Classifications of Life-Span Development

Critical Review of Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman Age Theory
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Critical Review of Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman Age Theory
Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman (2006) categorize young and middle adulthood based on mental actions associated with age. Individuals are classified by age due to predictable thoughts and behaviors from individuals solely based on age and life expectancy. The context of organizational systems, family structure, and community systems are correlated with biological characteristics to determine the Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman (2006) theory on age; however, Albert Bandura’s Social Learning theory can make improvements to the choices (Bandura, 2001).
The classification depicts young adults as focusing on creating identities within society, and middle adults are focused on sustaining stability within the work and family structure based on evolution. Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman (2006) classify those behaviors as common across various cultures. The responses are predictable and necessary for survival based on a person’s age (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2006). All humans will experience those theories or else he or she will not survive into adulthood according to methods of evolution. (Bandura, 2001).
The phrases used by Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman (2006) are based on biological factors to explain adulthood phases and ignore the role of society in shaping human behavior through social learning. New categories of adulthood would include specific actions performed in the community and how society views and defines the part of an adult.

In some cultures, and religions, teenagers are expected to marry and have children (Bandura, 2001). The purpose of marriage in teens is not universal across all cultures and would cause teenagers to have developed characters and thoughts due to taking on a mature role in society (Bandura, 2001). Phases will be determined by actions that warrant maturity standards and functions within a specific community.
Individuals according to Albert Bandura (2001) learn from everyday action within society. Individual action within the organization should classify a person’s age because roles associated with age vary from culture to culture (Bandura, 2001). Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman (2006) should account for different cultures within their theories to accurately show the position of society shaping human interaction and behaviors.
References
Bandura, A. (2001). Social cognitive theory: An agentic perspective. Annual review of
psychology, 52(1), 1-26.
Zastrow, C., & Kirst-Ashman, K. (2006). Understanding human behavior and the social
environment. Cengage Learning.