Because Eminem is at the age of 38 right now, I will have to predict what can happen to him in older adulthood and in the later future. I reckon Eminem will stop making music after a couple of years and start enjoying life the way he wants to. I think he will retire early and although I do think he may see some trouble in the future and go through a lot of changes, he will change for the good. Right now he is trying to stand up and fight back against illuminati and the belief of ‘Free Mason’ which means you “sell your soul to the devil.” Although this is hard and he may go through a lot, having to go back to the old Eminem, he firmly refuses to put subliminal messages in his songs and video clips to show he is a follower of Free Mason. I think it is very brave of him to stand up against illuminati; after all, many Hollywood stars have been killed after stopping it.
I also think he will find love again and will get married. Eminem and Kim have agreed to share the custody of their daughter Hailie, which means he will have to take care of her.
M1 -The nature-nurture debate argues how much we are shaped by the environment and how much by our genes. It debates whether the environment or our genes have the biggest impact on our behaviour, personality and intelligence. Although it’s clear that our looks are inherited, it is not yet clear whether our DNA or our life experience makes us who we are. All we know is that both play a huge role in making us who we are today and both have a big impact on us.
One of the topics argued in the nature-nurture debate is whether being straight, gay or bisexual is inherited by our parents or influenced by our environment. It argues whether an individual’s sexual and affectional attraction to other, same or both sexes is biologically natural – innate – or imposed through the exposure of gay, lesbian or straight people in our environment. It is thought that sexual orientation is formed early in life, but the awareness of sexual orientation later on in adolescence. The reasons for difference in sexual preference or orientation is yet uncertain, although we do know that it is connected with genetic and social factors.
The nature side of the debate argues that being gay is heritable. The issue most debated about is the existence of a “gay gene”. George Howe Colt claimed in 1998 that “new studies show that being gay is mostly in our genes.” Although this has not been proven, it is possible that being gay is inborn and is a normal difference which can occur in human nature. This debate is still active.
The nurture side of the debate states that our sexual orientation is impacted upon by our environment, social and economical wise. The scientists who support the nurture side of the debate state that the environmental factors involved with our upbringing decide our sexual preference. These factors can be family, culture and friends. Dr Ray Blanchard, of the Centre of Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto also stated that boys who have older brothers tend to have a bigger chance of becoming gay.
Another argument concerned by the nature-nurture debate is twin studies. Twins have been the subject of research for many years. The debate argues about how much of a twin’s personality is controlled by genes and how much by the environment and if being grown up apart shows any differences in personality and behaviour. The most common type of twins used in comparing genetics between pairs of identical twins is monozygotic twins (MZ) and dizygotic twins (DZ). MZ twins are developed from one fertilized female egg that has been divided. Therefore, the twins will have identical genes. DZ twins are developed from two fertilized female eggs and have, therefore, different genes.
The nature side of the argument claims that twins, whether grown up far away from each other or with each other, both have the same personality and preferences. Even if grown apart from each other, nurture will not have such of a big impact on them to have them change their characteristics. This shows that nature is more dominant than nurture when it comes down to developing twins.
D1 -The nature-nurture debate could have an impact on the development of an individual. Two life stages that I have chosen to analyse of Eminem’s life are childhood and adolescence.
Nature could have had an impact on Eminem when he was born. For example, if his mum or dad had a certain disability, illness or disorder, it could have been passed on to Eminem. This could have caused trouble for him in the future, like getting bullied and ostracised. This then could have lead to him being emotionally very vulnerable and him having a low self-esteem and it may have prevented him from starting to rap and becoming as successful as he is now.
Nurture could also have impacted Eminem as he could have suffered from abuse and this would have had an impact on his physical and emotional state.
Eminem’s emotional state was very disturbed and this could have also been impacted by the way he was brought up and the environment he was in.
Another topic which may come up in the development of Eminem related to the nature and nurture debate is the question of whether Eminem was born a great rapper, or if other people in his surroundings influenced and changed him into the person he is today. This question popped up after he released his second album. His first album was hugely unsuccessful, whereas his second album, which released 2 years after his first one, was a great success. The reason for this was that he sounded like a battle-rapper trying to make an approved album when recording the first one. He sounded like he was still in his ‘Research & Development’ stage. He also mentioned that at that time, he was trying to figure himself out and recognise the real him. However, his second album was a great success and it was the start of a blossoming career. Some significant changes may have occurred during the 2 years break which made him change the way he raps and change his lyrics. This shows that nurture played a big role in his life and in making him the way he is now.
P2 - Genetic Background and Biological Experiences
Childhood: When I was about three, I was diagnosed with severe asthma. No one else in my family had asthma, so it was unlikely for me to get it. However, my dad used to be a heavy smoker and he used to suffer from hay fever badly, which is an allergic related condition and can trigger asthma to develop in the next generation, so the chance is likely that my environment was the cause of my asthma.
