Development Through Life: a Psychosocial Approach - Essay Example

This paper describes elements of Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory and applies them to behaviors exhibited by individuals.

            The first psychosocial stage Erikson theorized was the trust vs. mistrust stage. This stage occurs between birth and a year of age, which is life’s most fundamental stage (Newman & Newman, 2012). Since the child as an infant is dependent on the caregiver, the development of trust is dependent on the quality and dependability of the infant’s caregiver. Children who develop trust successfully will feel secure and safe. Inconsistent, rejecting, and/or emotionally unavailable will contribute to a feeling of mistrust in the infant under their care. If the child fails to develop trust, he/she will be fearful and come to believe that this world is inconsistent, as well as unpredictable.

            The second psychosocial stage is autonomy vs. shame and doubt. This stage covers the early childhood period and focuses on the development of a firmer sense of self-control by children (Newman & Newman, 2012). He believes that this stage involves potty training as an important part and that this learning of how to control bodily functions gives the child a higher sense of control and independence. Children completing this phase are confident and secure in their activities while those who fail have a sense of self-doubt and inadequacy.

            The third stage of psychosocial development occurs over the preschool period when the child begins to assert control and power over their surroundings via directing of play among other social interactions (Newman & Newman, 2012). This could involve playing with their toys by themselves. Successful navigation of this stage makes children feel able and capable to lead while failure leaves a sense of self-doubt and guilt. The fourth stage is industry vs. inferiority where the child becomes proud of his/her abilities and accomplishments. Children receiving encouragement develop confidence and competences in their skills while those who do not doubt their success abilities.

            The fifth stage involves identity vs. confusion in adolescence where the individual explores his/her independence and development of the self occurs. Those receiving reinforcement and encouragement emerge with a feeling of control and independence while those who fail are confused and insecure about themselves and the future (Newman & Newman, 2012). The sixth stage pits intimacy vs. isolation when people explore personal relationships. Those who are successful form relationships that are secure and committed. People with a poorly developed sense of self from stage five have relationships with less commitment and are depressed, lonely, and emotionally isolated.

            Stage seven pits generativity vs. stagnation as the individual continues to live their life and focuses on family and career. Successful individuals in this stage feel they contribute to the world via activity while those who fail feel uninvolved and unproductive in the world. The final stage is integrity vs. despair, which focuses on reflection. Unsuccessful individuals feel life is a wasteful regret and are left in despair and bitterness. Successful people have fewer regrets and attain wisdom toward death (Newman & Newman, 2012).

            Tammy is a fourteen-year-old girl who, according to this theory, should be in the fifth stage, pitting identity vs. confusion. She does not like being told what to do or criticized, although she does take it as she is a decent tennis player. Her coach and gym teacher are supportive and offer her constructive advice. However, she hates advice from anyone else. During the previous stage, she shone in junior tennis tournaments with encouragement from her parents. Consequently, she is now confident as a tennis player. It was during the third stage that she picked up a tennis racquet and started hitting a ball, and by the time she was in stage four, she had already become the most confident child in sport, in her class.