Running head: ERIKSON PROJECT1

ERIKSON PROJECT2

Erikson Project, Self-StudyCiera HurtIvy Tech Community College

Erik H. EriksonErik Erikson was born June 15, 1902 in Frankfurt Germany. Eriksons mother raised him as a single parent before marrying Dr. Theodor Homberger. Erikson was unaware that Homberger was not his biological father for many years. When Erikson found out the truth, it left him confused about who he was. This experience triggered his interest in identity. Throughout school Erikson was also teased for being Nordic because he was tall, blonde, and blue-eyed. This experience also fueled his interest in identity. After high school Erikson spent some time in Europe traveling. Erikson studied psychoanalysis and earned a certificate from the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society. He was a teacher throughout many years of his life. He met his wife Joan Serson at a school they both taught at and they eventually had three children. In 1933 Erikson moved to the United States and was offered a teaching position at Harvard. It was not until after this that he changed his name from Erik Homberger, to Erik H. Erikson. Erikson died May 12, 1994. (Cherry, 2014)Eriksons theory is one of the most known theories in psychology, and consists of eight specific stages of development. According to Erikson, our ego identity is always changing due to new experiences and information we acquire daily. Each stage in Eriksons theory is concerned with being competent in an area of life. If the stage is handled well, the person will feel a sense of mastery. (Cherry, 2014)Throughout this paper I will discuss Eriksons 8 stages of his psychosocial developmental theory. I will discuss the importance of each stage and what the outcome of each stage should be. I will also be discussing what my life was like at each stage and how my life will progress in the future.

Stage 1 Trust vs. MistrustStage one starts from birth to 18 months. During stage one a child should either develop a sense of trust or a sense of mistrust. The infant is dependent on his/her guardian for food, stability and overall care. The primary event in this stage is feeding. When infants are fed on demand, they begin to develop a sense of trust. Also, if the infant is well taken of and receives the right amount of care, he/she builds on that trust. When infants are not fed properly or when they need it, and if they are not well taken care of, they generally develop a sense of fear and mistrust. (McLeod, 2008)Although I do not remember much of this time in my life, I believe I was well taken care of. I was born two months early so my mother had to always be affectionate and be careful with me. Looking back at baby pictures I always seemed to be happy and smiling. I was also very healthy, being fed, clothed and changed appropriately. I believe I came out of this stage with a sense of trust.

Stage 2 Autonomy vs. Shame/DoubtStage 2 consists of toddlers, ages 18 months to 3 years. According to Saul McLeod this is the stage toddlers gain some independence. They begin to walk, talk and use the bathroom on their own. Potty training is the most important event during this stage. Parents need to be patient and encouraging during this training, which helps give the child a feeling of autonomy. Parents should also encourage the child to do other things independently, and help when needed. If the parent does not encourage the child or be there when the child needs help, the child might come out of this stage with the sense of shame and doubt. If everything goes smoothly and the parents are patient and encouraging, the child should develop a good sense of self-confidence. (McLeod, 2008)After talking with my mother I learned that at this age I was very independent. I tried to do everything on my own. I would want to walk everywhere on my own and if there was something I wanted, I would try to get it on my own first. Even if I did not do the things very well, my mother still encouraged me and motivated me. My mother was very patient with me during potty training and I would say I came out of stage 2 with the sense of independence, self-confidence, and autonomy.

Stage 3 Initiative vs. GuiltStage 3 consists of children ages 3 to 5 years. During stage three children become more socially involved. They begin to play and their imagination begins to grow. According to Saul McLeod children begin to plan activities, make up games, and initiate activities with other people. When children have these opportunities available to them, they will develop a sense of initiative. Also at this stage this child will become very curious and begin to ask questions. If the parent does not encourage the child to ask questions and treat him/her as a nuisance, the child will come out of this stage with a sense of guilt. If everything goes well in this stage the child will develop a sense of purpose and initiative. (McLeod, 2008)During this stage, I was just as curious as every other child. If there was something I was unsure of, I was not afraid to ask about it. At the age of four I began pre-school. I remember it being the highlight of my entire day. I enjoyed playing with my peers and I also met my very best friend while I was in pre-school. During this stage in my life my grandparents played a very important role. My mother worked a lot, so my brother and I spent quite a bit of time with them. They always encouraged me to use my imagination and they never made me feel bad for asking questions. I would have to say I came out of this stage with a sense of initiative.

