Tamela M. McGhee--COUN5004--Unit 8 Assignment

Running head: DEVELOPING A CASE STUDY 1
Unit 8: Psychosocial Development Case Study Assessment
COUN5004: Survey of Research in Human Development for Professional Counselors
Dr. Clow
December, 2015

Psychosocial Development Case Study Assessment
Introduction
In the pages which follow, two characters from The Joy Luck Club--Waverly and Lindo
Jong--will be explored from three life-developmental stages. Waverly, the daughter of Lindo,
will be broached from both a middle childhood and early adulthood perspective. Lindo will be
broached from a middle adulthood perspective. Aspects examined will include age-related
psychological crisis, psychosocial development, family, and cultural considerations. Both
challenges and strengths will be evaluated in relation to wellness and resilience. Projective
considerations will also be explored, as to their transitional and functional impacts on the family
unit as a whole.
Waverly Jong: Middle Childhood--6-12 yrs.
Waverly is the daughter of Lindo--an auntie, and long-time member of the "Joy Luck
Club". In the beginning of her middle childhood years, Waverly is an esteemed chess champion,
and steeped in self-confidence. She remembers this as a time that, "...I trusted myself
completely...I felt safe there, and still cry remembering that." (Wang, 1993). Waverly
experiences a collision with her mother, as Lindo is proud and boasting of her daughter's
achievements. Waverly challenges her mother, by advising if she wants to boast, she should
learn to play chess herself. She runs away briefly, then after returning home, informs her parents
that she will never play chess again. She is met with a cold response from her mother, who does
not beg her to resume chess, despite the fact that Waverly deeply wishes she would. Waverly
approaches her mother with a change of mind, but is met with an unsupportive response. A

defined time of change occurred within Waverly. In reflection, she narrates, "..I had this belief in
myself. I could actually feel it draining away...All I could see were my mistakes, my weaknesses.
The best part of me disappeared." (Wang, 1993).
The Psychological Crisis: Industry Vs. Inferiority
The Psychosocial crisis during the middle childhood years, is that of industry versus
inferiority. Industry encompasses new skills being learned, cultivating a new sense of
independence, self-worth, and abilities that align more closely with adults. During this time,
positive support from adults and peers encourages continued growth that holds long-term
successful impacts (Newman & Newman, 2015).
Inferiority opposes industry, in that it negates self-worth and adequacy. Both a child's self
as well as their social environment, contributes to the cultivation of inferiority. Negative failure
messages, criticism, comparison to others, or perceived lack of ability can all lend to feelings of
inferiority. When this crisis is resolved towards the negative, a child may come to lose
confidence in their ability to contribute to their world at large (Newman & Newman, 2015).
Waverly began her middle childhood years on the industry side of development. She
believed in herself and had self-confidence. After conflict arose with her mother, this confidence
diminished. By not receiving the positive support that she needed, she carried these
repercussions with her as she felt her self-confidence diminish. In short, Waverly's psychosocial
crisis was resolved towards the negative side of inferiority.
Developmental Theory: Self Efficacy, Social Expectations, and Self-fulfilling Prophecy

The building of self-efficacy is a vital component to middle-aged children judging their
own competence. When children can meet the performance standards specific to their
environments, then their self-confidence becomes strengthened. According to Albert Bandura,
one aspect contributing to self-efficacy, is enactive attainments, or positive reinforcements
through achievements (Newman & Newman, 2015). Social expectations are another strong
contributor, as the positive feedback of important others, lends needed confirmation of perceived
self-confidence. If this feedback is negative or skewed, a child can lose their self-confidence, and
come to live up to this false sense of identity. Known as self-fulfilling prophecy, when negative
self-images are incurred, one tends to align with and fulfill these newly acquired perceptions
(Newman & Newman, 2015).
At one point in time, Waverly was building her self-efficacy as a chess champion. She
felt powerful and confident within this. When she became embarrassed by her mother's boasting
and challenged her mother, she lost her mother's support--a prominent and close source of
feedback in her life. She transcends from a young girl full of confidence, to one feeling ordinary.
She became focused on her perceived mistakes and weaknesses, and subsequently began to lose
chess tournaments (Wang, 1993). By taking her mother's lack of support and criticism into
herself, Waverly came to conduct a self-fulfilling prophesy. Where she once reigned as a chess
champion, she now no longer won games in confidence.
Factors Affecting Behavior: Competition and Cultural Influence
Competition and the experience of winning can create long-lasting and memorable
impacts during childhood years. These energetic highs can be looked back on in a positive light,

