Ericksons Theory Issues - Essay Example

?Erickson’s Theory Stage Infancy (birth to 18 months) Basic Conflict: Trust vs. Mistrust In this first stage of the Erickson’s Psychosocial Stage,the child utterly starts to develop trust among his companions whether his parent, caregiver or other people whom he depends on. The dependability of these people makes or breaks the trust of the child in this particular stage. Take for example the character of Tommy Pickles is Rugrats. Tommy is a born adventurer. He is “the Rugrats' contraband expert, keeping things the baby's not allowed to have in his diapers (too-ls, birds, CD's, even Reptar bars), as well as an expert in breaking out of the crib, using a screwdriver he always keeps hidden” (Rugrats, n.d.). This reflects the urge of Tommy as an adventurer. Given the fact that his adventures is growing faster than his age gives him more trust for himself that he could execute any adventure that he wants. Thus, it also conflicts in his age knowing that he is too young to use and be exposed to the things that are nor intended for his age. Consequenty, he was able to manage his adventures and his limitations for his age because he still founded values that he basically use as basis and guide in every decision that he makes. Stage 2: Early Childhood (2 to 3 years) Basic Conflict: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt “The second stage of Erikson's theory of psychosocial development takes place during early childhood and is focused on children developing a greater sense of personal control” (Kendra Cherry, n.d.). Again from Rugrats, a very good example for this stage is the 2 year old Chuckie Finster. He is usually in doubt of every actions that he makes. Also, it is evidently obvious that he is shy in expressing himself compared to the other members of the rugrats. It shows that at his age, he is currently experiencing crisis on who he really is which therefore results to a shameful and doubtful Chuckie. Stage 3: Preschool (3 to 5 years) Basic Conflict: Initiative vs. Guilt “Children need to begin asserting control and power over the environment. Success in this stage leads to a sense of pur Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt pose. Children who try to exert too much power experience disapproval, resulting in a sense of guilt” (Psychology, n.d.). The character for this stage is Blossom of the Powerpuff Girls, 3-years old. “Blossom tends to "mother" Bubbles and Buttercup, and often tries to play peacemaker between the two if they fight (ironically, she is very quick to argue with Buttercup)” (Powerpuff, n.d.). This proves that at this stage kids tend to exert effort on taking control of situations just like Blossom. Thus, every effort given equates to greater exposure to conflicts which ends up to guilt. Stage 4: School Age (6 to 11 years) Basic Conflict: Industry vs. Inferiority “Children need to cope with new social and academic demands. Success leads to a sense of competence, while failure results in feelings of inferiority” (Psychology, n.d.). This is the stage wherein schooling palys a very vital role. The character of Dexter in Dexter’s Laboratory evidently fits this stage of life. Dexter is a 10-year old boy genius who has a secret laboratory filled with highly advanced equipment and machines underneath his bedroom. His competence bursted further because of his counterpart who happens to be his rival at all times, Mandark. Mandark is also a boy genius who happens to compete with highly advance technologies and inventions with Dexter. Thus, whoever wins in every competitions gains superiority over the other and of course leaving the other one feeling inferior thus wanting to get even and prove that he still better. Stage 5: Adolescence (12 to 18 years) Basic Conflict: Identity vs. Role Confusion “Teens need to develop a sense of self and personal identity. Success leads to an ability to stay true to yourself, while failure leads to role confusion and a weak sense of self” (Psychology, n.d.). For this one, it is definitely Hannah Montana. “A girl who lives a double life as an average teenage school girl named Miley Stewart by day and a famous pop singer named Hannah Montana by night, concealing her real identity from the public, other than her close friends and family” (Wikipedia). I has been shown that Hannah Montana experienced an identity confusion. She wanted to get out of her famous life as Hannah Montana and opted for a while to assume to be an ordinary girl by the name of Miley Stewart. It was a crisis because