Introduction to Psychology Rachel Stroia
Dr. Mullin November 28, 2016 Erikson’s Stages and Character Development (Literally and Literarily) Erik Erikson draws from Freud’s psychosexual stages to outline his own stages of development starting in infancy and continuing to late life. Each stage has a “crisis”, a term that he uses to explain as a barrier that must be overcome to develop a certain trait, either positive or negative. Each crisis is reached at a certain age of life, and the outcome of one crisis does not affect what the outcome of another crisis will be. Upon completion of each crisis, a person will either develop a positive trait or the negative counterpart to it. The positive outcomes of each eight stages …show more content…
These stages bring us into adulthood. The fifth stage is achieving self-identity rather than falling into identity diffusion and the sixth is achieving intimacy over isolation. Both these stages take place over the adolescent years. Erikson argues that one cannot achieve intimacy unless one develops the sense of self identity. Henry W. Maier explains this idea in his book Three Theories of Child Development.
A sense of identity carries with it a master of the problems of childhood and a genuine readiness to face, as a potential equal, the challenges of the adult world. Just as a sense of trust was once necessary for the infant to branch out into new childhood experiences, so is the acquisition of a sense of identity essential for making adulthood decisions, such as the choice of a vocation or a marriage partner.
Adolescents should be encouraged to explore different identities to help find their own identity. Once this has been achieved, they can go on to enter into their lives with a more enjoyable career and develop intimate relationships. But if one stays in the state of identity diffusion he or she is more likely to be
Dr. Mullin November 28, 2016 Erikson’s Stages and Character Development (Literally and Literarily) Erik Erikson draws from Freud’s psychosexual stages to outline his own stages of development starting in infancy and continuing to late life. Each stage has a “crisis”, a term that he uses to explain as a barrier that must be overcome to develop a certain trait, either positive or negative. Each crisis is reached at a certain age of life, and the outcome of one crisis does not affect what the outcome of another crisis will be. Upon completion of each crisis, a person will either develop a positive trait or the negative counterpart to it. The positive outcomes of each eight stages …show more content…
These stages bring us into adulthood. The fifth stage is achieving self-identity rather than falling into identity diffusion and the sixth is achieving intimacy over isolation. Both these stages take place over the adolescent years. Erikson argues that one cannot achieve intimacy unless one develops the sense of self identity. Henry W. Maier explains this idea in his book Three Theories of Child Development.
A sense of identity carries with it a master of the problems of childhood and a genuine readiness to face, as a potential equal, the challenges of the adult world. Just as a sense of trust was once necessary for the infant to branch out into new childhood experiences, so is the acquisition of a sense of identity essential for making adulthood decisions, such as the choice of a vocation or a marriage partner.
Adolescents should be encouraged to explore different identities to help find their own identity. Once this has been achieved, they can go on to enter into their lives with a more enjoyable career and develop intimate relationships. But if one stays in the state of identity diffusion he or she is more likely to be