and extend towards a healthy achieving drive later in life. On the flipside, children can incur
negative impacts with competition and losing, cultivating an overt display of embarrassment
with an inner sense of shame. Culture can also influence competitive views (Newman &
Newman, 2015).
Waverly is born of the Chinese culture. Chinese parents, like Japanese parents, hold high
expectations for their children, and encourage their children to spend more time on cultivating
their skills. Additionally, parental views concerning competition, has been shown to directly
influence their children's view of self competence (Newman & Newman, 2015). At one point,
Waverly poured herself into chess, was a champion, and held a great sense of pride and self-
competence. Her mother was proud of her. However, once challenged, her mother turned away
from her and no longer showed an interest in Waverly's accomplishments. As Waverly began to
experience the pain of defeat, she completely lost her sense of self-confidence, and began to
view herself solely through the lens of mistakes and weaknesses (Wang, 1993).
Interrelationships, Future Careers, and Cultural Influence
As mentioned above, Chinese culture places great value on competition and achievement.
Waverly has lost her sense of value and self competency--markedly where her mother is
concerned. When the illusion of incompetence is cultivated within a child, it often stems from
believing that a parent(s) hold a low or negative opinion of them. This can cause emotional
upset, and the child becomes dependent on parental approval for the management of tasks and
problem solving. If negative parental monitoring continues, children come to question their own

abilities to be competent and good decision makers, which can easily carry into future
professional careers (Newman & Newman, 2015).
Waverly Jong: Early Adulthood--24-34 yrs.
Now a young adult woman, Waverly still spends much of her time trying to please her
mother, while her mother continues to belittle Waverly. Waverly's first marriage, was in effort to
please her mother, as she married a Chinese man. This, too, ended in failure and a divorce. Now
engaged to an American man whom she sincerely loves, Waverly has determined to stand firm in
her decisions. Even still, she continually seeks her mother's approval. While at a beauty shop
with her mother in preparation for her upcoming wedding, Waverly discloses to her mother that,
"You don't know the power you have over me. One word from you--one look--and for years I've
cried myself to sleep because nothing I do can ever, ever please you." (Wang, 1993).
The Psychological Crisis: Intimacy Vs. Isolation
The psychosocial crisis of early adulthood, is that of Intimacy versus Isolation. Intimacy
encompasses the ability to experience a loving, close relationship with others, without the fear of
self-identity loss in the process. Healthy intimate relationships hold the ability to nurture one
another's self-fulfillment and achievement needs. When this ability lacks, roots can often be
traced back to attachment issues present even in infancy (Newman & Newman, 2015).
Isolation negates intimacy with an unwillingness or fear to engage in close relationships.
While many factors can contribute to isolation, childhood experiences can impact intimacy
ability, if underlying formations of guilt, shame, or inferiority exist (Newman & Newman, 2015).

