Assignment 2 Lasa 1 Development Throughout The Lifesp 474271

Assignment 2 Lasa 1 Development Throughout The Lifespanerikson And F

Assignment 2: LASA 1: Development Throughout the Lifespan Erikson and Freud are two of the few theorists who have developed a lifespan approach to development. Freud’s approach to development was psychosexual while Erikson’s was psychosocial. Even though Freud’s theory is better known, Erikson’s theory remains a leading and very much applied model in personality and developmental psychology today. When considering these two stage-oriented theories, you can directly compare the majority of their stages. These are matched in the following table: Approximate Age Freud's Stages of Psychosexual Development Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial development Infancy (Birth to 1 year) Oral stage Trust versus mistrust Early childhood (1–3 years) Anal stage Autonomy versus doubt Preschool (3–6 years) Phallic stage Initiative versus guilt School age (7–11 years) Latent period Industry versus inferiority Adolescence (12–18 years) Genital stage Identity versus role confusion Young adulthood (19–40 years) Intimacy versus isolation Middle adulthood (40–65 years) Generativity versus stagnation Older adulthood (65–death) Integrity versus despair

When considering Erikson's eight stages of development, the way a person moves through each stage directly affects their success in the next stage. Their personality is being built and shaped with each stage. At each stage, there is a turning point, called a crisis by Erikson, which a person must confront. In this assignment, you will observe or interview two different people, each at a different stage of development. For a third observation, take a look at yourself and the stage that you are in (this stage must be different from your other two observations). Record your three observations in a template.

Include the following information: Name, Age, Gender, Current developmental stage, Status within the stage (i.e., identity achievement or role confusion), Events that have led to this status. Download a Development Template from the Doc Sharing area to record your observations. Summarize what you have learned about psychosocial development through these observations/interviews. Summarize the trends you see in your observations/interviews regarding psychosocial development. How does movement through Erikson's stages influence personality development? Again, be specific.

How do Erikson's stages of development compare to Freud’s stages? How are they similar? How are they different? Between these two theories, which one do you feel best explains your own personality development? Justify your answers with specific examples.

Write a 3–4-page paper in Word format. Insert your chart at the end of your paper. Apply APA standards to citation of sources. Use the following file naming convention: LastnameFirstInitial_M3_A2.doc. The assignment is due by Wednesday, January 6, 2016, and should be uploaded to the M3: Assignment 2 Dropbox.

Paper For Above instruction

Development across the lifespan is a fundamental aspect of psychology, offering insights into how individuals grow, mature, and form their personalities. Among the prominent theoretical frameworks, Erik Erikson’s psychosocial development theory and Sigmund Freud's psychosexual development theory stand out for their comprehensive explanations of human growth. Both theories emphasize stages that shape personality, yet they differ significantly in focus, methodology, and implications. This paper explores these theories, illustrating their application through observations of individuals at various life stages, and reflects on which theory resonates most with personal development.

Observing Developmental Stages

To understand psychosocial development, I conducted interviews with three individuals: a teenager, a middle-aged adult, and myself. The teen, aged 16, is at Erikson’s stage of identity versus role confusion. She demonstrates a clear sense of identity in her hobbies and aspirations but occasionally struggles with peer pressure and societal expectations. The middle-aged adult, aged 45, exemplifies Erikson’s stage of generativity versus stagnation, actively involved in community service and career mentorship, reflecting a commitment to contributing to society. My own current stage is early adulthood, at approximately 25 years, aligning with Erikson’s stage of intimacy versus isolation. I am pursuing close relationships and deeper commitments, indicating an ongoing process of establishing intimacy.

Each individual’s experiences have influenced their status within their respective stages. The teenager's confidence in personal interests affirms identity achievement, while some ambiguity suggests a yet-to-be-compromised role confusion. The middle-aged person's dedication to community implies a successful negotiation of generativity, essential for future well-being. My own pursuit of meaningful relationships aligns with progressing toward intimacy, vital for personal fulfillment.

Learning About Psychosocial Development

From these observations, it is evident that psychosocial development involves continuous negotiations between societal expectations and personal identity. Successful resolution of each stage’s crisis fosters a healthier personality, while unresolved conflicts can lead to difficulties in subsequent stages. For instance, the teenager’s struggle with identity underscores the importance of a supportive environment, while the middle adult’s engagement illustrates the value of contributing beyond oneself.

Movement through Erikson’s stages significantly impacts personality development. Achieving trust, autonomy, initiative, and other core tasks leads to a resilient, adaptable personality. Conversely, failure to resolve early crises can result in insecurity and challenges in later life. Thus, Erikson’s model emphasizes a lifelong, dynamic process where each stage builds on previous successes or failures, shaping overall personality traits and life satisfaction.

Comparison of Erikson and Freud

Although both Erikson and Freud proposed stage models, their approaches diverge markedly. Freud focused on psychosexual stages emphasizing biological instincts, such as oral, anal, and genital, where conflicts during each stage influence adult personality. Erikson, however, highlighted psychosocial crises centered on social and cultural factors, from trust vs. mistrust in infancy to integrity vs. despair in old age.

Similarities include the stage-based structure and the idea that early experiences influence later development. Both theories recognize critical periods where unresolved conflicts can have lasting effects. However, while Freud’s model leans heavily on unconscious drives and sexual instincts, Erikson’s theory is more conscious, emphasizing social relationships and identity formation at every life stage.

Personally, I find Erikson’s model more applicable to my development. Its emphasis on social interactions and identity resonates with my experiences. For example, my ongoing efforts to establish and maintain meaningful relationships mirror Erikson’s stage of intimacy. The theory’s lifelong perspective aligns well with the continuous nature of personal growth I have observed in myself and others.

Conclusion

Both Erikson and Freud offer valuable insights into human development, each emphasizing different mechanisms—psychosocial and psychosexual, respectively. Observations of individuals across life stages support Erikson’s assertion that personality development is a lengthy, stage-wise process influenced by social and emotional challenges. For my own personality development, Erikson’s psychosocial theory provides a comprehensive framework, highlighting the importance of social relationships and identity in shaping who I am today. Recognizing the interplay of these stages underscores the importance of early and ongoing positive experiences to foster resilient, adaptive personalities.

References

• Cherry, K. (2020). Erik Erikson's stages of psychological development. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com
• Freud, S. (1923). The ego and the id. International Journal of Psycho-analysis, 4(18), 12-66.
• Hurlock, E. B. (1980). Developmental Psychology (5th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
• Kohlberg, L. (1984). The psychology of moral development: Essays on moral development. Harper & Row.
• McLeod, S. (2018). Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org
• Sigmund Freud. (1920). Three essays on the theory of sexuality. International Psycho-Analytic Library.
• Schaefer, R. T. (2019). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs. Pearson.
• Shaffer, D. R., & Kipp, K. (2013). Developmental Psychology: Childhood and Adolescence. Cengage Learning.
• Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Harvard University Press.
• Woolfolk, A. (2016). Educational Psychology (13th ed.). Pearson.