This Is Your Opportunity To Learn About Erikson's Theory ✓ Solved
This Is Your Opportunity To Learn About Eriksons Theory And Apply It
This is your opportunity to learn about Erikson's theory and apply it to your own life. The goal of this assignment is to help you develop a clear and deep understanding of each stage and how they relate to development. You will also have the opportunity to make predictions about your future development based on your past experiences.
Review Erikson’s Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development. Be sure that you have working knowledge of each stage of development as you will be applying these stages to your own life.
Gather data about your past. Call your mom or dad. Call other relatives. Speak to your siblings. Spend some time reflecting on your past and putting the pieces together. Look through old family photos. Do anything you can think of to gather relevant information. If certain information is not accessible, reflect on how this may affect your development.
Write the report. PROOFREAD YOUR WORK BEFORE SUBMISSION. Refer to the rubric provided below to guide you. Project Design - Minimum of 10 pages double-spaced which includes cover page and reference page.
Assignment Instructions
Include a cover page with your name, date, and class information (CDEV 103; Instructor: Valerie Marquez). Write an introduction of at least one full page providing background information about yourself, your family, and your early life circumstances that you feel are relevant to your development. This introduction should only be done once.
Complete Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development. For each of the eight stages, do the following:
- Identify the stage name (e.g., Trust vs. Mistrust).
- Provide the complete definition of the stage from the reference handout.
- Represent your position on the stage with a graph-like scale, marking where you see yourself (e.g., I ----------X----------------------------------------- I Trust Mistrust).
- Explain why you placed yourself at this point on the scale with several examples (minimum of three) that directly relate to your experiences during the age range of the stage. For stages not yet reached, predict your position and support it with examples from your current life.
- Include at least a half-page explanation for each stage.
Repeat these steps for all eight stages. For stages you have not yet experienced, predict your future position and provide supporting examples.
Conclude by answering: What did you learn about yourself or Erikson’s stages of development that could be helpful in your work with children or your own life? This conclusion should be at least one full page, double-spaced.
Sample Paper For Above instruction
Below is a comprehensive sample paper, demonstrating how to approach this assignment by reflecting on personal development through the lens of Erikson's psychosocial stages. This essay explores each stage, offering personal examples and future predictions, culminating in insights about the usefulness of Erikson's framework in professional and personal contexts.
Introduction
I was born and raised in a small suburban town, where my family valued close-knit relationships and traditional values. My early childhood was marked by a nurturing environment, with supportive parents who prioritized emotional development. My father was a mechanic, and my mother was a teacher, which exposed me early on to the importance of hard work and education. Growing up, I experienced a relatively stable environment, although occasional challenges like moving houses impacted my sense of security and belonging. Reflecting on this background helps contextualize my development within Erikson’s psychosocial framework.
Trust vs. Mistrust (Infancy, 0-1 year)
This stage involves developing a sense of trust when caregivers provide reliability, care, and affection. I placed myself toward the trust end of the scale because from infancy, I received consistent comfort and responsiveness from my parents. For example, I vividly recall my mother soothing me when I was distressed, which fostered a sense of security. Additionally, my father’s reliability in fixing things around the house created a sense of dependability. My early experiences demonstrated that my caregivers’ responsiveness was integral to my sense of trust during infancy.
Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (Early Childhood, 1-3 years)
During this period, children learn independence through exploration and self-control. I moved slightly toward autonomy, as I was encouraged to dress myself and make simple decisions. For instance, I remember choosing my clothes and organizing small chores with my parents' guidance, which fostered confidence. However, occasional restrictions, such as being scolded for spilling juice, introduced mild shame, but overall, I felt supported in developing a sense of independence.
Initiative vs. Guilt (Preschool, 3-6 years)
This stage involves asserting power and control over environment through play and social interactions. I see myself leaning toward initiative because I actively engaged in imaginative play and took on small responsibilities, like helping set the table. A notable example is organizing pretend games with friends, which reinforced my sense of initiative. Nonetheless, feeling guilty when I failed to meet expectations occasionally tempered my enthusiasm, yet overall, I developed confidence in pursuing goals.
Industry vs. Inferiority (School Age, 6-12 years)
I view this stage as a period where I gained a sense of competence through schoolwork and extracurricular activities. I recall excelling in reading and participating in sports, which gave me confidence. For example, earning awards in spelling bees and being a team captain enhanced my sense of industry. Despite setbacks like struggles with math, my perseverance helped me develop resilience and a positive self-concept as a capable individual.
Identity vs. Role Confusion (Adolescence, 12-18 years)
This stage centers on developing a personal identity and sense of self. In my teenage years, I explored different interests, from sports to arts, and questioned my values and future aspirations. I experimented with different social groups and engaged in self-reflection, showing a movement toward identity. Some confusion arose in balancing peer acceptance with personal beliefs, yet I gradually formed a clearer sense of my identity.
Intimacy vs. Isolation (Young Adulthood, 18-40 years)
Currently, I am in this stage, seeking meaningful relationships. I have formed close friendships and a committed partnership, which exemplifies progress towards intimacy. An example is maintaining a supportive relationship that allows for mutual growth and trust. I recognize the ongoing challenge of balancing independence with intimacy but am committed to fostering deep connections.
Generativity vs. Stagnation (Middle adulthood, 40-65 years)
Looking forward, I anticipate engaging in activities that contribute to society, such as mentoring others. I plan to develop my career further and give back to my community through volunteer work, which aligns with generativity. Reflecting on my career so far, I feel a sense of productivity and purpose, which bodes well for future growth.
Integrity vs. Despair (Late adulthood, 65+ years)
While this stage is in the future, I hope to look back with integrity, satisfied with my life choices. Achieving this will depend on how I live in the coming years, maintaining relationships and personal fulfillment. I aspire to reflect positively on my life, feeling a sense of completeness.
Conclusion
Through this reflection, I have gained a deeper understanding of my developmental trajectory and the relevance of Erikson’s psychosocial stages. Recognizing how early experiences shaped my trust, autonomy, and initiative provides insight into my current relationships and self-perception. Moreover, understanding future challenges and opportunities, such as fostering intimacy and contributing meaningfully, prepares me for continuous growth. Erikson’s framework is invaluable in guiding self-awareness and developing empathy and patience in work with children, as I can better appreciate the significance of each psychosocial stage in shaping individual identity and resilience.
References
- Marquez, V. (2021). Definitions of Erikson's 8 stages of psychosocial development [Class handout]. Department of Childhood Education, El Camino College, Torrance, CA.
- Paris, J., Ricardo, A., & Rymond, D. (2019). Understanding the Whole Child: Birth through Adolescence. California Community Colleges, Chancellor’s Office.
- McLeod, S. A. (2018). Erik Erikson's psychosocial stages of development. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/Erik-Erikson.html
- Blows, S., & Allan, S. (2019). Erikson’s psychosocial theory in practice. Journal of Child and Adolescent Behavior, 7(2), 235-242.
- Shaffer, D. R., & Kipp, K. (2013). Developmental Psychology: Childhood and Adolescence (9th ed.). Wadsworth.
- Newman, B. M., & Newman, P. R. (2015). Development Through Life: A Psychosocial Approach. Cengage Learning.
- Cherry, K. (2020). Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/erik-eriksons-stages-of-psychosocial-development-2795740
- Schaffer, H. R. (2012). Social Development (6th ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.
- Hockenberry, M. J., & Wilson, D. (2019). Wong's Nursing Care of Infants and Children (10th ed.). Elsevier.
- Feldman, R. S. (2017). Development Across the Lifespan (8th ed.). Pearson.