An important factor to cultivating intimacy, is forming a strong identity. When an identity is
fragile in nature, intimacy can become a frightening threat, prohibiting the ability for
transparency and closeness (Newman & Newman, 2015).
Waverly, is still caught in a psychosocial crisis with her mother even in early adulthood.
Coming close to her mother, is prohibited by feelings of inadequacy. She continually seeks her
mother's approval, and has even made important decisions such as marriage, based around this. It
continues to cause her pain over the years, and the feelings of never being able to please her
mother, has yet to subside (Wang, 1993). The resolution to this psychosocial crisis, is love.
Consisting of 10 components, one aspect of a loving relationship, is that of intimate
communication (Newman & Newman, 2015). Waverly loves her fiance' enough to stand up for
herself, and stand by who she wants and needs to be. She also loves her mother very much, and
has continued trying to resolve their conflict. In a last desperate attempt to communicate at the
beauty parlor, she reveals her deepest, vulnerable feelings, which surprisingly brings her and her
mother closer (Wang, 1993).
Development Theory: Exploring Relationships, Lifestyles, & Forming Self-Identity
Much of early adulthood is formed around the developmental tasks of more deeply
exploring relationship and work commitments, as well as lifestyles and self-identity. The success
of this time largely hinges on the ability to effectively establish intimate relationships (Newman
& Newman, 2015). As mentioned prior, a pre-curser to intimate relationships, is a self-identity
that is strong enough to approach these engagements with a positive feeling, as opposed to a

fearful one. However, in situations where intimacy and self-identity are colliding, young adults
will lean towards nurturing their self-identity first (Newman & Newman, 2015).
In Waverly's situation, the intimate relationship with her mother, is colliding with her
own self-identity and carving out her choices in life (such as co-habitation with her fiancé').
Having a long-time rocky relationship with her mother, has impaired her self-identity, and
consistently challenged the ability to form an intimate relationship with her. She has spent her
time trying to please and gain her approval, while setting herself aside. Now that Waverly is a
young adult and engaged to a man whom she loves, she is choosing to strengthen her self-
identity at the risk of further repercussions to the relationship with her mother (Wang, 1993).
Factors Affecting Behavior: Choosing a Marriage Partner with Cultural Implications
It is a commonality within the Chinese and other Asian cultures for the parents to have a
prominent voice in a marriage partner selection. Additionally, co-habitation is typically frowned
down upon (Newman & Newman, 2015). Waverly had chosen a Chinese man for her first
marriage partner in efforts to please her mother. This ended in a divorce. She has now chosen an
American man, and has lived with him prior to marriage. In a round-about-way, Waverly lets her
mother know that she is living with Rich, and subsequently makes an effort to introduce him to
her family at a home-dinner. She tries to brief him as to Asian culture, but he makes a few
mistakes. Though the family eventually accepts Rich, this does add more tension to Waverly's
relationship with her mother, as she is tossed between wanting her mother's approval while
standing by the love for her fiancé'. When Rich asks her how the dinner went, and if Waverly

told them about their marriage plans, Waverly said no because, "...my mother would rather have
rectal cancer." (Wang, 2015).
Interrelationships, Future Careers, and Cultural Influence
During young adulthood, many roles are being established including occupational,
parental, and marital/life partner roles. These roles began to identify the ability to make one's
own decisions, while caring for the needs of others. Over the last 40 years, the pathway to
establishing roles has changed significantly. More career changes are being made, marriage is
taking place in the latter half of early adulthood, and lifestyles such as co-habitation is becoming
more common in the United States (Wang, 2015).
Waverly's career is not a great focus within this movie, however she is an established and
successful career woman. Her current engagement within a co-habitation circumstance has
caused her some discomfort, as it collides with her family cultural values. In this regard, Waverly
is experiencing identifying her own life style choices and roles, and becoming confident in the
ability to make her own decisions within this. Even still, she takes into consideration her
mother's views and approval. Given her sense of inferiority in her mother's eyes, this continues to
cause friction between them, as both mother and daughter are trying to cross the bridge to a new
respect and understanding between them (Wang, 2015).
Lindo Jong: Middle Adulthood--34-60 yrs.
Lindo Jong is Waverly's mother, and to understand her, is to first understand her past.
Lindo has not had an easy life, as she was given up by her mother at a young age. Promised to an

