Вы находитесь на странице: 1из 14

ERIKSONS THEORY OF PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Crises in Psychosocial Development

First Stage: Trust Versus Mistrust Baby Peter (Madge and Bobs son)

Third Stage: Initiative Versus Guilt Jason (Janet and Henrys son)

Second Stage: Autonomy Versus Shame and Doubt Donnie ( Janet and Henrys son)

Fourth Stage: Industry Versus Inferiority Julie (Madge and Bobs daughter) Holly (Janet and Henrys daughter)

Crises in Psychosocial Development


Seventh Stage: Generativity Versus Stagnation Bill (Mildreds son) Ann (Bills wife) Janet (Grandma Mildreds daughter) Henry (Janets husband) Sally (Howards wife)

Fifth Stage: Identity Versus Role Confusion Alan (Janet and Henrys son)

Eight Stage: Ego Integrity Versus Despair Howard (Mildreds deceased husbands brother) Grandma Mildred

Sixth Stage: Intimacy Versus Isolation Brad (Janet and Henrys son) John (Madges unmarried brother) Madge (Bill and Anns daughter) Bob ( Madges husband) Sue ( Howard ad Sallys daughter)

Miguel Llovera Da Corte EPSY 5103 May, Jim November 1, 2012 CASE STUDY # 3 and 5: THE STANDARD FAMILY ERICKSONS PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT THEORY LIFE SPAN THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ON PERSONALITY AND SOCIALEMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENTAL CHANGE

The following case study attempts to explain the different crises in Psychosocial Development and how these crises allow individuals to develop certain strengths and defense mechanisms. In his model, Erikson described the following eight stages of development:

Stage 1: Trust vs. Mistrust Stage 2: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt Stage 3: Initiative vs. Guilt Stage 4: Industry vs. Inferiority

Stage 5: Identity vs. Role Confusion Stage 6: Intimacy vs. Isolation Stage 7: Generativity vs. Stagnation Stage 8: Ego Integrity vs. Despair

The Standard Family is gathered at the old homestead of Grandma Mildred Standard on the occasion of her 80th birthday. Present at the event is her oldest son, Bill (60), and his wife, Ann (61). Their daughter, Madge (30), and her husband, Bob (35), are there with Baby Peter (9 months) and daughter Julie (8). Madges unmarried brother, John (24), has just arrived. Grandmas daughter, Janet (42), and her husband, Henry (48), have brought their children, Donnie (2), Jason (5), Holly (12), Alan (16), and Brad (20). Mildred also invited Howard (72), Mildreds deceased husbands brother, to the celebration, and he has brought his new wife, Sally (50). Sallys daughter, Sue (33), came with Howard and Sally.

Analysis: Baby Peter (9 months) is the only member in the Standard Family immersed in the Trust versus Mistrust stage of Ericksons Psychosocial Development Theory. In this stage, individuals develop attachment relationships with their parents and those individuals that provide consistent and warm care. Baby Peter is still an innocent human being that cannot differentiate between good and bad; thus, he relies on his parents to help him safely explore the environment in which he develops. If individuals develop in a safe and secure environment, they are more likely to be open to new experiences that allow them to get to know new people and new concepts. As stated by Bergen adults are trusting individuals, but not so trusting given that at times they misread the environmental signals that tell them when some mistrust is warranted. Donnie (2) is Janet and Henrys youngest child. He is in the Autonomy versus Shame and Doubt stage of psychosocial development. During stage two, individuals are developing their cognitive and motor skills. Individuals are also discovering that there are certain activities that they can do on their own. In this stage, children find themselves in a process of trial and error Let me try and we will see what happens. Evidence suggests that during stage two, parents need to be less over-controlling and more trusting of their childrens abilities. Parents should encourage their childs attempt to become autonomous. If kids are constantly reprimanded, they will not be able to develop their self-esteem and confidence, and they will have a difficult time when interacting with other individuals around them. It is recommended that parents act as coaches that provide a sense of direction when children work towards the completion of a particular task. Ericksons explains that at the age of three, children start transitioning into stage three of psychosocial development. This stage is known as the crisis of Initiative versus Guilt. Jason (5)

