The developmental observations of this paper are based upon Erik Erikson’s theory that development is centered on psychosocial development; thus, one’s whole life span is impacted by their social experience. One of the main components of Erickson’s eight-stage theory is the advancement of one’s ego identity, which is one’s sense of self (Feldman, 2011). Erickson believed that the ego identity developed and continuously changed through social interaction and experiences gathered in daily intercommunication with others. Hence, individuals are in a process of constantly changing, which is directly related to one’s experiences and interactions (Feldman). Furthermore, Erickson hypothesized that each stage of development presents new challenges needing resolution.
Whether a developmental challenge is helpful or an impediment is determined by each person’s characteristics and his or her social environment, which can help further or hinder the development of identity (Hinkley, 2016). Ultimately, Erickson concluded that the ego identity, or personal identity, provides individuals a conjoined and cohesive sense of self that endures and continues to develop throughout one’s lifespan (Feldman).
First Ten Years In reflecting on my early childhood, it was wrought with the issues of parental marital problems, family health issues, and repercussions of a functionally dysfunctional family. At the beginning of my parent’s marriage, they received the news that they would never have
There are various kinds of identity (individualized or shared) that people are expected to possess. (Hollinger, 2004) namely; personal identity which is known as a
Throughout this course, we studied several different personality theorists and their theories. The main theory that stood out to me was Erickson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development. The main idea of Erikson’s theory was developed from the view of Freud’s. This main idea was the whole “ego identity” and its development (Erikson, 1968, 1974). According to our course book “Perspectives on Personality”, ego identity is the consciously experienced sense of self. I know that I’m only 22 years of age but I feel as if I have been through a number of obstacles that have changed my views on this world. Through these experiences, my sense of self or “ego identity’ has changed. It has grown to understand more and I have matured as a person. One of many crises that I have personally experienced was close death in my family and close circle of friends. I was
Erickson believed that the personality of a child tends to develop in a number of stages. One of the primary elements of the stages is ego identity. This is the conscious sense of self that grows through social interaction. According to Erickson, ego identity changes regularly due to the new experiences and information children get through their daily interactions with other kids (Kenpro, 2010).
Identity crisis was a temporary period of distress as they (teenagers) experiment with alternatives before settling on values and goals. (Berk,2013, p. 469). Based on Erikson’s psychosocial developmental theory, individuals are faced with various challenges throughout their lives. Some examples of these challenges are, the ability to trust others in infancy, establishing a clear sense of identity in adolescence and through the transition to adulthood, and establishing an intimate relationship with a life partner in early adulthood. (Sneed, Whitbourne, Schwartz, Huang, Duberstein 2012)
Erik Erikson’s specialty is in the field of ego psychology. As an ego psychologist, his theory on ego identity is renown as the best-known theory of psychosocial development. Erikson’s theory defines ego identity as “the conscious sense of self that we develop through social interaction which is inclusive of all beliefs, ideals, and values that help shape and guide a person’s behavior” (Cherry, n.d., p. 1).
The 8 year old child I observed and interacted with did not fall perfectly into any of Erikson’s, Piaget’s, Kohlberg’s, or Vgotsky’s stages. The child varied in stages by the way she behaved in certain activities and in the way she would answer the question I would ask. After asking her the 10 questions for development research, I googled different cognitive test. I gave her IQ test to take to see if she was capable of thinking as an adult although she is a child. One interesting question was “Which is hottest?” and she answered lightbulb when the correct answer was a flame. I would relate this situation to Piaget’s Stage 3: Concrete Operational Period because although shedid not get the correct answer, she took time and thought about
Erik Erikson believed that personality developed in a sequence of stages. His concept chronicles the significance of social experience throughout a lifetime. Erikson wanted to know how social interaction and relationships were connected to the function in the development and advancement of human beings. Ego identity is one of the essential components of Erikson's theory. Ego identity is the conscious awareness of identity that we develop through social interaction. Our ego identity is constantly changing as we have new experiences. As we progress in each stage of development, we deal with new situations that can either expand or impede our
I interviewed and adolescent, freshly turned, eighteen year old female. According to Piaget she should already have developed all four cognitive stages; and according to Erikson she should be right between the identity vs. role confusion, and intimacy vs. isolation stages of development. Through her answers I can see areas where she does, and does not comply with where she stands on the developmental timeline according to Piaget and Erikson.