arranged marriage at the tender age of four, Lindo's mother would spend the next ten years
preparing her for this life-changing time. Her mother became critical of Lindo as a way to prime
her for her future. Lindo. Though rough in treatment at times, Lindo believed that it was not
because her mother lacked love for her, but rather, "she said these things so she would not wish
for something that was no longer hers." (Wang, 1993).
On her wedding night, Lindo recalls meeting her husband for the first time. She was
aware that her husband would hold complete authority over her, including her very happiness.
She said, "This one moment would decide for my whole life, whether fear would rule, or I
would. I decided, underneath I knew who I was. I promised myself never to forget." Lindo tried
to honor her marriage arrangement, but found both her mother-in-law and husband intolerable.
After devising a scheme, she managed to leave her situation, and move to Shanghai. Lindo felt at
peace, as she felt she had kept her promise to her mother and honored her in so doing. She felt
differently, however, about her own daughter's honor (Wang, 1993).
The Psychological Crisis: Generativity Vs. Stagnation
With middle adulthood, comes the psychosocial crisis of Generativity versus Stagnation.
Generativity urges one to maintain their environment based on life experiences. Caring for others
continues while self-identity goes through more cultivating processes. If a strong value system is
present, children of middle-aged adults may find themselves following their positive
exampleship. Energies may turn towards social and community involvement, as well as making
improvements in careers or interpersonal relationships. During this time, focus is also placed on
maintaining generational family values and customs (Newman & Newman, 2015).

While generativity is the essence of positive productivity, stagnation is void of
psychological growth or activity. Multiple role overload can challenge coping abilities, and
ensuing stagnation may partly hinge on an individual's personality. Negativity and lack of
experiential openness can challenge social relationships and lead to depression. If one is caught
up in a narcissistic outlook, they may have misplaced values that serve only the self, regardless
of the hurtful impacts on others around them ( Newman & Newman, 2015).
Lindo is exhibiting generativity in many ways. She is actively involved in the Joy Luck
club and family events. She is certainly a strong woman, cultivated from a hard past. While she
is a strong role-model for family values in one way, her inability to embrace the differences in
her daughter's chosen lifestyle is causing a stagnation in their relationship. It could be said, that
Lindo leans slightly towards a narcissistic outlook, as she views the honor she showed towards
her own mother and childhood circumstance as superior to that of her daughter's choices.
Because of this, she hurts her daughter by berating her and making her feel inferior, as opposed
to seeing how much her daughter tries to please and honor her (Wang, 1993). The resolution to
this psychosocial crisis, is that of caring (Newman & Newman, 2015). If Lindo can place caring
for her daughter above clashes in values, she can overcome stagnation and find generativity in
their relationship once again.
Developmental Theory: Nurturing Intimate Relationships
Though developmental tasks of middle adulthood include both career management and
relationship care, the nurturing of intimate relationships take precedence in the prediction of
overall well-being (Newman & Newman, 2015). As it applies to parent-child relationships, much

is brought along with the adult including a cultivated history of ego strengths, ways of
coping/defense mechanisms, outcomes of prior psychosocial crises, and an established value
system. Within this, the requirement to adapt to the unique temperament and development of
their own children can challenge sensitive flexibility. Middle-hood adults will continue to learn
new parenting skills as they meet resistance from the continually evolving self-identity of their
own developing children (Newman & Newman, 2015).
In Lindo's case, there is no doubt that she is challenged by the evolving relationship with
her daughter. Lindo has a personal history with strongly established values and cultivated
defense mechanisms. While the career aspect of her life is not a focus in this film, the
relationship with her daughter is a defined aspect of importance, and contributes to continued
tension and a sense of unhappiness. Her defense mechanisms, resulting in support withdrawal
and belittling of her daughter, prohibits sensitive flexibility at this point in time. However, these
growth challenges on both sides are not uncommon, and can be worked through. With Waverly
standing her ground, and communication taking a more intimate turn between them, a
generativity can remain present in their relationship, which can result in new-found respect, trust,
and closeness.
Factors Affecting Behavior: Adult Children with Cultural Implications
Given the focus on evolving intimate relationships, middle adulthood faces challenges of
transitional relationships with young adult children. As roles begin to change, self-assessment
can occur on the side of middle-aged adults, as they evaluate their own parenting based on
choices their children are now making (Newman & Newman, 2015). A decision that holds

