Psychosocial Stage of Development Essay Example
Psychosocial Stage of Development Essay Example

Psychosocial Stage of Development Essay Example

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  • Pages: 4 (1000 words)
  • Published: October 20, 2017
  • Type: Article
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In summary, Erik Erickson's developmental stages outline the appropriate social progress for each age group. These eight stages include hope, willpower and determination, competence, commitment, love, care, and wisdom.

The following text presents an overview of my current psychosocial development stage, which is based on Erik Erikson's theory that encompasses eight stages from birth to death. While a significant portion of these stages focus on early childhood, the majority of an individual's life is spent in the stages of young, middle, and old adulthood.

Individuals may have varying lengths of life span development due to unique life experiences. As for me, I will delve into my current stage of development based on my age and personality traits. I will also tackle the advantages and disadvantages of this stage, how it influences my conduct and relationships, and how other de

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velopmental concerns impact my character. Among the stages postulated by Erikson, I embody a melding of two stages. These are Intimacy vs. Isolation (stage 6) and Generativity vs.

Stage 7, known as Stagnation, is the point in life where love is a value in the challenge of Intimacy vs. Isolation. Individuals either accept or reject love and those who have found it.

According to Franks (2008), positive results in the realm of ritualization/ritualism come in the form of "affiliation" which refers to maintaining healthy and tolerant relationships with others. On the other hand, an extreme negative outcome is seen in "elitism" which involves aligning oneself solely with others who are similar, resembling a fascist affiliation. Personally, I exemplify promiscuity as I become deeply attached to someone quickly and without judgement based on my past experiences. However, if the

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relationship fails, I withdraw and reject any potential future relationships until I have fully processed the situation. Though I am delighted when acquaintances experience happiness, I sometimes feel a tinge of jealousy towards them until I have fully moved on from my own experience.

According to the Generativity vs. Stagnation stage, individuals either prioritize future generations or lack contribution to society. Currently, I am experiencing stagnation as I have become self-absorbed and unconcerned with anything other than my own well-being. If one successfully resolves generativity, they acquire the virtue of "care" and the practice of "generalism," which involves imparting values onto others. However, "authoritarianism," or imposing one's values onto others, is a negative outcome (2008).

The author acknowledges that while they do care about certain things, they are currently prioritizing themselves. This has led to their friends and coworkers perceiving them as antisocial, as they only interact when necessary. At work, the author limits conversation to job-related matters, and on weekends they tend to isolate themselves at home and avoid answering calls from friends. This stagnant period has led to feelings of failure and inadequacy, as the author believes they should have accomplished more at this stage in their life. It is important to consider how Erik Erikson’s stages of development can impact behavior and relationships in situations like this.

The stage of development Intimacy vs. Isolation impacts my behavior as I have experienced disappointment repeatedly in my friendships. My expectation that a particular friendship will flourish leads me to isolate myself and develop a negative attitude towards those who are not the cause of my issues. During this time, I feel lonely and disconnected and avoid social

interaction intentionally. Additionally, this stage affects my relationships as I believe that both parties should give and receive love. If this is not the case, I become suspicious and withdraw automatically. Another developmental stage, Generativity vs. Stagnation, also resonates with me according to Erikson.

My behavior is affected by this developmental stage in various ways, including self-absorption leading to behavior that may surprise me. This attitude has become evident over the last 10 months because of being constantly overlooked at work and the loss of my mother in February 2008. While my mother was alive, I considered having a grandchild and had it on my agenda, but after her death, motherhood lost its appeal. Nonetheless, I am concerned about future generations and strive to stay informed about the education systems in schools and colleges to provide young children in the family with the necessary knowledge. Apart from this, other developmental issues also impact personality, such as intimacy vs.

In both the young adult and middle adulthood stages, individuals begin to view life from a more mature perspective, although the latter is more pronounced. At this point, one has reached adult status as a result of physical maturation and is well-equipped to navigate the associated responsibilities and opportunities with emotional maturity (Irvine, 1986). For young adults, committed relationships become a focal point, whereas in adolescence actions and decisions were primarily focused on the individual.

According to Atkinson (1996), middle adulthood is marked by individuals feeling stressed due to the realization that they are no longer young. This distress may lead them to try and act younger and spend time with a younger crowd to cope. Typically beginning

in their early thirties, the middle years are characterized by individuals achieving maturity and becoming settled in their careers and family lives. Overall, Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development emphasizes social development over cognitive development.

Atkinson, R. L. states that every stage has the potential for a positive or negative outcome, and completion of each stage results in a healthy personality and the ability to engage with others. Failure in these stages can have negative consequences, but it can be addressed in later life.

The text states that in 1996, a 12th edition of Hilgard's Introduction to Psychology was published by Harcourt Brace College Publishers, and in 2008, a publication by Franks was also made. The entire content should be enclosed in a

tag.

On July 19, 2008, an article titled "Introduction to Erik Erikson's stages of psychosocial development" was retrieved from www.helium.com, written by Irvine, R. and found on the World Wide Web.

E. (1986). 4th edition: The elderly patient.

London: Accessed on July 18, 2008 through the internet at www.learningplaceonline.com.

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