Saturday, April 5, 2008

Erikson's psychosocial stages






Basic Trust vs. Mistrust
Ages 0-1
-when the parents present consistent, adequate, and nurturing care, the child develops basic trust and realizes that people are dependable and the world can be a safe place. The child develops a sense of hope and confidence; this is a belief that things will work out well in the end
-when the parents fail to provide these things, the child develops basic mistrust, resulting in depression, withdrawal, and maybe even paranoia
Looking back at videos of me as a baby, I look very happy and content and my parents seem to love me. Now however, I find it very difficult to trust people and I have suffered from depression in the past. The reason for this is not because my parents failed to care for me when I was a child but because I was abused when I turned 11.
Autonomy vs Shame & Doubt
Age 2-3
-if parents guide children gradually and firmly, praise and accept attempts to be independent, autonomy develops. The result will be a sense of will which helps us accomplish and build self-esteem as children and adults
-if parents are too permissive, harsh, or demanding, the child can feel defeated, and experience extreme shame and doubt, and grow up to engage in neurotic attempts to regain feelings of control, power, and competency. This may take the form of obsessive behavior; if you follow all rules exactly then you will never be ashamed again. If the child is given no limits or guidance, the child can fail to gain any shame or doubt and be impulsive. Some is good, as it causes us to question the outcomes of our actions, and consider others' well-being. This may also result in Avoidance; if you never allow yourself to be close to others, they can never make you feel ashamed.
I don't think I feel shame or doubt anymore more than the average person. I believe that as a child I was shown the difference between right and wrong, I don't feel that they were too harsh on me.

Initiative vs Guilt
Ages 4-5
-the child becomes curious about people and models adults. Erickson believed the child does attempt to possess the opposite sex parent and experience rivalry toward the same sex parent; however, a true Oedipal Complex only develops in very severe cases
-if parents are understanding and supportive of a child's efforts to show initiative, the child develops purpose, and sets goals and acts in ways to reach them
-if children are punished for attempts to show initiative, they are likely to develop a sense of guilt, which in excess can lead to inhibition. Too much purpose and no guilt can lead to ruthlessness; the person may achieve their goals without caring who they step on in the process
I believe that I set goals and find a way to achieve them although I may not always be motivated, I will still make sure that I see them through. I don't know whether my parents were understanding and supportive but they never, to my knowledge, punished me for showing initiative.

Industry vs Inferiority
Ages 6-12
-occurs during Latency, but Erickson did not think this was a rest period; the child begins school and must tame imagination and impulses, and please others. If adults support the child's efforts, a sense of competence develops
-if caretakers do not support the child, feelings of inferiority are likely to develop. Too much inferiority, and inertia or helplessness occurs (underachievers). Too much competency and the child becomes an adult too fast, and develops either into a Histrionic or Shallow person.
By the age of six I had a 5 year old brother and a baby sister. Being the oldest I was pretty much left on my own, I remember feeling left out a lot and craving attention but never really receiving it. Nowadays I am very independant person, too much so according to my friends. I find it very difficult to depend on other people because I learnt to take care of myself.
bibliography:
Niolon, Richard. "Erikson's Psychosocial Stages of development." 1 Apr 2008 http://www.psychpage.com/learning/library/person/erikson.html.
Prager, Karen J.. "Erik Erikson's 8 Stages of Human Psychosocial Development And the New Environments Associated with Each Stage." 1 Apr 2008 http://www.utdallas.edu/~kprager/erik_erikson%202002.htm.

No comments: