Psychosocial Development

Hmm.....Got my study guides and reading material for the next 2 modules of my course. So I use this blog to summarise what I have gathered as a means to remember what I have read.

There are many theories relating to psychosocial development. Of course we have Freud's focus on the unconscious, childhood experiences and psychosexual development.

But I find Erik Erikson's theories of psychosocial development very interesting and easier to relate. Erikson believes that in a life-time there are 8 stages of critical tension to be resolved.

1) At Infancy up to 1 year old the tension is "Basic Trust vs Basic Mistrust". A positive development at this stage arises when an infant learns that his basic needs will be attended to and although the caregiver may not be immediately present when his needs arise, they will be taken care of subsequently, hence the needless anxiety and anger. In addition to developing a sense of trust, another healthy development is confidence in oneself and a sense of inner certainty. A negative development would be a low sense of basic trust with a pessimistic worldview.

2) At Early Childhood from age 1 to 6, the tension is "Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt". A child given choices accompanied by protection and guidance, develops a sense of autonomy and independence. Excessive control thwarts independence giving rise to a sense of inadequacy. Lack of guidance often results in repeated failure and when coupled with ridicule develops in the child a sense of shame and doubt .

3) At Play Age from 6 to 10, the tension is "Initiative vs Guilt". Erikson defines initiative as a truly free sense of enterprise largely governed by conscience. At this stage, the child begins to explore possible future roles for themselves, the kind of person they want to be, often toying with the idea of imitating their parents. Conscience comes with guilt. The virtue that results from this phase is purpose. In an overly inhibitive environment the child may become excessively good and obedient but may develop resentment especially when the parents themselves do not live up to the conscience they fostered. The consequence of excessive guilt aroused at this stage inhibits a child from living up to his capacities prefering to remain in the background.

4) At School Age from 10 to 14 years, the tension is "Industry vs Inferiority". At this stage the child learns the intellectual, technological and physical tools of his society. There is a desire to learn and to know accompanied by great curiosity. The risk is a sense of inadequacy and inferiority when there is an over emphasis on the importance of intellectual or technological competence. Instead of having an attitude " I will work hard to suceed", it becomes an attitude " I will work hard to avoid failing".

The first 4 stages result in the following convictions:

At stage 1 (trust vs mistrust), the belief that " I AM WHAT I AM GIVEN"
At stage 2 (autonomy vs shame), " I AM WHAT I WILL"
At stage 3 (initiative vs guilt), " I AM WHAT I CAN IMAGINE I WILL BE"
At stage 4 (industry vs inferiority), " I AM WHAT I LEARN"

to be contd....