Erik Erikson's Stages - Term Paper Example

Running head: erik eriksons stages 6th July Introduction The environment in which a person lives may predict one personal life though again the most important stages in a person’s life depends on the psychosocial development of an individual. During the different development stages of a person, thinking and learning of person is different to the other though through the different stages one may experience opportunities for positive ego development while others will be negative. In the different stages passed, a child has different needs and thus it is the work of the guardians or parents to fulfill the roles and take their responsibility since they will contribute in the development stages of a person. The personality traits like being emotional or unemotional, aggressive or passive, leader or follower are inborn traits and thus different individuals will have different traits. Other characteristics like feeling competent or inferior are acquired from the environment in which an individual is, challenges and support that an individual receives while growing up. Some of the traits that are inherited from birth are not totally defensive and they are hard to be changed though other behaviors are influenced by the culture. This paper seeks to discuss eight stages that extend from birth to death where adulthood is divided into other stages since it covers a span of many years in the development of person’s life. Infancy: birth to 1 year This stage is of great importance to person’s development since it is the stage where the child is equipped with trust or mistrust, others acquire basic strength and through hope they can cope up with life. The stage is also known as oral sensory stage since the child gets anything and put everything in the mouth. During this entire period the mother love, care and positive approach to the child through contact and touch plays a great role in the development of the child (Tapia, 2012). For example, if the child passes successfully in this period with the mother’s loving care and positive approach, the infant is basically equipped with trust and confidence in the future. On the other hand, if the child is not loved or care is not taken it will mean that the mother does not implement trust in the growth of the child thus the child becomes frustrated since the needs are not met. This will lead to the child feeling worthlessness and will not trust the world where future will be destroyed. I was born in a family where the father was a military man and this meant he was absentee father and every moment I was surrounded by my mother. The older brother had to provide love and nurtured the small kinds though the extended family had to provide for us and cared for us. I received support, basic needs from the mother and the entire extended family though I spent my time looking at all my photos from birth to 1 year old being happy and smiling in the entire period and this is where I learned how to trust caregivers. Early childhood: 1 year to 3 years This development stage is highly valued since the child is able to master the skills where creativity is seen. Additionally the ability to walk, talk and eat food is in this stage and it is the period that we are trained to go to the toilet. Self esteem is built in this stage since we are able to control our bodies as well as to differentiate the right and the wrong things (Austrian, 2008). The child is able to make a difference of yes and no where sometimes the parents are annoyed since the child uses it to do his or her will. The stage is vital since if the child was not taught the right things, he or she will experience less confidence since the child was not taught the right thing thus impossible to learn other important skills. As a result, individuals are going to experience shame in the entire development stage where doubt of capabilities will be experienced causing low self esteem. Basic strength is observed in this stage in addition to the courage of doing things among others. During this period I was able to have the freedom to explore a lot of things since I was secure since at this time, my dad was back home and thus caring was done by both parents and my older brother. Since I was still young, my mum had to stay at home where we got support from the extended family, aunts, uncles, and grandparents and thus I never portrayed shyness since care was taken by all the members of the family. Since my dad and my mum were hardworking, we became sufficient in many activities, feeding was okay, walking and exploring and talking was also done. The parents supported me in all learning activities so that they could shape my future. Play age: 3to 6 years In this stage if the child is locked up in the house will mean a lot in the entire life since it is the period when individual uses clay and other materials to make toys (Erikson, 1977). The period is used by many to copy the adults around us and take their role. The period is of importance to many since even one can see the desire and other capabilities of individuals. Miniature cars are constructed by male counterparts while babies are used by the female counterparts. The use of toys is common and it plays out roles in the universe. Additionally, experimenting is done for what is believed to mean to be adult. The basic strength is seen in this stage also and if our strength is not met, then the possibility of guilt is experienced. I was in Europe during this period where I had to learn German in early age when I attended the school where German was learnt. My dad and the extended family used to teach me German in home though it was troublesome negotiating language skills, writing was a problem due to grammar and learning other languages caused problems in my life. I had to take time learning and mastering one language at a time since mixing of the languages would mean that I would be unable to use any of the languages. Through the help and support from the parents and in school, I was able to master the languages and playing contributed a lot in my development stages. School age: 6to 11 years In this stage, life is based on the school though under the hand of teachers, the parents still should play major roles like counseling since some of the parents think that the teachers are the only people who should counsel a child. The stage will shape a being since we are capable of learning, creating and accomplishing the goals set, for example in the school one is given some work to do and thus if deadline is not met, then explanations of the same is expected by the teacher. Feelings that can cause low self esteem and incompetence of individuals should not be portrayed to the individual such as inferiority and inadequacy (Erikson, 1980). Basic strengths are seen in the stage together with competence if the child is given a good atmosphere by the world, good relationship with the school mate, neighborhood and the parents. We are disciplined both by the teachers, neighbors and our parents so that our future can be shaped. In this period we returned to Germany and I had to attend American school where I had to learn for another 3 years of German class. Life was difficult since we were a military family and we had to relocate with dad when he was posted in other areas meaning we were never stable due to relocations. Relocating after every 3 years meant a lot in my development where I had to change even friends meaning I was always guilt. I had to change schools and create new friends among others. Adolescence: 12 to 18 years In this stage, both the parents are expected to avail themselves so that development can take place in the right manner since good development will depend on what is done to an individual. The stage is where one is neither a child nor an adult but guidance is needed in this stage since many individuals are destroyed in this stage due to peer pressure and thus both the parents should be part and parcel of guidance (Harrison and McDermott, 1972). Identity of the adolescence is seen while role confusion for individual is experienced where withdrawing from responsibilities is experienced. In my case, change of environment was seen where we returned to US from Germany to Fortord, California for three years indicating relationship with the peers was not good since we used to change locations a lot. Additionally lack of father figure while I was in adolescence, meant stress in the entire life thus making life difficult due to single parental hood. During this stage of development, both the parents should avail themselves so that stress is eliminated in the stage and shaping of future can be done by both parents. Young adulthood: 18 to35 In this stage, many individuals start their families where we seek one or more companionship and love. Relationship between the age of 18 to 35 leads to marriage though many individuals do not like to take the responsibility of starting of families until late thirties. If we are successful in the relationship and love given in that stage, intimacy is experienced but if not successful it leads to isolation where one keeps distance from others. If relationship is not successful, isolation will occur and we find the world is shrinking for us where we feel inferior while we see others superior (Case, 1985). Affiliation and love to our partners and friends is seen in this stage of development. I was married at young age and currently I mark 35 years in marriage where I do have 7 grandchildren with an extended family. I do receive support and love from friends, in laws, mum, sisters and brothers. Additional support and love is also seen from the church community, business owners and college students. Middle adulthood: 35 to 55 or 65 In this stage of development, family responsibilities push individuals to work harder so that family care and upkeep can be met. Work is crucial in this stage since creativity must be seen and meaningful work be done since our families requires basic needs and other requirements. Conducive and stable environment for the kids must be established. Additionally, for the sake of the society and future goals in the entire life development, production must be done so that positive contribution to the society will be seen and thus conducive environment for the kids will be achieved (Lee, 1976). Generativity must be done so that life improvement can be seen and furthermore make life bearable for our kids, by being active in our daily routines. If our relationship needs are not met, life becomes hard to cope up with then it means that our kids will have to suffer in their life and thus becoming stagnated and self absorbed. I was able to cope up with this developmental stage since as a business owner, I was able to provide and meet the family responsibilities where kids were brought in a conducive environment. Good relationship was seen in the work place as a volunteer and love was seen in the family being a wife and a mother of my kids thus making life bearable for the entire family. Late adulthood: 55 or 65 to death Having passed all the other development stages, acquiring all what was needed in each and every stage where in the middle and adulthood stage, one has been preparing for the late adulthood. Life becomes easy since one has done what was required. In this stage, enjoyment of the fruits that were acquired from the other stages is seen, when an adult looks behind he or she is content and happiness in our lives is experienced. This makes an individual to feel fulfilled since life has the meaning and we have contributed greatly to make it bearable both for us and for our children and grand children. Integrity is achieved since we have played our role to make life successful for our kids and ours too. Finally after successful plans, we have the wisdom where we are able to know and accept death as the completion of life (Johns, 2002). On the other hand, if the stages were not followed well and we are not successful, then it will mean that some adults will reach this stage and will be despair at their experience and failures will be experienced in their entire life. In this situation, the adults will fear death since they have not yet attained their goals in their life making life of their kids to be unbearable and others will wish if possible they can go back to adolescence. I do have integrity since being a successful business owner, I have made the life of my kids to be bearable and I do enjoy adult life. As an adult, my children are all married, and currently I do spend time with my husband, business community, church community and the extended family. Conclusion The developmental stages of a being may be shaped by the environment and people who they are associating with. Thus, through the entire period of growth care and the people who are with an individual should be considered. The mother and father are supposed to care for individuals during the stages so that the child will have a high self esteem and confidence in life. References Austrian, S. (2008). Developmental Theories through the Life Cycle. New York: Columbia University Press. Case, R. (1985). Intellectual Development: Birth to Adulthood. Orlando: Academic Press. Erikson, E. (1977). Toys and Reasons: Stages in the Ritualization of Experience. New York: Norton. Erikson, E. (1980). Identity and the Life Cycle. New York: Norton. Harrison, S and Mcdermott, J. (1972).Childhood Psychopathology; an Anthology of Basic Readings. New York: International Universities Press. Johns, E. (2002). Winslow Homer: The Nature of Observation. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. Lee, P. (1976). Sex Differences: Cultural and Developmental Dimensions. New York: Urizen Books. Tapia, R. (2012). Child Psychotherapy Integrating Developmental Theory into Clinical Practice. New York: Springer Publishing Company. Read More