PERSONAL PORTRAIT

Personal Portrait

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to paint a personal portrait of one individual, integrating both Erik Erikson's stage theory of development and Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral development. The two theories will be explained and applied stage-by-stage spanning the period of Melinda's life from birth to adulthood. Within the context of these stages, developmental milestones and successes will be identified; gender differences examined; and environmental, cultural and ethnic influences on person's development explored. The theories will be compared and contrasted briefly before they are synthesized together as a complete developmental theory. In conclusion, it will be shown how the application of developmental psychology can have both personal and professional benefits.

Personal Portrait

The application of the theories of developmental psychology can be useful both personally and professionally. Personally, I can help one to make an inventory of your past and help identify areas of progress through developmental milestones, and personality areas that still need development. Professionally, a counselor can help assess the current stage of development and can give customers an insight into the scenarios that might require higher resolution to help the client move forward in their development. The use of these theories allows the person or professional to paint a personal portrait of the subject under study. A personal portrait painted of the person, using the developmental theories of Erik Erikson and Lawrence Kohlberg (Boeree, 2006).

Erik Erikson is known as a Freudian ego-psychologist, although it followed the original ideas of Freud, are broadened to include social influences on human development. Erikson said the development functions by the epigenetic principle, which states that personality develops through a progression of stages. The entrance to each stage is determined by success in the previous stage. Development must therefore occur in genetically pre-determined order and the window of opportunity. Each of the eight stages of Erikson (and ninth added later by his wife) comprises a developing "crisis" or task, which is inherently psychological.

Strengths and weaknesses are identified in each stage, Erikson emphasized that the balance of the two must be obtained in order to successfully pass through this stage and avoid jeopardizing development (Crain, 1985). Life is based on the facts learning different aspects. Life is affected by the actions and behaviors that are taking place around an individual. Social theory, the growth of any person is, literally, depends on the environmental impacts (Crain, 1985). The development of the human brain a blank slate one think that learning is passing through it. There are several stages of life when a person has different skills that make it into a smart person.

Human development is a continuous process and remains constant throughout life. Given my personal life, many experiences in my life, establish rules for what is to come. The importance of each action I saw in the consciousness or unconsciousness plays an important role in the development of my mind and body. Development began immediately when I was born. Although I did not know what he was doing all ...