Life_Span_and_Developement

Lifespan Development and Personality Kobe Bean Bryant was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on August 23, 1978. As of March 11, 2011, Kobe ranks fourth and sixth in the National Basketball Association league’s all-time post-season scoring and all-time regular season scoring lists. Bryant is also the all-time leading scorer in Lakers history. In 2008 Kobe brought home a gold medal from the Olympic Games and in 2009 was named the NBA player of the decade. He has been the Lakers one-time regular season and three time Finals MVP and has appeared and played in 13 consecutive All-Star games in a row. Kobe Bryant’s 81 point outburst versus the Toronto Raptors comes second to Will Chamberlin’s record-setting 100 points scored in a regular season game. Cognitive Development According to Bjorklund (2004), cognitive development refers to how a person perceives, thinks, and increases understanding of his world through the interaction of genetic and learned factors. The areas of cognitive development are information processing, intelligence, reasoning, language development, and memory. According to Piaget’s theory environmental influences have an impact on children starting at a young age as they begin to mimic what they see and hear. Kobe Bryant began playing basketball when he was three. His father was ‘Jelly Bean Joe’ a Philadelphia legend and eight year player for the NBA. He also played basketball on a professional team in Italy. Kobe grew up in a world of basketball and his world revolved around his father’s basketball schedule. He went to every one of his dad’s practices and games and traveled with him and his teams all over the United States and Italy. On Joe’s days off family time was watching other friends play in their games. Kobe was influenced heavily by his environment and by watching and imitating all that it took to become a seasoned player. Hard work, dedication, and skills were imbedded in his brain. He also had the encouragement from an exemplary role model, his father, mentor, and friend. Physical Development Studies have shown a hereditary link between sports performance, and cognitive ability. There is a DNA component that determines a person’s capability to perform in a given area. According to McDaniel (2005), “Although these characteristics are determined to some degree by genes, environment is also a determinant in the process of physical growth. In addition, motivation, determination, nutrition and training all play a role in achievement in a given area.” By the time Kobe had hit the age of 13, he was taller than most of his teammates, which can be attributed to his fathers genetics as he was six foot nine. Kobe had long arms, speed, agility, and the ability to jump! All of these attributes contributed to his above average playing skills and pushed him through high school at Lower Merrion, in Philadelphia as a star player. It also brought him the confidence to skip college basketball and pursue his dream of heading straight into the NBA draft. Kobe was the 13th pick of the first round of the NBA draft in 1996. Kobe Bryant’s strong physical attributes and early cognitive development influenced by his father, gave him an upper hand in the mental aspects of the game and the ‘know how’ of maneuvering on the court. Social, Moral, and Personality Development Kobe’s social, moral, and personality development began in his early childhood as his parents pressed their morals, values, and standards on their son. They gave him the room he needed to become his own individual and the tools he needed to achieve his goals. The environment that Kobe was brought up in was very social because his father was in the limelight and in the public eye. Kobe soon learned that living in the public eye was not always a positive experience. In 2003 Kobe Bryant was accused of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old girl in Colorado. For the first time in his career, he hit an all-time low. His actions cost him a huge marketing financial blow and almost cost his marriage. Kobe stepped out of the limelight and was truthful about the event calling it ‘consensual’, but immoral and apologized to the public and his team. This was a very humiliating experience, however since he has prevailed. Today Kobe is considered to be second to Michael Jordon and has proved time and time again that he is a player. Maturity has taught him that integrity, hard work, determination, and dedication to his team are the key ingredients to success. The Los Angeles Lakers are going for their second three-peat this season and his possible 6th Championship ring!