I have found myself wondering why people act and think a certain way. Scientist and researchers like Erik Erikson, Sigmund Freud and Jean Paiget to name a few have made compelling discoveries that can explain the development of humans over one’s lifetime. They have recognized that development happens in different stages of a person’s life, from the time we are infants to the time we are mature adults. They have been able to come up with definitive theories even with the influences of a constant changing culture and environment. These developmental theories explain the cognitive, social and emotional development over a course of a person’s life. Erik Erikson was an ego psychologist that I found myself agreeing with his theories of development. He was known for his eight theories of development, he believed that a struggle or crisis would always occur in each stage of development and
As human beings age, according to Erik Erikson, they go through developmental stages that help to create and transform their personalities. If needs are met and the ego is gratified, then the individual is able to move on to the next challenge. Onward they march in life and in stage until they find the end level: integrity versus despair. This has been categorized as adults 65 years and older by Erikson. Here, people are to reminisce and judge their lives in terms of merit or disappointment. Erikson himself had a lot to comb through in his later years.
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
In Erik Erikson’s theory he explains that in every stage, a positive or a negative attitude is developed within an individual. During our developing stages we are either successful or we fail. Each stage will come to us whether or not we’re ready for them or not. You can think of the stages as learning stages where crisis occur .Only if we have learned from the previous crisis we are successful. You cannot avoid 1 stage and move to a next stage because of the developing process. The outcome of our lives depends on the way we chose to progress throughout each stage in life. Erikson had his own way in describing each stage in life that we all must go through.
According to Erikson, the development of the lifespan is a lifelong process from birth to death and includes the formation of identity (Broderick & Blewitt, 2010). I will cover in the paper six life events that influence my identity development from childhood to middle adulthood. Each life event will be explained based on the significance of the event as well as the impact the event had on my development. Also, theories will be discussed as they relate to my development.
No matter who you are I believe that everyone will go through stages in their life that will get them to where they are on today. I am a person who has a very interesting story; this is the first time it will be told in full. We were asked to use Erik Erikson’s theory of development as a guideline to telling the story of our lives. At first I was very nervous; however, I soon realized that this would be a fun task. Erik Erikson has eight stages of Development (Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman). I will be walking you though my life using each one of his stages drawing out the map of my life. Within my life I have had some very interesting encounters. I have been through foster care, abuse, rape, molestation, starvation, adoption, depression, and
Erik Erikson is another theorist that developed his own theory of human development from the perspective of psychosocial. Erik believes that his psychosocial development starts at birth through old age. According to Batra, “Each human being must find his or her own sense of regulation because of the interplay between the inner voice of the child, the physiological and emotional urges of the individual, and the nature of social influences” (pg. 250). Furthermore, His theory is formulated in eight different developmental stages in an individual life. Woolfolk (2007) states, in Erikson’s psychosocial stages of development, he works from a foundation that emphasizes the needs of young people in relation to the society in which they grow and develop, learn, and later make their contribution (pg. 67). After analyzing each of Erikson’s stages, it seems as if they all are connected to one another. As one stage is developed it flows right into the next stage. Moreover, there could be negative ramifications with each stage. According to Coon (2006), “A psychosocial dilemma is a conflict between personal impulses and the social world” (pg. 113). Erikson’s first stage is from birth to 1yr. of age. Erikson defines this stage as trust vs. mistrust. This stage is very key, because it is the stage when the young child begins to develop a sense of the world that is around them through the interaction with their caregiver (Broderick, & Blewitt, 2015). During this stage,