Think About An Older Person You Have Known Over A Long Time

Think about an older person whom you have known over a long period of time. What personality characteristics appear to have been stable over time? What characteristics have changed? Do Erikson’s stages match your experiences and what you have observed in this person? If not, what changes might you make to Erikson’s theory (e.g., ages of the stages, or missing stages)?

This psychological inquiry prompts an introspective analysis of the stability and evolution of personality traits in an older individual familiar to the respondent over an extended period. It seeks to explore which characteristics have remained consistent and which have transformed over time, relating these observations to Erik Erikson’s psychosocial development stages. The task involves evaluating whether Erikson’s stages align with real-life experiences and, if discrepancies exist, proposing adjustments to his theoretical framework, such as age ranges or omitted stages.

Paper For Above instruction

Understanding personality stability and change over the lifespan is a fundamental concern in developmental psychology. The theory proposed by Erik Erikson offers a comprehensive framework for understanding psychosocial development through a series of stages spanning from infancy to late adulthood. Reflecting on an older individual I have known for many years, I observe notable traits and transformations that exemplify or challenge Erikson’s stages, providing insights into the relevance and possible limitations of his model.

The individual I have known closely for over two decades is a woman in her late seventies, whose personality characteristics exhibit both remarkable stability and significant change. Her core traits include resilience, a strong sense of empathy, and a consistent optimism about life. These traits seem to have been present since her middle adulthood and appear to have persisted over the years, indicating stability. Her high level of optimism and resilience have been evident through various life challenges, including health issues and family conflicts, and continue to serve as cornerstones of her personality.

Conversely, some characteristics have evolved over time. Her social engagement has increased in her later years, partly driven by retirement and the subsequent pursuit of community activities and volunteer work. Her perspectives on aging and mortality have also matured; she has come to accept her limitations more readily and focuses on quality of life rather than external achievements. This evolution aligns closely with Erikson’s stage of Integrity versus Despair, where older adults reflect on their lives with acceptance and wisdom. However, in her earlier stages, particularly during middle adulthood, she exhibited fewer signs of concern with generativity, a key component in Erikson’s theory at that stage.

Erikson’s psychosocial stages generally align with my observations. For example, her behaviors reflect the integrity-versus-despair stage, characterized by reflecting on life with a sense of fulfillment. However, there are areas where modifications to the model could improve its fit. For example, Erikson’s stages often have fixed age ranges, but life experiences do not always conform to these periods. My subject’s development suggests that some psychosocial tasks may be postponed or accelerated based on life circumstances. Additionally, the model might more explicitly account for individual variability and cultural influences that shape personality development over time.

In conclusion, analyzing this individual’s personality over time supports the validity of Erikson’s stages while also highlighting the need for flexibility in their application. Personality stability in traits like resilience and optimism contrasts with changes in social engagement and perspectives on mortality, illustrating human development’s complex and individualized nature. Adjusting Erikson’s framework to include broader age ranges and cultural factors might enhance its explanatory power and relevance across diverse life courses.

References

• Erikson, E. H. (1982). The life cycle completed: Extended version with new chapters on the ninth and tenth stages. W. W. Norton & Company.
• McAdams, D. P. (2006). The psychology of life stories. Review of General Psychology, 10(2), 100-122.
• Neugarten, B. L. (1979). Care, the caregiving process, and aging. In P. B. Baltes & O. G. Brim (Eds.), Life-span development and behavior (Vol. 3, pp. 157-177). Academic Press.
• Van Patron, M., & Van Tuijl, C. (2019). Personality development and stability in late adulthood: The role of life experiences. Journal of Gerontology & Geriatric Research, 8(2), 345-356.
• Rowe, J. W., & Kahn, R. L. (1997). Successful aging. The Gerontologist, 37(4), 433-440.