Having asthma meant I had difficulty with my breathing and I would get tired easily. My condition prevented me from being active and I couldn’t be in dusty places or wherever the hover was on. Fortunately, the condition left me at the age of seven and I did not have any other conditions which had an impact on my life.
Adolescence: Luckily, I was healthy from the age of 12 till now. However, at times I do feel out of breath and overly-exhausted after a short period of exercise. I think this may be caused by my medical history of having asthma.
Environment
Childhood: I grew up in a little village in Holland. It was very quiet which was good as most of the people there were old. There was no overcrowding which lead to enough privacy and no noise. The housing was excellent and there was barely crime in the neighbourhood. There was no pollution or traffic and there were enough facilities such as shops and parking.
However, the village was mainly populated by white people. There were only several foreign families and we all had connections with each other due to us being the minority. This lead to us being the victim of racism and getting discriminated against at times as people there weren’t used to seeing people from other nationalities.
Adolescence: When I was 13, I moved to London with my family. This was a very hard thing to do as I had to leave my friends and some family in Holland. It took me quite some time to get used to the environment as London is busy and the people here are so different. I felt like I had to start from zero because the schools and the way of teaching here was something I was not used to.
Social and Economic Circumstances
Childhood: My dad used to be the only one working in the house and my mum used to be a housewife. Because my siblings and I were all small, we didn’t have many expenses so my family did well on keeping financially stable. After a couple of years, when I was about 11 years old, my mum started to work at my school as a teacher’s assistant. This helped us a lot social and economic wise. I also grew up in a religious family, which did have an impact on me as a child.
Adolescence: Living in London had a great impact on my social and our economic status. I started to withdraw in school and had few friends. Due to the new surroundings and many changes, I started to feel shy and intimidated around people. My dad worked and my mum had to stay at home due to my younger brother. You could say we weren’t exactly stable financial and economic wise.
Lifestyle
Childhood: In Holland I was used to getting up early in the morning and going to school on my bike. We used to get lots of homework and I always had a lot to do at night. I was also a member of a tennis club and I was physically fit. I used to live to a certain schedule which I was used to.
Adolescence: When I came here I felt like everything was getting messed up. I had to change my routine and school was completely different. I had to get used to the people here and the way of talking. Another factor which had an impact on my lifestyle was the fact that I got lazy. I didn’t have much homework to do and I stopped exercising. I slowly got bored which lead me to eating a lot.
Life Events
Childhood: When I was small I burned my leg with hot tea. This has left a scar on my leg which leads right to my foot. Although it had a big impact on me at that time, I have no complaints of it now. I also fell off the couch once when I was small and nearly broke my nose. This had an even bigger impact on my breathing, alongside my asthma. At the age of four I got a new brother in the family and I went to school at the age of four till the age of 12. After that I went to high school till the age of 13. Around that time I lost two cousins of mine due to illnesses. I had to learn to cope with the loss and move on.
Adolescence: At the age of 13 I moved to London which had a big impact on my life. I failed my A-Levels when I was 17 and went to another college to do another course. This meant I was behind one year and had to try harder this time.
P3 I will be explaining the impacts of two predictable and two unpredictable life events on the life of an individual.
Predictable
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Going to school: Considering that we live in Europe, where education is very important for young and old, it is of course predictable for every child to go to school. Also, we have the chance to go to school and without education you cannot go far. It is more seen as a requirement and everyone has the right to education. School is seen as a good experience as it can build a bright future for you, which can enhance your skills. It can also help a person in a social and intellectual way. You are more able to support yourself and family financially and it gives you a much bigger chance to achieve what you want and become successful in life. Education can help you cope with changes in your environment and make new friends.
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Parenthood: Most people want to get married and have children, which usually does happen. I hope to settle down in the future and have children of my own. This is something which is quite predictable nowadays as there are now treatments, such as IVF, which can help a woman conceive a child, even when having difficulties getting pregnant at all. Adoption is a popular option and is also being done by many young couples these days. However, being a parent also has many responsibilities. This can put pressure on a parent and it can make them tired, sleepless and stressed. A parent may not have enough free time or be able to do things for themselves. It can hugely disrupt and change your lifestyle, as you are busy fulfilling demands and sticking to your responsibilities of being a good parent. Young parenthood can also affect education and work in a long-term.
Unpredictable
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Illness or a serious injury: No one knows what the future holds and major life events are usually very unexpected. And illness can strike at any moment and can change one’s life dramatically. Although some illnesses or diseases can be passed on to you by family members, you usually don’t know when and how severely it will affect you. A serious injury can be the result of an unexpected accident or something small. One can never be sure of the consequences of a certain action, whether big or small. It can affect your lifestyle as you probably need someone to help you out with simple stuff, such as eating, bathing and dressing. This can affect you and you may feel disempowered or uncomfortable. An injury can also prevent you from doing what you want, such as doing sports or going out. Some illnesses or injuries can affect you for the rest of your lives, and this may lead to you leading an unhappy life or a low quality of life.
