Erik Erikson 's ' On Golden Pond '

Mark Rydell’s “On Golden Pond” is a drama that emphasizes the stages people of various ages endures. Utilizing Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages as learned in Dr. Malone’s class, each of the main characters can be placed within a stage and their age-related crises analyzed. As this film is a drama, it was relatable to the audience, prompting personal reactions as well as implementing life examples of some of the theories studied in Malone’s class.

These stages result from and are connected to a series of crises that develops a persons identity as he develops and matures from infancy through childhood to adulthood (Munley, 1977). As persons grow and develop also people in his environment also change (Munley, 1977). Coming into contact with more persons and increasing the number of relationships with people is express with in the society in which a person lives (Munley, 1977). The first basic trust versus mistrust, autonomy versus shame and doubt, initiative versus guilt, industry versus inferiority, identity versus identity confusion, intimacy versus isolation, generativity versus stagnation, and ego integrity versus despair (Munley, 1977). The time of onset is connected to phase of crisis that is developed in the period in which the individual experienced the crisis. For example, the sense of basic trust versus mistrust in the first crisis by a child in infancy (Munley, 1977). Preceding and corresponding is followed by either greater health and maturity or by increasing weakness (Munley, 1977). The phases in which person face life as children and adults in their life cycle is outlined in Erikson’s eight stage crises (Munley, 1977). Development of basic attitudes in Ian is demonstrated in his personality traits confidence and resilience. Stages of character are built from the outcomes of previous stages of personality development and has ramification for the solution of other crises (Munley,

One of the main ideas in the movie centers around Erik Erikson’s first stage of psychosocial development

It outlines the struggle an individual faces in finding stability between developing a sense of forming a unique identity while still being accepted and “fitting in” with society. Erikson believed that when teenagers adequately navigated their way through this crisis, they would transpire into having a clear understanding of their individual identity and easily share this new ‘self’ with others. However, if an individual is unable to navigate their way through this crisis period, they may be uncertain of who they are which can result in a lack of understanding, leading to disconnection from society and the people around them. If youth become stuck at this stage they will be unable to become emotionally mature adults, according to Erikson’s theory. This period of an individual’s life allows them to investigate possibilities which will lead them to discovering their own identity based upon the result of their explorations.

Eric Erikson was one of the most famous theorists of the twentieth century; he created many theories. One of the most talked about theories is his theory of psychosocial development. This is a theory that describes stages in which an individual should pass as they are going through life. His theory includes nine stages all together. The original theory only included eight stages but Erikson‘s wife found a ninth stage and published it after his death. The nine stages include: trust vs. mistrust, autonomy vs. shame and doubt, initiative vs. guilt, industry vs. inferiority, identity vs. identity confusion, intimacy vs. isolation, generativity vs. stagnation, integrity vs. despair, and hope and faith vs. despair (Crandell and Crandell,

Erik Erikson is identified as a private, complicated man who lacked a formal academic training and came to America as an immigrant in the 1930s. His ideas of the identity development became influential to different theorist such as Lawrence Kohlberg, Carol Gilligan and Bruno Bettelheim who often reference from his work Erikson rarely referenced his work to others with the exclusion of Freud, and he often did not support his theories with empirical evidence, even though his work has become well known (Friedman, 1999).

Throughout the movie, Norman displays time and time again multiple examples of the stereotypical crotchety old man. It begins when they first arrive at the house and Ethel, in her joyous attitude, said she could hear the birds singing upon their arrival while Norman says he hears nothing. This stereotype is exemplified when Charlie comes over in Norman’s rudeness towards him especially in his ignoring Ethel and not saying goodbye to Charlie as he left. This continues as he jerks around Bill when he and Chelsea arrive with his son Billy. This sort of stereotypical grouchiness, impatience, and irritability is typical of ageism portrayed by the media.

The main character observed was Norman even though it was his birthday and the rivals of his daughter visit. He encounters many emotion’s while on the journey entering late adulthood. Biologically Norman faces fear of aging, but also feeling the past is fading away. Norman attitude changes to due to grief felt as he experiences physical and mental changes, yet it puts relationships in a warp of a tornado. As the movie progress you will see Norman reveal emotions, insecurity, and mental instability and becomes a serious challenge, for example when Norman was lost in the woods he came back running because he was not able to find his way back. With the disease he is encountered with a slow mental decline. Aging adults become very grumpy, arrogant, and impatient, however, Norman will not let go what was once familiar to him, and even if he struggles to claim a command with the younger ones.

The movie "The Golden Pond” has characters that each represent psychological, physical, and cognitive stages of the life cycle, also referred as Erikson’s Theories. Through these concepts each character is under a different developmental category, with each relationship urging for acceptance.

Psychosocial development addresses the interaction between psychological and social factors. Billy was in Erickson’s psychosocial stage—Identity versus role confusion. In the beginning, he seemed confused about his identity, and he did not get along with Norman. This indicates that he lacked someone to identify with. Later on, the time he spent with the couple on Golden Pond and his relationship with Norman made him progress

In life there are a number of challenges that everyone will go through. This is a part of discovering who they are and what they want to do with themselves. To help explain these differences, Erikson introduced his development theory. This helps to address some of the challenges and needs that person will go through at particular stages in their lives. To fully understand these phases there will be a focus on two characters from the film The Breakfast Club and contrasting them with Erikson's theory. Together, these different elements will provide specific insights that will highlight the transformations and challenges that everyone will go through during the course of their lives.

"Erikson's main contribution was to bridge the gap between the theories of psychoanalysis on the problems of human development, which emphasize private emotions, and the broader social influences that bear upon the individual. He was a strong proponent of the concept that social environment plays a major role in the development of personality. Going beyond the of a child's early life, Erikson concentrated on broader issues of peer culture, school environment, and cultural values and ideals. This led him to study the period of adolescence, in which he documented the interaction of a person's inner feelings and impulses with the world that surrounds the person."

Who are you? This question could be exceedingly intricate to answer if you were to ask an adolescent. Teens are experiencing countless changes in their development, which is why it is such a significant time for them. During this time teenagers develop their sense of self. Film has helped portray some of the changes that occur during this evolving developmental period. For this paper, I will be describing the differences between two adolescent films to depict differences in developing the self. Some differences I will cover include types of self, Erickson’s Identity Crisis, Marcia’s Identity Status Interview theory, and culture over time.(Arnett, 2013)

THe film AMerican Beauty was reviewed to help explain Erik Erikson's theory on psychosocial development. The psychosocial developmental theory consists of eight stages that humans go through from infancy up unto a mature adult over 60. While watching American Beauty several stages of psychosocial development were portrayed. The biggest takeaway from this movie showed that one may fail in order to overcome Erikson's psychosocial development. The stage that was most observed was the identity vs role confusion, during this stage according to our textbook “Adolescents ask themselves “Who am I?” They establish sexual, political, religious, and vocational identities or are confused about their roles.” (Berger, 2017 Table 2.1) Upon reviewing American Beauty I will include examples of the different types of behaviors demonstrated that reflect a particular stage of development or crisis in their life.

In entering adolescence, people heavily contemplate their ego identity. In the early 1900s, theorist Erik Erikson believed in eight stages of ego development from birth to death. For the purpose of this paper I have