even how hard she eill try, the fact will remain the same. The life of being famous will never be defied even how hard she would try to hide and such action will only make things even worst for her. You will never feel free if you are constantly hiding your true identity. Stage 6: Yound Adulthood (19 to 40 years) Basic Conflict: Intimacy vs. Isolation “Martha Stewart of Wisteria Lane -- the perfect hostess, friend, wife and mother. However, underneath the polished exterior lies a damaged, imperfect woman who will stop at nothing to protect her family and friends. Her relationship with her children Andrew and Danielle is been volatile over the years, but it looks as though Andrew and Bree are finally on the road to much happier times, especially now that she has accepted his homosexuality. When Danielle got pregnant, Bree sent her away and faked a pregnancy in order to pass off the baby as her own” (Rachel Thomas, n.d.). Young adults does needs intimacy to form strong relationships. It is very important for a person to build relationships with the people around her. Just like Martha from Desperate Housewives. She tried to have a strong relationship with her husband and family. Thus, things didn’t worked out so well as she found out that her husband is a homosexual. This happening weakened her morale for stronger relationships which triggered her to think of crazy thoughts just to mae things right again. Stage 7: Middle Adulthood (40 to 65 years) Basic Conflict: Generativity vs. Stagnation “Dina Lohan has been the subject of media scrutiny for making her daughter Ali the star of a reality television program, and for her regard to her daughter Lindsay's recovery from drug and alcohol abuse. She has responded to the latter matter by insisting that Lindsay's problems were not her fault, nor those of Lindsay's friends, but were the result of personal choices, for which Lindsay would have to take responsibility, and that Lindsay was in the process of rebuilding her life. She has also been accused of capitalizing on Lindsay's fame and personal struggles in order to launch her own career, having been criticized for bringing cameramen from the entertainment newsmagazine series Entertainment Tonight to film her visiting Lindsay in drug rehabilitation, to the ire of her daughter and the facility staff”(Wikipedia, n.d.). Does the mother of Lindsay Lohan, Dina Lohan been successful in nurturing here daughter? It has been widespread that Lindsay has drug and alcohol problems, thus, we all know that her parents should have been her guide in her teenage famous years. Dina Lohan may have said that she has nothing to do with what happened to Lindsay and she is not to blame to this but can she truly say that she had been a responsible mother beyond all these? She still bear the great resonsibilty to her daughter because she should be the one to hone her and help her to be a better person again. Stage 8: Maturity(65 to death) Basic Conflict: Ego Integrity vs. Despair “Older adults need to look back on life and feel a sense of fulfillment. Success at this stage leads to feelings of wisdom, while failure results in regret, bitterness, and despair” (Psychology, n.d.). The character of Julie Andrews in the film Princess Diaries suits this stage of life. The Queen Clarrise Renaldi goes after Mia (her grand daughter, who also her successor) and tells her not to make the same mistake she did and give up finding love. This is were she shared the most intimate regrets of her heart. She don’t want her grand daughter to commit the same mistakes again. And so she shared that Mia must decide according to what her heart desires and don’t decide just because of pressure and because of what is expected of her. Clarisse attained the feeling of wisdom because of what she did for her grand daughter. References: “Tommy Pickles”, n.d., April 22, 2011 http://www.rugratonline.com/rrchar01.htm Kendra Cherry, n.d., April 22, 2011 “Erikson's Psychosocial Stages Summary Chart”,April 22, 2011 “The Powerpuff Girls – Character”, n.d., April 22, 2011 < http://www.powerpuff.tv/html/powerpuff-characters.html> “Hannah Montana” n.d., April 22, 2011, < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannah_Montana> Rachel Thomas, “'Desperate Housewives' Character Profile” n.d., April 22, 2011, < http://tvdramas.about.com/od/desperatehousewives/tp/desphousecharprofiles.htm.> “Mum blames Lindsay”. May 22, 2008 dnaindia.com. April 22, 2011 Richard Johnson. “Lindsay's Mom Hogs Spotlight”. May 9, 2007 New York Post. April 22, 2011 Read More