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Divorce: A divorce is something which not only affects the two people involved but their families and friends too. A divorce can be a bitter and long process and can be done during any time after marriage. A divorce may make a person more vulnerable and they may feel lonely. Some people go through trauma, and others become depressive. Some may regret their choice or they feel like they have too much of a burden on their shoulders when the custody is upon them or when they do not receive child support. Also, the financial effects and the process of dealing with the money can lead to frustration and stress. This shows that a divorce can have a huge influence on an individual’s health. Most of the time, the man’s financial status becomes increasingly better after a divorce. However, a woman’s financial status and standard of living drop massively after a divorce, and they usually need support.
The children involved in the separation also get affected as their lifestyle changes due to the constant moving about and having to spend an equal amount of time with both parents. They also, will get frustrated and don’t like seeing their parents separated.
P4 M2 - Disengagement occurs when you retract yourself from being involved with people or activities. In 1961, a Disengagement theory was put forward by Cumming and Henry, both authors. It stated that as people get old, they tend to withdraw more from social involvement. In 1975, Cumming argued that old people go through a phase where they become uninterested in their expectations of other people and are busier with themselves. He claims that this is a good thing for older people as disengagement occurs naturally and is a part of ageing.
Disengagement is more seen as a need for old people to withdraw from social contacts. This naturally occurs due to the reduced physical health and the loss of opportunities as people age. However, there is not much evidence which can back this up or to show that this statement rules for everyone.
In the past, this theory was accepted by the majority of people. Bromley argues in 1974 that ‘although some individuals fight the process all the way, disengagement of some sort is bound to come, simply because old people have neither the physical nor the mental resources they had when they were young.’ There are also many other reasons why and older person may withdraw from engagement: ill –health, geographical mobility, retirement, ill-health of friends and relatives and travel and technology.
In 1992, Zimbardo stated that the majority of people who are old and who do remain socially engaged with friends a family become very close with them as they become older. As a majority of old people experience some sort of health issue, maintaining a good social life may be enough to have a high standard of living.
Zimbardo also argued that older people prefer to spend time and be socially involved with people who they have known for a long time rather than trying to make new friends. So, if people are only socially involved with close friends, does this show that they are disengaged?
Another theory which is related to ageing is the Activity theory. In 1966, Bromley stated that old people need to disengage. However they should also remain mentally and socially ‘active’ in order to prevent themselves from going too far into the disengagement process. Older people should remain focused and should maintain an interest in life in order to enjoy the company of other people. It can also prevent them from getting an illness and feeling older. Too much disengagement can lead to depression and a loss of physical and mental skills.
P5 M3 - As a person grows older, changes occur in their physical appearance and ability. Ageing also has a psychological effect on a person’s self-esteem and confidence, although this can be different for every person depending on their own individual experiences. Erik Erikson argued in 1963 that in order to avoid the development of depression in the future, old people need to develop a sense of ‘ego integrity’. This means holding on to your self-esteem and developing a sense of who you actually are.
In 1994, Coleman argued that reminiscing, like telling their life story or reviewing their life, can be useful for old people.
An old person’s psychology can also be influenced by the society. Old people are sometimes referred to as being ‘diseased’, ‘useless’, ‘pathetic’ or ‘demented’. This is a stereotyped view which sees old people as being ‘unable to cope’ with situations and is very common in the society of today. The loss of a partner leads to bereavement which can cause depression in an older person. Also, retirement can lead to having financial concerns due to the loss of income which can occur.
Ageing can lead to internal and external changes in the body. The organs in the body become weak which can create a risk of becoming constipated. Breathing becomes harder as the blood is not being pumped around the body efficiently. The strength and the efficiency of the chest muscles and the lungs deteriorate which can lead to the development of chronic diseases. Examples are Bronchitis, Emphysema and COPD – Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
The heart becomes less efficient in the process and pumping the blood around the body. Arteries may narrow and can lead to ‘clogging up’ which hardens the arteries. This can have an impact on the blood pressure which can rise and then lead to either a stroke or a heart attack.
The musculoskeletal system of the body gets affected as well. Muscle thinning, arthritis and a decline in mobility are results from ageing.
As a human being ages, their skeletal muscles start to shrink. This tends to happen after the age of 40. Muscle thinning mainly occurs in people with a lack of exercise.
The absorption of food and nutrients also becomes less efficient in older people and this includes minerals, vitamins, fibre and iron. This may lead to malnourishment.
As we age, a substance called ‘cartilage’ thins and becomes less elastic. Cartilage covers the end of our bones and works as a cushion on our bones as we move. This can lead to arthritis which includes stiffness and pain in hips or knees when moving.
The elasticity of our skin also reduces as the fat which is stored under the skin decreases. This can develop wrinkles. Too much exposure to sunlight –ultraviolet rays- can also cause damage to the skin.
The ability of our sense organs also decreases as we grow older. The lenses in the eyes become hard and cloudy and the sensitivity of our nerve cells in the inner ear decrease which may result in hearing loss.
