1. Identify which period of life span development they are in or were in if they are
currently deceased. (infancy, toddlerhood, early childhood, middle childhood,
adolescence, early adulthood, middle adulthood, late adulthood).
The person that I chose to use as my example for a public figure or celebrity is Kurt Cobain, who
was the lead singer for the band Nirvana in the early 1990’s. He is currently deceased and died
by suicide on April 5, 1994. At the time of his death, the period of life span development that he
was in was early adulthood.
2. Based on the period of life span they are in, identify and discuss 2 physical and
cognitive developmental concepts that were evident for this celebrity or public
figure. Be sure to identify the life span concept and an example seen in the
celebrity/public figures life.
With regards to the physical and cognitive development concepts that were evident with Kurt
Cobain, he was very talented musically as a child. In the early to middle childhood years, he was
very much in the fantasy period of his vocation. Throughout the tentative period, he began to
become aware of his skills and abilities until reaching the realistic period when he was able to
make his dream of making it big became a reality. He was very much an artistic person, who
loved to write, draw, and of course play instruments. At the peak of his career he was deeply
troubled by the cognitive-affective complexity of his fame, and how the conflicting positive and
negative aspects of fame took a toll on him. Eventually, it would cause him to have a mental
breakdown and committed suicide three days later with a shotgun under the influence of drugs.
3. Based on the period of life span they are in, identify and discuss 2 emotional and
social developmental concepts. Be sure to identify the life span concept and an
example seen in the celebrity/public figures life.
The emotional and social development concepts that he influenced in millions of youth is
undeniable. He was responsible for the identity development and cultural change for Generation
X, and became the voice for a group of kids who were lost and full of angst toward an
authoritarian regime that did not want to listen to anything that our generation had to say.
4. In your opinion: Why did you select this celebrity/public figure and how can/ does
this celebrity's/ public figure's development impact/influence your own life?
The reason that I chose Kurt Cobain for the example of early adulthood was because of the
personal impact that he had on my life as well as the lives of millions. You could literally hear
the pain in his voice, and it was a voice that echoed the pain in millions of people at that time. I
compare him to someone like Jimi Hendrix, who was also the voice of a generation in the 1960’s
and died the same age as Kurt Cobain at age 27. It is interesting to note that they both played
left-handed guitar and suffered from substance abuse, and both died prematurely due to mental
illness and/or substance abuse issues. The reason that he was so influential in my life was
because he overcame so many obstacles in life to reach success, but ultimately was so unhappy
with fame that he decided to take his own life. It was very humbling to me when he committed
suicide and that reinforced the fact that money and fame will not make you happy. I realize that
this example is somewhat of a morbid for being a positive influence in my life, but it really did
currently deceased. (infancy, toddlerhood, early childhood, middle childhood,
adolescence, early adulthood, middle adulthood, late adulthood).
The person that I chose to use as my example for a public figure or celebrity is Kurt Cobain, who
was the lead singer for the band Nirvana in the early 1990’s. He is currently deceased and died
by suicide on April 5, 1994. At the time of his death, the period of life span development that he
was in was early adulthood.
2. Based on the period of life span they are in, identify and discuss 2 physical and
cognitive developmental concepts that were evident for this celebrity or public
figure. Be sure to identify the life span concept and an example seen in the
celebrity/public figures life.
With regards to the physical and cognitive development concepts that were evident with Kurt
Cobain, he was very talented musically as a child. In the early to middle childhood years, he was
very much in the fantasy period of his vocation. Throughout the tentative period, he began to
become aware of his skills and abilities until reaching the realistic period when he was able to
make his dream of making it big became a reality. He was very much an artistic person, who
loved to write, draw, and of course play instruments. At the peak of his career he was deeply
troubled by the cognitive-affective complexity of his fame, and how the conflicting positive and
negative aspects of fame took a toll on him. Eventually, it would cause him to have a mental
breakdown and committed suicide three days later with a shotgun under the influence of drugs.
3. Based on the period of life span they are in, identify and discuss 2 emotional and
social developmental concepts. Be sure to identify the life span concept and an
example seen in the celebrity/public figures life.
The emotional and social development concepts that he influenced in millions of youth is
undeniable. He was responsible for the identity development and cultural change for Generation
X, and became the voice for a group of kids who were lost and full of angst toward an
authoritarian regime that did not want to listen to anything that our generation had to say.
4. In your opinion: Why did you select this celebrity/public figure and how can/ does
this celebrity's/ public figure's development impact/influence your own life?
The reason that I chose Kurt Cobain for the example of early adulthood was because of the
personal impact that he had on my life as well as the lives of millions. You could literally hear
the pain in his voice, and it was a voice that echoed the pain in millions of people at that time. I
compare him to someone like Jimi Hendrix, who was also the voice of a generation in the 1960’s
and died the same age as Kurt Cobain at age 27. It is interesting to note that they both played
left-handed guitar and suffered from substance abuse, and both died prematurely due to mental
illness and/or substance abuse issues. The reason that he was so influential in my life was
because he overcame so many obstacles in life to reach success, but ultimately was so unhappy
with fame that he decided to take his own life. It was very humbling to me when he committed
suicide and that reinforced the fact that money and fame will not make you happy. I realize that
this example is somewhat of a morbid for being a positive influence in my life, but it really did