Stage 4 Industry vs. InferiorityStage 4 consists of children ages 6 to 12 years. During this stage school becomes very important. According to Arlene Harder, this is the stage where relationships at school and with the neighborhood become more important. Teachers begin to play a very important role in the childs life. The child will learn how to make and do things, use tools, use various resources and learn new skills. Instead of doing these things at home with their parents, they will do them with their peers at school. Also at this stage it becomes more important for the child to have friends. Some children may feel like they need to impress their friends in order for them to be liked. Friends at this time will have a huge effect on a childs self-esteem. If the child is encouraged by parents, teachers and peers he/she will develop a sense of competence and industry. If the child does not feel encouraged by teachers or make friends at school, he/she will come out of this stage with a sense of inferiority. (Harder, 2012)At this stage in my life I was very eager to go to school. I was always upset if school was ever cancelled. I loved all of my teachers. All of the teachers that I have had in the past have encouraged me and they are the reason I would like to be a teacher today. I loved to learn new skills and how to apply them to other subjects. My favorite part about school when I was younger was getting good grades, and having the awards ceremony. It is always a good thing when hard work does not go unnoticed. I also had a few close friends that I associated with in and outside of school and they were very encouraging. I would say I came out of this stage with a sense of industry.

Stage 5 Identity vs. Role ConfusionStage 5 of Eriksons study consists of teens, ages 12 to 18 years. According to Saul McLeod, this is the stage when the individual will transition from being a child to becoming an adult. This is the stage where the teen will become more independent. Friends become almost all-important during this stage, and peer pressure is usually an issue. Teens that are able to withstand peer pressure, building their own values and morals, usually gain a strong sense of identity. Teens will also start to look at the future and how they want life to be as an adult. Also during this stage the teens body changes and will become more developed. Typically the teenager may be uncomfortable with the changes at first, but then as time goes on he or she will adapt. If everything in this stage goes well, the teen will come out with a strong sense of personal identity. If things go badly for the teen, he or she will probably go through an identity crisis and a period of confusion. (McLeod,2008)During this stage in my life I believe I became very independent. All throughout school I kept my grades up because I knew how they would affect my future. There are several careers that I contemplated during this time, but I believe teaching is where my heart has always been. I debated on different colleges but I chose Ivy Tech. I maintained my first job at the age of sixteen. It was just a little job at the tanning salon, but it was something. Right after I graduated from high school I started working two jobs at Kohls and Burger King. A couple months after I had been working I started living on my own in my old house. Of course my mother still helps me if needed be, but I believe this is the start to something great. I believe I came out of this stage with a strong identity and I believe I am prepared for my future.

Stage 6 Intimacy vs. IsolationStage 6 consists of adults, ages 19 through 40 years. During this stage love and relationships play an important role in your life. According to Erikson, you are not developmentally complete until you are capable of intimacy. During this stage our relationships with others become more important and they begin to last longer. Typically during this stage adults who are capable of building close, intimate relationships start thinking about getting married and starting a family. According to Saul McLeod, if everything goes well during this stage a sense of commitment, safety, and care in a relationship will be developed, which is intimacy. The virtue of love will also be developed. If things do not go well, if adults have trust issues and cannot share themselves with another person, they may begin to avoid intimacy, not being able to be close with others. These adults tend to become lonely, which usually leads to isolation and depression. (McLeod, 2008)I have not been nineteen very long but I have been able to create a few close relationships with friends. I have known most of my friends since we were just 6th graders in middle school. I know I can trust my friends and could ask them for pretty much anything. They can also trust me and ask me for anything as well. Because I have created close bonds with people I believe I will be more than ready to get married and start a family in the future. But at this point in my life I dont see the need for anything deeper than just having friends. I would like to start a family after I get my bachelors degree, at the age of twenty-five maybe. By that time I feel like I will be able to raise a child to the best of my ability. I believe I have already been able to build close, personal relationships, and as time goes on, I will continue to come out of this stage with a sense of intimacy.

