Theories on Mental Development - Essay Example

Introduction Mental health depends on a number of factors which could be physical, social or even moral. Freud, Erickson and Kohlberg with their revolutionary theories on mental development have elaborated on the biological, social and moral grounds that directly or indirectly affect mental well-being. With the help of these theories psychological or neurological illnesses could be explained. Erickson’s theory of development Erickson propounded that mental development depends on the individual’s psychological response to society or the different social constructs from birth till old age. It is more of a psychosocial development where every stage is about how the individual copes with societal pressure and expectations and identifies one’s strength and limitations. Erickson mentions of eight developmental stages that records the psychological growth in the context of social constructs. Infancy to pre-adolescence: development of individuality The first stage of trust versus mistrust is about how the new-born begins to learn the psycho-social factor trust, responds and acts on the basis of it. It is said that if the child does not develop the feeling of trust, he would probably grow up to be an insecure adult. The stage of autonomy versus shame and doubt initiates from the age of one to three years. At this stage the child begins to be conscious of his ego or individuality and begins to assert it (Psychosocial Development, 2004). He wants to do things independently. This is a crucial period and the child must be treated with a lot of patience and discretion. He should not be snubbed at any of his attempts, rather encouraged and appreciated. The child’s spirits should not be put down otherwise he might suffer from a sense of self-doubt and low self-esteem. Initiative versus guilt is the continuation of the previous stage. When the child is constantly withheld from exploring new grounds all by his own and reprimanded or criticized for it he starts to develop the feeling of guilt of being good for nothing. This affects healthy mental growth. The same is true for the next stage that is termed industry versus inferiority. Generally spanning from six years of age, the stage is about the child’s growing personality as an individual (Psychosocial Development, 2004). At this stage the child seeks recognition by virtue of individual accomplishments and if he receives negative feedback starts developing inferiority complex. Teachers and parents play a vital role at this stage in ego-boosting of the child to make him confident. Adolescence to early adulthood: identity crisis/relationship problems Adolescence is the most difficult time to deal with as it is the transition from childhood to adulthood. There are confusions and curiosities, falling into depression and inability to fit in the role of either a child or an adult. Parents should help the child to build up proper approach to the changes and to the new life as adults. Their views and opinions should be respected and considered. The stage intimacy versus isolation is characterized by the desire of the individual to search for the ideal relationship and enter into commitments. In absence of it one feels isolated and neglected (Psychosocial Development, 2004). Middle age to old age: searching for stability/fighting with past memories Generativity versus stagnation is the common phenomenon with middle aged individuals (Psychosocial Development, 2004). It is the stage at which one seeks settlement and stability in life and one who is denied of it suffers from mental set backs. The stage of ego integrity versus despair centres on the psychosocial response of old people. It is about how an individual thinks of himself in the perspective of his life long achievement or failures in life (Psychosocial Development, 2004). For Erickson growth or development is a life long process and every age has specific aspects of development depending on the previous stage. But Freud believed that the seeds of individual characteristics are sown during infancy, childhood and early adolescence. Freud emphasized on the psycho-sexual factors of development as contrary to Erickson’s theory of psycho-social reasons behind mental development. Freud’s theory of developmental stages Freud has located the specific erogenous zones that provide pleasure to an individual at different stages of his psycho-sexual development. The proper functioning of the pleasure zones in imparting satisfaction programs the psycho-sexual orientation of the individual. Oral stage: It extends from birth to eighteen months and is focused on the mouth as the pleasure generating organ. Babies love sucking and if it is hampered it might result in different oral fixations like smoking, chewing gum, nail biting and even verbal abusing in later life. It is also believed that he might also be extremely pessimistic and at times aggressive (Psychosexual Development, 2004). Anal stage: Stretching between eighteen months and three years, this stage is marked by the child’s power of controlling bowel movements. Parental intervention is crucial at this stage in giving the child proper toilet training. Too much leniency makes the child grow up as a sloppy, disorganized and reckless individual. And excessive strictness makes him obsessed with cleanliness and intolerant of others without it (Psychosexual Development, 2004). Phallic stage: When the child reaches this stage