PSYCHOLOGICAL STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT PAPER

Psychological Stages of Development Paper

Psychological Stages of Development Paper

Introduction

According to Erikson, the socialization process consists of eight phases - the "eight stages of man." His eight stages of man were formulated, not through experimental work, but through wide - ranging experience in psychotherapy, including extensive experience with children and adolescents from low - as well as upper - and middle - social classes. Each stage is regarded by Erikson as a "psychosocial crisis," which arises and demands resolution before the next stage can be satisfactorily negotiated. These stages are conceived in an almost architectural sense: satisfactory learning and resolution of each crisis is necessary if the child is to manage the next and subsequent ones satisfactorily, just as the foundation of a house is essential to the first floor, which in turn must be structurally sound to support and the second story, and so on. (Archer 2002 )

Discussion

Erikson (1963, 1982) has stated that in order to negotiate each psychosocial stage, previous psychosocial stages must be resolved in a positive manner. Each psychosocial stage is developmentally related to previous stages (Erikson, Erikson, & Kivnick, 1986). "Erikson emphasizes that earlier crises do not cease to influence an individual just because the optimum ages for resolution have passed. Remnants of these crises, substantially resolved or not, continue through subsequent stages"(Darling 1999). For example, when a person is dealing with issues of generativity, the meeting of the crisis turns upon relationships and ego strengths that were forged in the stages previous to the generativity versus stagnation crisis. Developing generativity is a recursive process that relies on previous ego strengths that were a result of previous crises' resolutions. An individual must rely on his sense of trust, autonomy, initiative, industry, identity, and intimacy, which were all forged in ongoing and previous relationships, in order to move beyond the self and begin focusing on others. This ability to focus on the needs of others is key in developing generativity (Erikson, 1987).

Erikson (1966) proposed that human development proceeds through eight psychosocial stages with each stage distinguished by a specific issue, namely: trust vs. mistrust, autonomy vs. shame, initiative vs. guilt, industry vs. inferiority, identity consolidation vs. identity diffusion, intimacy vs. isolation, generativity vs. self-absorption, and integrity vs. despair. The psychosocial challenges of identity consolidation, interpersonal intimacy, and generative care are paramount during the period from adolescence to late middle-age. (Erikson 1963)

1. Learning Basic Trust Versus Basic Mistrust (Hope)

Chronologically, this is the period of infancy through the first one or two years of life. The child, well - handled, nurtured, and loved, develops trust and security and a basic optimism. Badly handled, he becomes insecure and mistrustful. (Erikson 1982)

2. Learning Autonomy Versus Shame (Will)

The second psychosocial crisis, Erikson believes, occurs during early childhood, probably between about 18 months or 2 years and 3½ to 4 years of age. The "well - parented" child emerges from this stage sure of himself, elated with his new found control, and proud rather than ...