Erikson Stages of Development Essay

Eric Erikson was primarily a neoanalytic theorist, and in his contention, adepts ego interacts constantly with other(a) individuals within the ships company, and nookie be affected by them, as also by the prevalent finale of his society, and Ego, in this case, refers to an individuals maven of his own self and his core personality.One moldiness remember that it was Sigmund Freud who initially conceived of the theory of the five developmental acts that an individual goes through during the course of his life, extending from his early puerility to his adolescence, while it was Eric Erikson who expanded and refined Freuds theory, and extended it to last from early squirthood to old time, and declargond that an individual passes through eight full points and not a mere five.Erikson conceived of the epigenetic principle according to which an individual develops through the eight re-creates of his life by a predetermined unfolding of his personality, and by litigateing each on e of the tasks that he is expected to complete at each stage. Also referred to as developmental tasks, unless one is sufficient to accomplish these tasks, one would develop to face the negative outcome of not having completed the tasks in a give stage.One example is that of a child in grammar school, who has to be an industrious learner at this stage in his life. If he fails to become so, he may develop an inferiority complex, states Erikson. Furthermore, an individual has to contend with the interaction of opposites that occurs at each stage of his life, and also with the psychosocial conflict that may arise as a result. If the child is able to resolve the crisis at grammar school, he would in all probability remain an extremely positive individual, ready to face challenges, through his life.On the other hand, if he were unable to resolve the conflict, he may feel guilty all his life. Therefore, this can crocked that developmental tasks can be psychosocial in nature, and alt hough ones ego may be inborn, it would be shaped in later stages through the society that one lives in and interacts with. Ego, therefore, must be nurtured within the cultural and social environment of the individual, like for example, his family, and his school.These are the eight stages of life, according to Erikson infant stage from 0 to 1 year, toddler stage at 2 to 3 years, preschooler at 3 to 6 years, school age at 7 to 12 years, adolescence at 12 to 20 years, young adult at 20s, middle adult stage at late 20s to 50s, older adult stage at 50 to old age. (Hergenhahn, B. R. , & Olson, M. H. (2007) According to Eric Erikson, the stage in life that one enters into immediately after the intimacy vs. closing off stage is that of generativity vs. tagnation when the young adult starts to assume responsibilities at the age of late 20s, until he is round 50 years or older.I am a 40 year old separate female, single parent of two, and I work two jobs and go to school full time. I am als o running(a) toward a BA in psychology and go for future plans to go on to law school. It is at this stage that I have a strong sense of creativity, and a regard to make a mark on the world. I need to make sure that the bordering generation, in this case my children, have a safe and secure life, and I must work hard towards this, in what Erikson refers to as care.I feel a love for my children that is boundless and unlimited, and I expect postal code at all in re spot. In my estimation, this is the stage that represents my current life situation, as I have to struggle everyday with my job and my studies, and I also have to take care of my children, and yet I do feel a sense of accomplishment and confidence at having managed to overcome the hurdles in may way to make sure that the world is not a threatening place for the next generation.Perhaps, if I had not been able to pass through the early stages of life with success, like for example in the trust vs. istrust and in the autono my vs. shame stages, I would not have been the confident individual that I am today. I am thankful that I am not stagnating at this stage of my life, because this would mean that I have not done anything at all to help the next generation along. If I had been stagnating, then I would feel great despair during the next stage of my life, after I turn fifty or so. Today, I am sure that I will be able to wager back at this stage of my life when I am an older person, and feel a sense of integrity.I will also possess a positive outlook towards my life, and I can look back upon my life and feel gladness that I have spent it well, and better than my live Mike who is an unhappy and gloomy person at heart, perhaps because of the fact that he was not able to resolve the crises that arose at each stage of his life, due to circumstances, or because of his own ego. He is a discontent person, who has no sense of security, and who is afraid of taking any sot of risks, because he is afraid to fac e the outcome.If I too had not been able to cope with the stages of my life, then perhaps I too would have remained a sad and dismal personality, but since I have managed to cross each stage into the next stage with the positive outcomes that I needed to make me into the positive individual that I am today, I have no regrets, and I will continue to do what I am doing today, taking care of my children, working two jobs, and studying full time. Perhaps Mike my neighbor would benefit a great corporation by taking a close look at the common developmental issues that an individual of his age faces at this stage of life. (Niolon, Richard (n. d. )