Stage 7 Generativity vs. StagnationStage 7 consists of middle-age adults, ages 40 to 65 years. According to Saul McLeod, we establish our careers, settle within a relationship, begin our own families and develop a sense of being a part of the bigger picture. At this point in the individuals life, he or she should will look outside of ones self and start to look out for others. According to Erikson adults need children as much as children need adults. Adults at this time of life should be productive at work and they should be involved with their community. They are trying to leave their mark on the world, either by building and maintaining a successful career, or by having a family and raising children, or both. Adults who have been successful in these areas will experience contentment and generativity during this stage, leading to a virtue of care. Those adults who have never been able to grow up, hold a job, have a family, etc will begin to feel stagnated and discontent. (McLeod, 2008)At this time in my life I hope to be married with children and maybe grandchildren. I believe by this time I will be more than ready to care for others than myself. During this time in my life I plan to be a middle or high school Math teacher, or a college professor, if life takes me that way. I plan to be very active within my school and within my community. In short, I hope to do everything within my power to contribute positively to society, and build a strong sense of generativity.

Stage 8 Integrity vs. DespairStage 8 consists of senior adults ages 65 and over. At this age we become senior citizens and are usually retired from the work force. Saul McLeod suggests that this is when we slow down our productivity and explore life as a retired person. At this time the adults will reflect upon his or her life and decide if it was filled pleasure or filled with disappointments. Adults who are able to reflect on a life well-lived, full of loving relationships, family, and accomplishments, will feel a strong sense of identity. These adults usually do not fear death; rather they see it as a natural part of life. Erikson believed that seniors who are unhappy about unfulfilled accomplishments and reflect on a life filled with bitterness and regret, it often leads to depression, hopelessness, and despair. (McLeod, 2008)By this time in my life I plan to be retired. I plan to travel with my family and do all the things I wish to do. I believe that I will be successful with my career and accomplish goals that I set for myself. The outcomes of the previous stages have all been positive for me. This leads me to assume that the outcome of this stage will be positive as well. I believe I will be able to look back on my life and be satisfied with the way my life has played out. I hope my life continues to have loving relationships and I hope to achieve any goal that I desire. I believe I will come out of this stage with a strong sense of identity and integrity.

ConclusionThroughout this paper I discussed Erikson and the 8 stages of his psychosocial developmental theory. After researching Erikson and his theory I feel like I have a better understanding of the stages of growth and development that human beings all must pass through. I also believe I have a better understanding of who I am and who I will become in the future. I feel like I have mastered each stage and because of that I assume I will feel accomplished after stages six, seven, and eight. The information has been helpful to me because it helped me to understand what I should be accomplishing at certain ages. In the future I will use this when dealing with my own children and children in my classroom. I realize now that children need encouragement not only from their parents and family, but from their teachers as well. The information will be useful because, if my child begins to act a certain way at a certain age, I will be able to determine if it is normal by looking through these stages. Eriksons eight stages of development let me know that I am on track and reassured that I am doing what I am supposed to be doing in order to be successful in the future.

ReferencesCherry, K. (2014). Eriksons Theory of Psychosocial Development. About.com Psychology. Retrieved from http://psychology.about.com/od/profilesofmajorthinkers/p/bio_erikson.htmHarder, A. (2002). The Developmental Stages of Erik Erikson. Support 4 Change. Retrieved fromhttp://www.support4change.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47&Itemid=108McLeod, S. (2008). Erik Erikson. Simply Psychology. Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/Erik-Erikson.html