of psycho-sexual development, that is, between the ages of four to five years, he discovers genitals as pleasure organs. It is at this stage that the child develops attraction for opposite sex parents and fear for parents of the same sex. For boys this attraction towards the mother is called Oedipus complex and for girls it is called Electra complex (Psychosexual Development, 2004). Parents should subdue such fears in their child with love and affection. Children who have beaten this fear tend to idolize their parents and those who cannot develop sexual fears and jealousy. Latency: The latent stage spans from the age of five years to puberty. It is the stage of sexual latency when sexuality remains suppressed. Children feel more comfortable with same sex friends. There are non-sexual diversions like sports and studies. Genital stage: This stage of psycho-sexual development is marked by Freud as the culmination of the previous stages. According to him, the genital stage is based on the experiences of an individual at the previous stages. However, an individual at this stage wants to be involved in heterosexual relationships (Psychosexual Development, 2004). Schizo-affective disorder compared to Erickson’s and Freud’s models of developmental stages It is a neuro-biological disease where the patient suffers psychological regressions that hinders normal developmental pattern both psycho-socially and psycho-sexually as propounded by Erickson and Freud. Similar to the developmental characteristics in the theories of both the psychologists that start as early as from birth schizo affective disorder symptoms show from childhood and get more and more prominent with growing age. Unlike Erickson who has explained psychological aspects like depression, the feeling of emptiness, guilt and loneliness as products of how society has gradually conditioned one’s psychology, schizo affective disorder comes up with different explanations of the same terms. According to Erickson, depressive state of mind, guilt pangs, diminishing interest, irritable mood or rapid mood swings are associated with adolescence or with an individual who fails to achieve social identity (Psychosocial Development, 2004). But a study of schizo affective disorder shows that these very mental discrepancies are also symptoms of the disease and has no social bearings and no definite reasons except biological (Diagnostic Criteria, n.d). Therefore these aspects could not be generalized as has been suggested in Erickson’s theory of development. This also explains why Freud’s theory of psychosexual development is not universally applicable. Freud’s emphasis on sexual pleasure in different forms at different stages being responsible for psychological fixations in adults (Psychosexual Development, 2004) does not hold true for schizo affective disorder cases as sexual abnormalities in schizo affective disorder patients are results of neurobiological malfunctions. Unlike the psycho-sexual stages of Freud and the psycho-social stages of Erickson, the schizo-affective disorder cannot be chronologically classified into stages. It consists of four different stages such as major depressive stage, maniac stage, mixed episode stage and the stage of criterion A of schizophrenia that might set on the schizo-affective disorder patient at random, at any time and at any age (Diagnostic Criteria, n.d). Kohlberg’s theory of moral development and schizo-affective disorder An individual suffering from schizo-affective disorder might show inconsistency in thoughts and actions. His sense of morality might fluctuate or change from time to time depending on the stage of the ailment. According to Kohlberg moral development stages might not be sequential or age based but based on individual perception and mental maturity (Kohlberg’s Stages, 1985). His theory projects a gradual complexity in the thought process from the simple black and white concepts of morality to deeper meanings of the moral sense. A schizo-affective disorder person’s perception of morality might not conform to it. There are times when he indulges in causing pain to the self and to others and then there are times when he suffers self-reproach and from terrible guilt (Diagnostic Criteria, n.d). His neuro-biological condition dictates his perceptions. Therefore what might appear immoral behaviour or activity is only a symptom or characteristic of the illness. Conclusion In conclusion it could be said that the different developmental theories go hand in hand and are complementary to each other. In case of such illness like schizo-affective disorder which in itself hampers proper mental growth, the patient’s mental development does not conform to the stages mentioned. But with treatment at the onset of the illness positive response could be obtained. Reference Diagnostic Criteria, (n.d). Retrieved 14th November 2008 from http://www.mentalhealth.com/dis1/p21-ps05.html Erickson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development, (2004). Retrieved 14th November 2008 from http://allpsych.com/psychology101/social_development.html Freud’s Stages of Psychosexual Development, (2004). Retrieved 14th November 2008 from http://allpsych.com/psychology101/sexual_development.html Crain, W.C, (1985). Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development. Theories of Development. Prentice-Hall, pp. 118-136. Retrieved 17th November 2008 from http://faculty.plts.edu/gpence/html/kohlberg.htm Read More