is the only member in the family initiating social interactions and making decisions to cooperate in play. This stage is very crucial for children as they start to realize that the environment in which they develop has other people from whom they can learn. It is not just mom, dad, little brother, and big sister. Children are very observant and they start analyzing the role each individual plays in society. From direct observation, children start discovering the infinite dreams that, as stated by Bergen, can be attached to the goals of an active and productive adult life. Children that get the opportunity to use their creativity and sparkling imaginative skills, are those that take on leadership roles in latter adult life. These are the individuals that are not afraid of assuming the responsibility of representing a diverse group of individuals. Although at stage three individuals do not seem to experience conflicts of interest, they transition into a stage that can be demoralizing when individuals do not perform efficiently and effectively. In stage four, individuals learn that in order to be recognized and praised by others, they must work diligently. Though, not every single individual has the same skills and talents to achieve a particular goal. Based on Ericksons precepts, children who are encouraged for their initiatives and efforts will gain a view of themselves as able and effective at completing projects, seeing tasks through completion, and reaching a standard of excellence. A sense of inferiority is developed when childrens efforts are not encouraged or recognized. It is crucial that parents support their children in every decision they attempt to make, and help them reorganize their thoughts and plans when decisions are inappropriate. Parents should serve as the catalysts that make children reach their maximum potential. Holly and Julie are the two members of the Standard Family developing within stage four of Ericksons Psychosocial Development Theory. As humans evolve, personality and socio-emotional development issues start to become more complex. This complexity is evident when individuals try to find meaning and purpose in

themselves. At adolescence, Erickson believed that the primary crisis was that of Identity versus Role Confusion. It is during this stage when individuals start putting all the pieces of the puzzle together. These pieces refer to the different skills learned in previous stages. If during adolescence individuals have not had good role models, clear expectations, and a solid and stable parental relationship, identity crisis will dominate the course of these individuals latter years. Some manifestations of identity crisis would make individuals lack direction, feel unproductive and/or helpless, and be unsure of their own strengths and of what they are capable of achieving. Alan, who is Janet and Henrys son, is a sixteen-year old male who is probably attending highschool. Hopefully, Alan has grown up in a house with good morals and values, and in which parents have explained the importance of setting goals as a means of furthering personal and professional growth. Brad, John, Madge, and Bob are members of the Standard family who have already experienced the challenges of the fifth stage of Ericksons Psychosocial Development Theory. They are now trying to understand the pros and cons of the Intimacy versus Isolation stage. From Ericksons perspectives, having a clear sense of ones identity is important before sharing oneself intimately with others. After individuals truly understand who they are and what their role in life is, they have a need of sharing these insights with other people who may have the same interests, concerns, and hopes. During post-exploratory stages, individuals devote most of their time sharing and committing to another in partnership. Part of this commitment focuses on intimacy and the development of mature sexual relationships, which is seen as one of the steps of forming a family. Bergen states that a person with a strong sense of intimacy will have the basic strength of love, which enables him/her to be intimate with others and finally extend that love to a broad circle of humanity. In the Standard family Madge and Bob are clear examples of the Intimacy

stage. They are committed in a relationship and have extended their love to their two children, Peter and Julie. However, Sue, John and Brad are exhibiting traces of isolationism. Perhaps, John and Brad are not yet willing to devote a considerable amount of time to a relationship. They are probably interested in developing other kinds of interpersonal relationships. Once stable relationships are developed, individuals start transitioning into the Generativity versus Stagnation stage of Psychosocial Development. This stage is an opportunity for those that have become parents to prepare societys future generations. A clear example is the case of Bill and Ann, Janet and Henry, and Sally (Howards wife). These individuals have to raise their children and alert them of the possible challenges they can face as the world continues to evolve. These parents should be spending a considerable amount of time ensuring that their kids are getting a good education, eating adequately, collaborating with others, and that they are also having access to good health care. Bergen states that during this stage individuals should also have concerns about developing projects that promote future generative institutions. From her perspective, if generativity is not developed, adults may focus only on their own needs and become self-indulgent, leading to stagnation and personal impoverishment. It is imperative that parents allow their children to collaborate with other individuals in need, as a means of contributing to healthy social development. By doing so, children can be more sensitive to the needs of others and willing to develop strategies that would benefit an entire society. Although human development can be seen as an endless process, it is during stage eight when individuals see their life efforts as having had meaning and value. During the Ego Integrity versus Despair stage of Psychosocial Development, individuals instill their wisdom in every interaction they have with others. These individuals become a good source of advice for those transitioning in the earlier stages described by Erickson. The biggest challenge during this

