PSY 362 Assignment 2 LASA 1 Development Throughout the Lifespan

Assignment 2: LASA 1: Development Throughout the Lifespan

DATE

PSY/362 A01

Erikson and Freud’s theories on individual development remains credible currently. One knows how Freud’s energy was spent on sexuality or “psychosexual development.” Erikson on the other hand felt that development for an individual was based on psychosocial development. Basing a theory solely upon one’s sexuality for development was not Erikson’s outlook unlike Freud. When I saw that I could choose the individuals for my observation. My children immediately popped into my mind. My children have been observed and studied by myself since birth. I have notebooks filled from years of observations of my children. As I looked at the two different stages of my children and that of mine, I realized something. I realized that it is true, wedo pass in different times in our lives; through the different developmental stages.

Take my daughter for example. Cadence is eleven years old and is in fourth grade. Sitting down to talk to Cadence I saw sheer fascination. Offering Cadence, a small set of questions, I took notes and observed her body language and excitement. I felt that Industry fit Cadence’s developmental stage by Erikson. It has been relayed from Cadence’s teachers that she is the happiest student they have ever seen. Cadence always volunteers to help and is always the first to raise her hand. Cadence’s level of competence is inspiring to everyone. Cadence is loved by many and never leaves a sad friend behind. Cadence is just coming out of her Initiative stage. I feel that she blossomed into her next developmental stage appropriately.

In addition to Cadence, my son Dakota has slowly grown into his new stage (adolescence). I gave Dakota a different set of questions to understand his logic, creativeness and personality change on subjects. I asked Dakota what he thought about the questions and he stated he felt like I saw inside him. I merely asked things any normal therapist would ask a 13-year-old. Dakota finds a fondness of philosophical questions such as “what do you think about the meaning of life?” Dakota could give me the answer without stopping to ponder. Dakota is in the 6th grade. He is an extremely intelligent adolescent. His report for his status is said that he is at the equivalency of a ninth grader. However, two years ago, Dakota seemed to be searching for himself. Dakota was often known to be silent, closed off and reserved. Dakota was in an inferiority stage due to his shortness (growth is a year behind). Dakota’s friends and even his little sister tower over him along with his self-esteem. Dakota noticed other students that are his height last year, easing his mind. This created a nice transition into the now adolescent stage of life. Through certain vices, Dakota could turn the negative effect to a positive in his development. At a glance, Dakota is noticed to have an identity crisis. Dakota has changed his hair, clothes, music and everything this year.Dakota lives his life with his nose in his books and eyes on his video games. Dakota loves philosophy and psychology like I do. Dakota is a happy child, excelling quicker in school than I have ever seen. Dakota is open about his life, changing body, and future. Through my observations I feel Dakota exhibits things that are closer to identity also by Erikson.

“The adolescent mind is essentially a mind or moratorium, a psychosocial stage between childhood and adulthood, and between the morality learned by the child, and the ethics to be developed by the adult (Erikson, 1963, p. 245).”

I learned that there are challenges in developmental stages through my observations. I also noticed that there is important things to accomplish in order to move to the next stage of development. Without completion, the child or adolescent won’t be able to handle the next stage.

My outlook on my two chosen children for the observation is positive. My chosen questions were different for each child. The questions were comparative to Erikson’s psychosocial developmental theory. Prior developmental stages for both children mostly included positive experiences creating smooth transitions (Erikson, 1963). After interacting with each child, each stage proved to hold many notable differences including mine. Cadence was curious, and eager to add her thoughts and feelings with the questions. Dakota was very logical and offered intelligent responses. However, insecurities with his height and the drive to fit in placed him in the identity stage which is normal for his age (blending identity, Erikson). Dakota’s peer relationships have also helped him understand himself.

Regard to myself and my stage I felt strongest for intimacy/isolation through Erikson, as well. I am always the first to smile when walking in the room. I live life to its fullest and always strive for positive outlooks in situations. I am very close to my family and have a beautiful communication level with my fiancé. I have learned to grow within myself throughout my developmental transitions. At 31 years-old, I find my focus on my future a strong part of my personality. I chose a higher path of questions for myself to think about. Throughout most, I felt positive answers arise. I do not exhibit guilt, hold grudges or dwell on painful memories. I feel that possibly, my intimacy and isolation are in a way balanced. I can have committed relationships, I have been rejected, faced horrible breakups and the unexpected deaths of close loved ones. Therefore, my foundation is in the middle of isolation and intimacy. I have a sense of safety and am comfortable in my relationships.

As Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development flows, so does the history of studies. My kids are raised in a loving, supporting home which has been proven to aid in smooth stage transitions (Erikson, 1963).Autonomy is something my children and I seem to possess. We all share a positive outlook on life lessoning risks of sadness and fall outs. We all share confidence in ourselves and do not show signs of not understanding our purpose. Freud accomplished the developmental stages first. Freud’s stages were oral (infant), phallic, latent, and genital. A great deal of emphasis was placed in the sexuality category including the superego, and the ID. Freud strongly felt that one’s life was simplified by either pleasure or tension. Freud also felt that pleasure is the discharge from built up (sexual energy) tension in the libido. The first five years is said by Freud to be the most critical development of the personality in adulthood. Additionally, to fulfill one’s social demands one must control the ID says Freud. Freud strongly felt that the ID and superego can develop through the first stages of development. One stage must be completed fully to move onto the next stage. Freud believed that if there are not completions, one could in turn develop obsessions and addictions. Erikson on the other hand placed his focus on conflicts of the ego, cultures role and the social life (psychosocial struggle). Erikson firmly believed that throughout one’s life (, the ego is developed(Erikson, 1963, p. 403). Erikson could extend the stages of development through his “Post-Freudian Theory.” Erikson created stages that pertain to one’s personality development such as adolescence, adulthood and old age (Feist, 2008). There are many aspects respectfully that shows how different Erikson is to Freud. Historical and social influences are Erikson’s idea of elaborating one’s development. Erikson was too searching for his identity almost all his life. Erikson could not take care of important demands within his life. Erikson bounced from place to place attempting to find where his purpose meant something (Friedman, 1999). Erikson’s publication of Childhood and Society gave him the name of imaginative thinker (Feist, 2008). Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial development of one’s life cycle. Erikson felt that development was more psychological in contrast to Freud.

Focusing on something Erikson views about adapting to certain temperaments. Erikson stated that a child in a room will remain irritable if they show they are. Erikson says that individual’s temperaments remain the same throughout their lifespan. Dakota and Cadence were two of the happiest children growing into their years for example. That could pose a truth behind Erikson’s thoughts on temperament. Social environment, psychological development is all deeply involved in Erikson’s psychosocial development theory. The values behind Erikson’s theory is learning healthy levels of trust and autonomy in all stages of childhood. A curiosity for Erikson’s theory is if something needs to be accomplished before one can transition onto their next stage, what would happen?

References

Erikson, E.H. (1982). The Life Cycle Completed: A Review. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.http://www.simplypsychology.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Erik-Erikson.html

Feist, J., Feist, G. (07/2008). Theories of Personality, 7th Edition. [Argosy University]. Retrieved from https://digitalbookshelf.argosy.edu/#/books/007-7376714/https://digitalbookshelf.argosy.edu/#/books/007-7376714/