Psychosocial Development Theory - Essay Example

Lifespan Development Theories of Lifespan Development Theories Psychosocial Development Theory by Erik Erikson Part A Psychosocial development theory was advanced by Erik Erikson. In this theory, the author suggests that a normal human being develops from infancy to late adulthood through eight stages. The eight stages are each distinct and are marked by observable behaviors and psychological development that determine an individual’s identity. Although Psychosocial Development Theory is majorly accredited to Erikson, the actual work was done in collaboration with his wife. When he later died, his wife proposed another ninth stage of development. However, Erickson’s publication of the eight stages of development has remained the only recognized psychosocial stages of development (Berk, 2013). The cultural and historical development that influenced the development of the theory was Freud’s theory of psychosexual stages (Heffner, 2015). Whereas Freud analyzed human developmental stages through the prism of sexual orientation and social behavior drives, Erickson analyzed the crisis at each stage. That is not to imply that psychosocial theory was developed because Erikson disagreed with Freud’s approach, but that he perceived human developmental stages through a distinct prism that speaks volumes about each stage. The society was trying to find out factors influencing human behaviors during that time. Many psychologists attempted to provide answers to the wide array of unanswered questions. Therefore, it may be seen that psychosocial theory was found in response to shed more light on the role of nature and nurture in human development. For a long time the two concepts had not been addressed elaborately. Whereas Freud’s theory observes the perceived normal path, Erikson’s theory ventures deeply into analyzing non-conformity to the expected normal adjustment. Part B: Theory Description In psychosocial theory, Erikson advances that through infancy, toddler or early childhood, preschooler or play age, school age, adolescence, young adult, middle-age adulthood and mature age. Erikson’s infancy stage takes place from the time a child is born until the child is one and half years. That is the stage when a child progressively learns how to walk. During this stage, the child faces a psychosocial stage called trust versus mistrust (Berk, 2013).). During this stage, a child will trust people depending on how well they handle him/her. The child will allow some people to carry him/her during this stage but cry when others attempt to handle him/her. The crying is usually a rejection. The next stage, autonomy versus shame (1-3 years) is marked with confidence or fear. A child that has been nurtured well has a high self-esteem whereas some children may show shame when socializing in the public. At ages 3-6, a child goes through initiative versus guilt. A child that has adjusted normally will take initiative in small areas. While playing, a child can take initiative to do something else. The child is at ease with other children. There is a lot of exploration at this stage. In the event that a child experiences frustration during this stage, they may experience guilt and refrain from taking initiative. How properly a child develops at this stage depends on how the child is treated, or nurture in other words. Industry versus inferiority (6-12 years) is the next stage where socialization is suddenly increased. The child learns many new things and acquires new skills. Should peer socialization become a problem, then a one would feel inadequate and inferior. During the adolescence stage (12-18 years), an individual goes through identity and role confusion. Boys and girls increasingly become conscious about what people say, think or imagine about them. Identity crisis may set in if one copies everything they imagine is the best practice. Strong emotions are developed at this stage. During the intimacy versus isolation stage, strong feelings of love are strengthened as intimacy. A young adult at this stage increasingly looks for relationships, pursue career, leave home and start a family. When young adults fail to find intimacy, isolation may occur. In the generativity versus stagnation stage (35-55 years or 65 years), an adult is concerned about work and the society to demonstrate generativity. Adults struggle to avoid inactivity, which may lead to stagnation. Finally, late adulthood (55 years or 65 years to death) is marked by integrity versus despair. One looks back at the lifetime achievements with a feeling of integrity or despair depending on what they accomplished. In the above eight stages, there is a continuity. This means that one stage leads to the next without skipping a stage. A stage may delay in an individual but cannot be skipped. The continuity takes place not as one course of development, but as a series of many stages interfused together. The role of nature and nurture are evidence. It is observable that nurture complements nature in the early development stages up to adolescence. That is to say that although individuals are ready to pass through all the places perfectly well, the way they are socialized (nurtured) determines how successfully they will come out of those stages (Berk, 2013). A research by Justin T. Sokol on identity development analyzed Erik Erikson’s theory, he found that for many individuals, identity formation takes place at adolescence though its development is a lifelong process. Sokol (2009) partly agrees with Erikson and partly modifies the psychosocial theory. Sokol’s study seems to offer a critique of the Erikson’s theory though it does not dispute it in its entirety. Part C: Case Example In the short story “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan, the character Jing-mei Woo, a second generation Asian-American, goes through a hard time trying to fit in the American society. Her mother pushes her to learn playing the piano. She tries to learn the initial piece entitled “pleading child” but does not get it. Later in life, she manages to play a complementary piece called “perfectly contented.” In terms of psychosocial analysis, Jing-mei Woo was passing through a tough stage of industry versus inferiority. Her mother’s approach to industry was instilled with too much strictness that the daughter saw only her inferior side of the things she could not do. However, she later found her identity in her early adulthood life and mastered her former fears. Culturally the influence of Asian culture on Jing-mei woo preconditioned her to be reserved in the public. However, her learning through the western education system liberated her thinking and approach to life. Although cultural background had an influence in how fast she went through the various stages, her later environment reversed some maladjustment that she had. The adjustment was age-graded, history-graded and normative. Reference Berk. L.E. (2013). Exploring Lifespan Development. (3rd Ed.). New Jersey: Pearson. Heffner, C.L. (2015). Chapter 3: Section 4: Freud’s Stages of Psychosexual Development. Retrieved from http://allpsych.com/psychology101/sexual_development/#.VN94k9jq6Fg Sokol, J. (2009). Identity Development Throughout the Lifetime: An Examination of Eriksonian Theory. Graduate Journal of Counseling Psychology, Vol. 1(2) Spring 2009. Retrieved February 14, 2015 from http://epublications.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1030&context=gjcp Read More