Developmental Task Regression Analysis

Developmental Task Regression
Although Riley had been progressing through the first few life stages at a normal rate, her unexpected move from Minnesota to San Francisco threw her off course and caused a regression in her developmental tasks. Although the psychosocial crisis’s can be predicted and planned for, any number of unforeseen stresses may arise. Although these unforeseen stressors may help to develop new competencies, “they may also result in anxiety, defensiveness, regression, or dread” (Newman & Newman, 2014, p. 73). For Riley, this unexpected move came at an important time in her identity with her peers. It is difficult enough for children in this developmental stage to find a peer group and feel accepted by them. Introducing

Riley’s familial development plays an integral role in her ability to cope with her psychosocial crisis and developmental tasks. Throughout the film, Riley’s parents are shown to be nurturing and loving towards her. The family agrees to approach their move to San Francisco with a positive attitude and is open with one another about their fears and doubts. As the movie progresses, Riley begins to feel disconnected from her parents and each member of the family begins to struggle with their relationships with one another. A family naturally oscillates between periods of closeness and periods of distance (Newman & Newman, 2014). The Andersen family in Inside Out is shown to oscillate between both of these periods, as normal families do. However, the transition to San Francisco has at least temporarily negatively impacted their ability to connect to one another. Families that have trouble making transitions are more likely to develop problems, causing the family to fear the transition. At the end of the film, Riley’s family realizes that they need to more open with one another in order to support the family transition to San

Riley’s isolation from her new peer group. Her relationships are shown to change as she moves from Middle Childhood to Early Adolescence, as she begins to show interest in a romantic relationship with a male peer in her class. Her relationship with her peers and her family is shown to be disrupted when she cannot accomplish the developmental tasks in this stage. In addition to her relational development, her individual development is also changing. Riley begins to doubt her abilities to master social, emotional, and cognitive skills, and begins to regress in