Has it indeed been over a month since my last post. Quite an eventful year this has been. Hopefully, 2020 will be a better year not only for publishing new posts, but for all aspects in general. In today's post, I will be going over Erick Erikson stages of development. You can draw a parallel with similar posts I have written in the past.
Erik Erikson was an German-American psychologist born in 1902. Best known for his "Stages of Psychosocial Development". His work was influenced by Sigmund Freud:
1. Trust vs Mistrust (Infancy - 1 and 2 years old) : At this stage, we are experiencing the world for the first time. Thus, it is hard to know if we can trust other people. We could have a positive experience with one person, and trust other people as a result. Conversely, we could have a negative one and be more cautious about whom we trust. Mother-child relationship is essential at this time.
2. Autonomy vs Shame & Doubt (Early childhood - 2 to 4 years of age) : During this stage, we start discovering our body and identity. If we are permitted to discover ourselves, we become confident. On the other hand, if we are not, we begin doubting ourselves and to feel insecure. Both parents need to be quite supportive at this time.
3. Initiative vs Guilt (Preschool age - 4 to 5 years of age) : During this period, we take initiative and experience new things. We also learn basic concepts. Such as how round objects roll. We wonder if it is fine to keep doing a new activity we tried for the first time. We will pursue our interests if we are encouraged by our parents. Nonetheless, if we are discouraged, we will stop doing what we enjoy.
4. Industry vs Inferiority (School age - 5 to 10 years old) : We learn that we are different from others and develop our own interests. We feel the need to prove our worth at school, etc. and seek recognition from our teachers, parents, and other people in our community. If we are motivated by our teachers for instance, we become more responsible. Being ignored or discouraged by them however, could make us feel less valuable than our peers.
5. Identity vs Role confusion (Adolescence - 13 to 19 years old) : We realize we have different social roles. We take the role of children, friends, students and citizens. This period is usually when an "identity crisis" takes place. Phrase coined by Erikson himself. It is important that parents allow their children to explore new things to certain extent and with limits that is. Be that as it may, if we completely shut down our children, they will feel lost, Hence, struggling to find an identity.
6. Intimacy vs Isolation (Early adulthood - 20 to 40 years of age) : When we reach young adulthood, we begin to understand what our place is in the world . We no longer have the need to fit in as much as we did before. Besides, we also have the desire to build strong relationships with friends and even romantic relationships. If we feel that we are failing at one or both, we start feeling isolated and left out. Having a close bond with our peers is crucial for the most part.
7. Generativity vs Stagnation (Adulthood - 40 to 65 years of age) : We are more comfortable from the start of this stage. We use our spare time intelligently and in some cases contribute to society. If we have been successful, we care for generativity (the need to inspire and lead next generations to brighter future). If we have not conversely, we become pessimistic and stagnant.
8. Ego integrity vs Despair (Maturity - 65 to death) : We look back at our lives. We assess how successful with have been and compare ourselves with others. If we believe we have had a fruitful life, we are nice to the people around us and have a positive attitude. If the opposite is the case, we become bad-tempered and are rude to others.
This has been one of my unusual articles where I explain a theory, concept and so on. Usually not following my regular layout. Even so, I consider this an enriching topic to close the year. Especially in the fields of education and psychology. Best wishes for 2020!
Sources:
- Sprouts YouTube Channel.
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