phase is to accept that life on earth is not eternal. As stated by Bergen, Erickson connected the last integrity stage with the earliest trust stage by concluding that if older people have enough integrity not to fear their death, then their children will be enabled children to feel confident and fearless in facing any lifes challenge. Grandma Mildred is now enjoying the fruits of a live well lived. Howard is still the head of a household, married to a fifty-year old woman, with a daughter that has exhibited clear signs of isolationism. Throughout the different stages of Eriksons Psychosocial Development, individuals learn that there are external factors or situations that interrupt the regular course of action of certain life events. These individuals, who are typically living with or around some other family members, are impacted positively and/or negatively when certain events are redefined. In the case of the Standard Family the following event occurred a year after Mildreds 80th birthday was celebrated. Below is a summary of these events: Janet and Henry divorced Brad graduated from college Madge got a full-time job Alan flunked chemistry Holly grew three inches taller Julie won a swimming contest Sue started dating John Howard got Alzheimers disease Janet and Henrys divorce is going to affect their children the most, particularly because this is not a normative event. In the United States, the rate of divorced has augmented drastically, concerning most members of the U.S Department of Human Services. Now most single parents, Jason started kindergarten Grandma Mildred had an operation Bill was forced to take early retirement Peter started walking and talking Donnie was diagnosed with autism Bob got a promotion

with dependents, will apply for state assistance. This phenomenon is redefining the characteristics of the traditional family in this country. Donnie (2) does not understand what a divorce entails nor does he know the negative consequences it carries. It would be difficult for a single parent (Janet or Henry) to guide every single decision that Donnie attempts to make as to what to eat, what to wear, and what to do. In the middle of the divorce, Janet and Henry realized that there is something wrong with Donnie. They are still trying to figure out if Donnies awkward behavior has something to do with the decision they have made. After taking Donnie to the doctor, Janet and Henry realized that their youngest son has been diagnosed with autism. This non-normative diagnosis will have an impact on the parents and on the older siblings, who may perceive Donnie as if he does not belong to the family group. Autism is not a hereditary condition and Donnies parents were not anticipating this event. Now, Janet and Henry have to shift most of their resources to providing treatment for Donnie. They also have to figure out a way to inform the other kids about autism, the challenges it may bring to Donnie, and how they can develop a network of help and understanding. Jason, who is five and is in the Initiative versus Guilt stage, may develop some resentment towards one or both of his parents. The fact that Jason will have to spend some time with his mom and some time with his dad will reduce the time he would have available for social interaction, especially now that he is expected to start kindergarten (normative event). Most of the time parents that are going through a divorce tend to become frustrated easily. If Jason presents his parents with an idea, he may be squelched by adult criticism which will result in a loss of initiative. Holly, a 12-year old female, may developed a sense of inferiority given that her parents are not together to ensure that her efforts are encouraged. She may be side-tracked when

attempting to complete certain tasks, or may refuse to make an effort at all. But, the fact that she has grown three inches taller can boost her ego to a certain extent. This normative event should generate a sense of accomplishment in her, as it is known that there are certain kids that do not grow as much as she did. However, she is the only girl in the family and she may feel inferior when she compares herself to her older brothers. It is important to note that Holly is transitioning into puberty, a very delicate stage for kids since they learn to discover their true identity and roles in life. Alan, who is 16, may question the true meaning of the strength that is developed during stage five fidelity. This questioning could generate in Alan a sense of insecurity regarding his strengths. It is plausible to assert that this sense of insecurity has made Alan flunk his chemistry class in school. Flunking a class will make him fall behind in school and will make him feel as if he is not capable of successfully completing certain tasks. Perhaps, Alan may not be able to graduate with his classmates if this atypical pattern of behavior persists. It would be Janet and Henrys responsibility to help Brad stay on track and help him find a tutor to assist him with his academics. Last but not least, Brad, a college-age student and the oldest sibling, should help keep his brothers and sisters united. He should serve as a support system for Janet and Henry. It is important to note that Brad is also graduating from college, which is an expected event after fulfilling the educational requirements of a particular program. The plan he may have had developed for his future may have to change given that he may have to take care of his younger siblings. This change of plans could bring some frustration to Brads life; Nevertheless, assuming that he had a strong sense of direction while he was in stage five, he should be able to juggle family commitments with the other responsibilities associated with adulthood. If Brad

