Erik Eriksons Theory of Psychosocial Development - 929 Words

Psychoanalyst Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development explains how the human identity develops and evolves in eight stages from birth to death. Each one occurs in a predetermined order; the current stage builds upon the previous one and lays the groundwork for future stages (Wikimedia). Each stage has a specific â€Å"crisis† or conflict, a turning point in the individual’s life which must be reconciled before moving on to the next. If the conflict is handled well, the individual gains â€Å"ego strength† in the form of a corresponding virtue. If the conflict is handled poorly, the individual not only fails to develop that virtue, but his/her ability to complete later stages is hindered resulting in diminished â€Å"ego quality† or†¦show more content†¦I could see that I was spiraling into a deep depression, but I still cared enough to willingly relinquish the job that I had worked so hard to achieve, thus giving up on the bat tle of generativity vs. stagnation with neither a positive nor negative reconciliation. Rather than proceeding to the next stage, I was pushed back to intimacy vs. isolation, only this time I chose isolation. Even while surrounded by friends and family trying to console me, I had never felt more alone. I was surprised when their sympathy turned into impatience. When it took more than a few weeks for me to â€Å"get over it,† I was labeled a complainer. I quickly realized that no one truly understood what it was like to lose the one person in their life whom they are closest to. I became socially withdrawn, only speaking to a select few for fear of being an inconvenience. A few weeks later I was diagnosed with a rare neurological disability, further perpetuating my isolation. Somehow, I’ve convinced myself to pick up the pieces of my shattered life and move on because I know deep down that’s what Chad would have wanted me to do. It’s been over a year since the accident yet I still can’t imagine myself remarrying or even dating again. Unable to work, too young to be a widower, too hurt to start over; I’m trapped between the person society expects me to be and the person I have become. Writing this essay has helped me understand that before I canShow MoreRelated Erik Eriksons Theories of Psychosocial Development Regarding Aging and Development673 Words   |  3 PagesErik Erikson’s theories of development are among some of the best-known theories regarding aging and developing. Erikson divided the stages of life into eight categories: trust vs. mistrust, autonomy vs. shame, initiative vs. guilt, industry vs. inferiority, identity vs. confusion, intimacy vs. isolation, generativity vs. stagnation, and integrity vs. despair. Each stage offers its unique age frame and focus. Trust vs. mistrust happens between birth and 18 months of age. During this time, babiesRead MoreErik Erikson s Theory Of Psychosocial Development1359 Words   |  6 Pages Erik Erikson â€Å"There is in every child at every stage a new miracle of vigorous unfolding.† And no matter who you are and what you do, I believe that everyone will go through stages in their life. Erik Erikson was a famous psychologist in the twentieth – century, where he developed â€Å"Psychosocial stages†. Erikson’s theories centered on issues that were met on specific ages in someone’s life. 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Psychosocial Development, according to Erik Erikson, is a continuity of crisis throughout our lifespan; these challenges will shape our personality and the way we perceive our surroundings. In addition to this, the different stages mentioned in this Theory complement each other and help us to develop the tools to achieve a sense ofRead MoreErik Erikson : Psychosocial Development1103 Words   |  5 PagesErik Erikson: Psychosocial Stages of Development â€Å"Erik Erikson was best-known for his famous theory of psychosocial development and the concept of the identity crisis. His theories marked and important shift in thinking on personality; instead of focusing simply on early childhood events, his psychosocial theory looked at how social influences contribute to personality throughout the entire lifespan† (Cherry). This paper will discuss Erikson’s childhood and the influence it had on his work. AlsoRead MoreEarly Childhood Psychosocial Development Essay1307 Words   |  6 Pages The development starts from infant until old age. Childhood is a time of tremendous change, but people also continue to grow slowly and develop during adulthood. It is a continuous process with a predictable sequence. These developmental changes may be influenced by genetic factor, environment factor and maturation factor. There are three types of human development changes: physical development, cognitive development and psychosocial development. Our group member’s choice is psychosocial developmentRead MoreThe Theorist I Choose For This Paper That I Believe I Relate1509 Words   |  7 Pagesmost is Erik Erikson. Erik Erikson is best known for his theory on identity, which was a theory that was broadened from Sigmund Freud while retaining its core work (Schultz, D. Schultz, S., 2013). Erik Erikson’s mother, who was Jewish, became pregnant but a man that was not her husband after her husband’s disappearance. She was sent to Germany, where she gave birth to Erik. Erik Erikson grew up believing his pediatrician was his biological father due to his mother marrying this man. Since Erik EriksonRead MoreIndustry Vs Inferiority Or Albert Bandura Social Learning Theory And Self-Adolency1444 Words   |  6 Pagesmore complete in describing what it takes for the grade school child to devel op mastery and competence, Erik Erikson Industry versus inferiority or Albert Bandura social learning theory and self-efficacy. Industry vs inferiority is stage four of Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development. Industry versus inferiority is the fourth stage of Erik Eriksons theory of psychosocial development. If the child cannot develop the specific skill they feel society is demanding (e.g., being athletic) thenRead MoreCompare and contrast the developmental life span theories742 Words   |  3 PagesUrie Bronfenbrenner perspective on lifespan development was the bio-ecological approach which suggest that five levels if the environment simultaneously influence indviduals. He tagged different aspects or levels of environment that influences a child’s development. Urie Bronfenbrenner five major systems are called microsystem; which is everyday immediate environment in which children lead their daily lives. Second is the mesosystem; which provides connections between the various aspects of the microsystemRead MoreErik Erikson s Psychosocial Theory Of Development1582 Words   |  7 Pag esErik Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory of Development Erik Erikson, a German psychologist of the early 1900s, is most known for his theory on psychosocial development in humans. He was heavily influenced by his work with Anna Freud and her father, Sigmund Freud. However, in his research, he put emphasis on the cultural and social impact on identity development and studying the ego, which he believed developed with successful crisis resolving throughout life (â€Å"Erikson’s Stages†, 2007). He proposed the