family prominence, is that of marriage or co-habitation. Introducing a new person into a family
unit brings new with it new roles and acceptance. Additional challenges may be incurred if there
is significant group/cultural differences--including different belief and value systems (Newman
& Newman, 2015).
There is no doubt that Lindo is facing an adjustment to her daughter's fiance'. As an
American, he is not fully acclimated to the Asian culture, and makes his fair share of mistakes.
However, the core issue between Lindo and her daughter does not reside in this relationship
aspect, as will be explored in the following.
Interrelationships and Cultural Influence
For those young adults who have left their home environment, but not yet married,
middle adulthood parents are still turned to for supportive advice. While trying to maintain
intimacy in the face of young adults forming self-identity, set family values can be challenged in
the face of experimentation in newly formed roles and choices of lifestyles (Newman &
Newman, 2015).
As mentioned above, Lindo's daughter choosing to cohabitate with, and marry a man of a
different culture is not what disturbs her in itself. Rather Lindo feels a sense of disrespect and
thinks her daughter does not care about her opinions or honorably value her as a mother. In an
ice-breaking conversation before the wedding, Lindo expresses not attending the wedding--that
perhaps she is not good enough for the new husband's family. She thinks to herself, "She is
looking at me, but doesn't see me. She is ashamed--so ashamed to be my daughter." (Wang,
1993). Lindo talks to her daughter about her own mother. She discloses how much she wanted to

be like her, all the words of hope her mother had for her, and how she would never forget these.
when her daughter questions her about liking her fiance', Lindo says of course she likes him, that
this is far from the issue. When she hears in return that her daughter feels she can never please
her no matter how hard she wishes and tries, Lindo responds, "Now...now you make me happy."
From this conversation, it can be seen that much miscommunication existed between
mother and daughter--an integral aspect of intimate relationships. Additionally, it can now be
understood that it was important to Lindo to feel valued as a mother. She did not want her
daughter to feel ashamed of her, and wanted to be honored as she had honored her own mother.
The fact that Lindo was raised in her cultural motherland, and in a different era, posed barriers of
understanding and acceptance. Fortunately, these appear to be resolving between them.
Functioning as a Family Unit
The functioning of a family unit, depends somewhat on definition of household and style
of living. A household provides a structure that is not only physical in nature, but also
psychological. There should be a sense of care-giving present, good leadership skills, creative
problem solving, and a sense of self-reliance. A healthy family environment should promote
growth and positive mental health, and foster social competence as well as emotional well-being
(Newman & Newman, 2015).
In this family's case, functioning is going fairly well. There is a sense of closeness,
nurturing, good-will, and acceptance. The only existing trouble lies within Lindo's and Waverly's
relationship, which is in a normal transitional phase. Communication needs to be focused on, to
continue improving their mother-daughter relationship.

Waverly: Middle Childhood to Early Adolescence
As Waverly moves forward into Early Adolescence, she will face a new psychosocial
crisis of Group Identity versus Alienation. With this, tension will rise between desires to form
her self-identity, with that of maintaining environmental/family connections. Culture can impact
this, depending on collectivism or individualistic views (Newman & Newman, 2015). In
Waverly's family case, collectivism is the cultural focus, which will expect her to place self-
identity behind that of family identity.
Waverly: Young Adulthood to Middle Adulthood
As Waverly again moves forward into Middle Adulthood, a new psychosocial crisis of
Generativity versus Stagnation will arise. She will have the opportunity to re-examine her self-
identity, and may be challenged with multiple family and social roles. If she is able to apply
critical thinking and creative problem solving, she will find herself continually growing.
However, if she is not able to cope at that time, she may withdrawal and experience a form of
stagnation and her life coming to a standstill (Newman & Newman, 2015). With caring for
others being the resolution to this psychosocial crisis, Waverly most likely will find herself
caring for her others, and maintaining collectivism family values.
Lindo: Middle Adulthood to Later Adulthood:
As Lindo moves forward into Later Adulthood, she will experience a psychosocial crisis
of Integrity verses Despair. During this time, reconciliation is sought in satisfaction with one's
life, hopes, and dreams. A sense of coherence may be formed that finds optimistic meaning and

acceptance of life's achievements, regrets, and years yet left to be lived. Despair may arise, if
Lindo no longer feels of value to her family with age, or if past regrets outweigh past
satisfaction. Introspection and reminiscing can aid in this adjustment, and also in passing on
family values and wisdom to younger generations (Newman & Newman, 2015). Given Lindo's
culture and life history, it will be important for her to maintain a central role and source of
honored wisdom, within her family unit.
Wellness and Resilience
One way to assess this family's wellness, would be turning towards the Indivisible Self
Model. This models considers local contexts (such as family), and examines sub-contexts within
this which may be positively or negatively affecting self-wellness as a whole (Meyers &
Sweeney, 2008). Sub-factors which could be addressed would be thinking, emotions, control, the
coping self, and self-worth/realistic beliefs. In Lindo and Waverly's relationship, thinking needs
to expand to one of a positive and open-mind. They need to consider one another's point of view,
while being willing to creatively problem solve their differences. Emotionally, they need to come
more in touch with their own inner barriers, and be able to effectively communicate these to one
another. Positive coping strategies need to be adopted when moving with life transitions, while
both mother and daughter maintain a sense of control within their own self-identity and life
plans. They each need to cultivate confident identity with their own self-worth, and rely less on
one another to find validation and confirmation of this.
Resilience encompasses the ability to overcome environmental hurdles in the face of
hardship. One aspect of resilience, is that of developing a sense of coherence (SOC). A sense of

coherence aids in developing both control and confidence within environmental contexts. Girls
seem particularly prone to developing SOC through measures of risk and life experiences
(Evans, Marsh, & Weigel, 2010).
Lindo and Waverly both seem to have strong personalities. They both have experienced
challenges in their youth, and although these have hindered their intimate relationship ability in
some ways, it has given them the resilient ability to remain strong enough in their own self-
identities to function in their world at large. By developing a compassionate understanding and
respect of one another, their intimate relationship can turn to one that is both strong and
influential for generations in their family yet to come.
Conclusion
As can be seen through the analytical breakdown of these two characters, life events can
impact age-related development, and carry over to subsequent stages. Problems left unresolved
do remain an issue, and will either result in a negative resolution of psychosocial crisis, or propel
one towards the positive. Additionally, unresolved issues can impact intimate relationships,
though can be addressed through positive and open-minded communication. When one aspect of
wellness is impaired, other aspects of overall self wellness is also affected. A domino affect can
occur, though can survive if a sense of resiliency is intact. Overall, challenges and hardships do
not have to be a breaking point, but rather can be the life components that strengthen individuals
and families for the better!

References
Evans, W. P., Marsh, S. C., & Weigel, D. J. (2010). Promoting adolescent sense of coherence:
Testing models of risk, protection, and resiliency. Journal Of Community & Applied
Social Psychology, 20(1), 30-43. doi:10.1002/casp.1002
Myers, J. E., & Sweeney, T. J. (2008). Wellness counseling: The evidence base for practice.
Journal of Counseling and Development : JCD, 86(4), 482-493. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com.library.capella.edu/docview/219029297?accountid=27965
Newman, B., Newman, P. (2015). Development Through Life: A Psychosocial Approach.
Stanford, CT: Cengage Learning
Wang, W. & Hollywood Pictures, (1993). The Joy Luck Club. United States.

Tamela M. McGhee--COUN5004--Unit 8 Assignment

Tamela M. McGhee--COUN5004--Unit 8 Assignment

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