Learning is Key

The first one presupposes viewing the human’s development through the prism of needs at different levels. The second theory allows analyzing Huan’s progress from the point of the environment surrounding her.

Maslow’s Self-Actualisation

Scrutinizing Huan’s development through the prism of Maslow’s pyramid of needs allows understanding the girl’s level of psychological development better. According to Weinberg (2011), the “primary sacred duty” of any teacher is not instructing pupils how to read and write but taking care of their psychological health (p. 16).

Researchers indicate that Maslow’s theory of self-actualization can improve the quality of life (Tripathi & Moakumla, 2018). Furthermore, scholars note that love needs are essential for individuals, particularly children (Oved, 2017).

However, while Maslow considered love needs to be a part of psychological needs, a recent study’s author argues that these needs should be classified as basic ones (Oved, 2017). The reason for such an opinion is that love is even more significant than safety in any person’s life.

The case study indicates that Huan’s love needs are satisfactory since both of her parents dedicate as much time as they can to her. However, the girl sometimes lacks her mother’s and father’s attention, so she compensates by communicating with her peers’.

What concerns self-actualization needs are reflected in the girl’s achievements in music. Self-actualization is likely to improve the quality of life since there is a significant connection between Maslow’s hierarchy and the quality of life (Tripathi & Moakumla, 2018).

Thus, with the help of playing both classical and R&B music, Huan increases her quality of life.

Furthermore, the girl enhances her psychological health since it is reported to develop only when the person’s indispensable center and core is “vitally recognized, respected, esteemed and valued” both by oneself and others (Tripathi & Moakumla, 2018, p. 499).

Researchers also emphasize the role of dreaming in gaining positive self-esteem (Medcalf, Hoffman, & Boatwright, 2013). Therefore, playing the piano and dreaming of increasing her proficiency promote Huan’s self-actualization and, as a result, enhances the child’s psychological health and covers for the gaps in love needs.

Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological System

The second approach that might be useful when analyzing Huan’s development is Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory. According to Bronfenbrenner (1977), a vital role in the individual’s development belongs to the ability of the organism to accommodate the changing environments in which one lives and grows.

Bronfenbrenner’s approach defines context as a multidimensional construct (Cross, 2017). According to the theorist, five layers of environmental systems affect developmental processes: micro-, meso, exo-, macro-, and chrono-.

In connection with Huan, it is relevant to analyze the micro and mesosystem the girl grows. The first one comprises the child’s family as the key predictor of Huan’s development. According to Rosa and Tudge (2013), the family influence is due to the story context.

Additionally, the personal characteristics of each family member play an essential role. Finally, relationships within the family predetermine the child’s ability to arrange contact with proximal systems, such as school and community.

The mesosystem involves the interaction between the child and peers and between school and parents.

Firstly, the girl’s parents do everything to promote their daughter’s physiological and psychological development. Although they cannot be physically present in her life all of the time, they arrange family meetings as often as they can.

Also, Huan and her mother visit the girl’s father in China once a year to follow the traditional festivities. These connections are relatively strong, and they have allowed Huan to grow as an independent individual with clear goals and the determination to pursue them.

Secondly, the relationships with peers are rather good, enabling the girl to feel confident at school and in extracurricular activities.

From the point of Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, Huan’s micro and mesosystems are sufficiently developed. There are positive prospects of the girl’s accommodation to the further layers of the system.