follow me as their leader. In doing so, I find that though I am by myself all of the time and keep to myself around others, I am never alone or lonely.

Muhammad Ali enjoyed lecturing more than boxing. When faced with the punishment of jail for standing for his beliefs he said, “We’ve been in jail for 400+ years since we’ve been in “America” but belief in God – many great men have to go to jail for standing in what they believe in and so I do not pay any attention to it, if the time comes I’ll just have to go. People in wars [Vietnam] die for what they believe, so I’ll just have to suffer so that my people can be free so that they can have an idol and an image that they can look up to that didn’t sell them out.  (Muhammad Ali 3:00-3:41). When asked about being able to dine at certain places because of the color of his skin he said, “…don’t believe in forcing our places of self. You have to be sick mentally to want to force yourself into places you’re not wanted. You see the man hates you, you see that they don’t want you down here. Why don’t you leave them alone, we’ll go somewhere else.”  (Muhammad Ali 9:24-10:50). When asked about the Nature of different races – which are in actuality different species – he said, “if a tiger broke in this room now, I would beat you getting out. If a rattlesnake broke in I’d beat you getting off this stage. I don’t hate rattlesnakes, I don’t hate tigers, I just know I can’t get along with them. After learning the nature of the snake and the tiger, I don’t want to try to eat with them or sleep with them because I know that they might bite me.”  (Muhammad Ali 11:51-12:50). When asked about so-called reports printed about him, he stated the “reports” in the New York paper are rumors (Muhammad Ali 4:00-4:52).

“Just because it’s printed doesn’t mean it’s the gospel” – Michael Jackson

Legacy is defined as, “the long-lasting impact of particular events, actions, etc. that took place in the past, or of a person’s life.” (New Oxford American Dictionary Version, 2023). Superior is defined as, “higher in rank, status, or quality; of high standard or quality; greater in size or power.” (New Oxford American Dictionary Version, 2023). Integrity is defined as, “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.” (New Oxford American Dictionary Version, 2023).

Integrity v. Despair

“Integrity versus despair is Erikson’s eighth and final stage of development, which individuals experience during late adulthood. This stage involves reflecting on the past and either piecing together a positive review or concluding that one’s life has not been well spent. Through many different routes, the older adult may have developed a positive outlook in each of the preceding periods. If so, retrospective glances and reminiscences will reveal a picture of a life well spent, and the older adult will be satisfied (integrity). But if the older adult resolved one or more of the earlier stages in a negative way (being socially isolated in early adulthood or stagnating in middle adulthood, for example), retrospective evaluations of the total worth of his or her life might be negative (despair).” (SANTROCK, 2020, pg 1265).

As I reviewed my entire catalog and the sum of all of my careers, I wanted to see my other side and it was something that I indeed showed but I had to really look to see – since so much of my professionalism at the certain time included me asserting the damage control of being on guard as I was taking control of my career as a young girl. I am naturally professional, but I learned the tricks of the media and I understood how to freely give myself in an interview while not getting comfortable from a positive question that was just asked to be followed by a negative or rumor-filled question as an attempt to hit me with negativity, rewrite the narrative, or share my light with anything that did not come from AaliYah. It’s something that I am so proud of myself for, and it just truly pays to be yourself – especially when the game is to erase who you are.

Tupac spoke often of the trials and tribulation of the youth, the lives of young black males, death, life after death, and immortality. In a particular interview discussing one of his movies he describes his and his partner’s character roles, “… represents Euthanasia, you know, to die slowly, to die painlessly you know what I mean, that’s his character Euthanasia, and my character is reality…” (Tupac 3:55-4:39). Also in this particular interview, he is briefly asked about his music and says, “I think that with my music, it’s like watching somebody go through things – my whole career. And I feel like, it’s like if James Dean was a rapper it’d be me you know what I mean, or if Marilyn Monroe was a rapper it’d be me – the person who you can just watch go through crazy drama and you know you can cry, laugh, cheer, whatever but it’s not happening to you it’s happening to them. And, I tell you vividly because I don’t know that you’re not supposed to tell people everything that happens in your life, so I just tell them.” (Tupac 5:02-7:12)

Conclusion

Generativity contributes to integrity and a sense of immortality. This is because the works I have done and the words I have spoken live on passed death. After my funeral, my music still played, my personality and style still inspired, my goal of just being a good person is in constant validation, and my name will always ring out as the highest, the most exalted – the best.

The spotlight of voluntarily being on the world stage view of everyone watching me in my career being so-called taken away does nothing to change my character, my integrity, or my morals. Neither does hiding my name, my title, or denying my access to my fortunes, or attempting to stop me make new money to support myself change my heart, my thought process, or my actions – I can always hold my head high knowing that being myself will always be the reason I succeed. (Muhammad Ali 9:09-9:25). I am the Superior weapon my son speaks of. (Muhammad Ali 18:28-20:22). When the last prophet dies, we will be in heaven – the hereafter on earth and America will be destroyed and this will all be over. And, those who sold us out will go down with it. (Muhammad Ali 20:35-21:20).

“America doesn’t have long” – Dr. Strange on the Scarlett Witch in the Multiverse of Madness

Upon my awakening, I decided I am done with being separate characters, I want to be seen as complete. And, I sought to get an understanding of what human beings were about (Tupac 0:14-0:56). I could not be prouder of myself and thrilled at my loved ones. Through being yourself, you never know who you will inspire. You could unknowingly inspire your own Mother. Through adversity, facing jail and death they stood loyal in faith, and so do I. My soul is thawed by the heartwarming principles of righteous angels. So, whatever the cost is for the legacy I set and achieved for myself, which was to be a full-on entertainer and good person, no matter the cost for loving the King that Nature so obviously saw fit for me to be with, however much it costs to stand on my beliefs of the contents of one’s heart and to be the Mother of the angel warriors and Queen of the Gods, so be it. It is predestined for me to pay the cost to be the boss.

References

New Oxford American Dictionary Version 230 (294) (2023). Integrity. Apple Inc.

New Oxford American Dictionary Version 230 (294) (2023). Legacy. Apple Inc.

New Oxford American Dictionary Version 230 (294) (2023). Superior. Apple Inc.

SANTROCK, . (2020). EBook online access for life-span development (18th ed.). McGraw-Hill Higher Education (US).

YouTube (2017, Apr 05). 2Pac – Ed Gordon Full Interview 1994. https://youtu.be/S73X6YXK5pA

YouTube. (2020, Jun 06). Muhammad Ali Interview (1968): A Conversation with Muhammad Ali. https://youtu.be/9f1iE36bljs

YouTube. (2012, Sep 25). Tupac 1996 Gridlock’d Interview FULL. https://youtu.be/sKCREvtyh_Y "

---

Yah's Judgment:

I am the Mother, the Goddess of all creation.

I am the Devil, the Bitch, ruler of hell.

I am King Von's Queen.

I am heaven, and I am hell.

---

Yah's notes

• "The truth is a calm, constant power, while lies are loud and swift. Lies aren’t revealed, truth is.

Lies are heard first, truth must come to the light."

 x AALiYah

---