developed a strong ego identity, he will embrace this life situation as an opportunity to grow both personally and professionally. Madge accepting a full-time position will have an impact on the relationship she has developed with her husband. It is typical for middle adults to start looking for a job after forming a family, leading to a shift in some pre-established family roles. Madge is going from being a stay-at-home mom to a regular full-time employee. Her decision to accept this job was based on the current economic situation that the country she lives in is facing. Madge will not have the same amount of time to take care of certain family responsibilities, forcing Bob to assume some other family roles/responsibilities on top of the responsibilities he has earned with his promotion at work. On the other hand, Bobs wife will become a source of income and will help pay for most household expenses, relieving some financial pressure from her husband. Madge being employed will boost her self-esteem and identity. Hopefully, this full-time job will not become Madges primary focus. If it does, then Bob will feel isolated and perhaps depressed. Madge has a 9 year-old-baby, which will force her to incur day-care expenses. Julie is still attending school and she will have to be put in an after-care facility. In this transition, Peter starts talking and walking. Now Peter will be able to use his senses to explore the environment that surrounds him. Peter is still developing his cognitive and motors skills; thus, learning how to gain independence. This normative event has a direct impact on his parents and on the way they love and care for him. His parents should show confidence in Peters abilities so that he feels like he can trust his environment. Peters parents have assumed new responsibilities and it is important that they remain emotionally stable and involved in their childrens lives.

Although Julie is at a different stage than Peter, she still requires her parents support and direction. Julie has recently won a swimming competition, which assures her that every good work performed will result in achievements that will be valued by parents and teachers. After several years of practice and hard work, Julies parents were expecting her to win a medal. From now on, every time Julie receives a medal or any other type of recognition she will realize that she has reached a standard of excellence. It is at this point of the psychosocial development model when children develop competence skills. Madge and Bob need to encourage Julie to continue working as hard as possible. This will allow Julie to tackle hard problems and establish solid goals in her future life. Apparently, every family member in the Standard family has been affected by different life situations. Grandma Mildred, Bill, Howard, and Sue are not the exception. For them, life is spinning so fast that they are starting to feel anxious and hopeless. Grandma Mildred recently visited the doctor and found out that she needs to have surgery. Grandma Mildred was not anticipating this event as her main focus was on enjoying the last years of her life. She does not know if this surgery could shorten these days. Therefore, she requires Bill and Janets assistance to figure out if this procedure is required. Having surgery can rapidly deteriorate Grandmas health. However, she will use her son and daughters assistance along with the wisdom that she has developed throughout the years to make the best decision. If Grandma decides to have the surgery, Bill would be able to spend a considerable amount of time with her now that he has been forced to take early retirement. Even though Bill had planned to retire at the age of 65, this is an excellent opportunity for him and Ann to work together to help John, who is 24, get out of his isolationism. Additionally, they should work together to develop a plan on how they want to spend the last years of their life, as well as to

evaluate if they have the necessary resources to avoid stagnation and impoverishment. Although some mature adults look forward to retirement, they reach a point in which they feel they are not as productive as they used to be; thus, generating a sense of emotional turbulence or disintegration. Bills supervisor decided to lay him off as the company could not afford his salary due to recent economic downturns. Coincidently, Howard, Mildreds deceased husbands brother, has been diagnosed unexpectedly with Alzheimers disease. Eventually, Howard will start experiencing issues with his memory, thinking, and behavior. This disease can accelerate the end-of-life for Howard. Sally, who is Howards wife, will have to help her husband make major decisions as his cognitive abilities will decay. Sue, Sallys daughter, is in a stage of Generativity versus Stagnation and will have to redefine her life goals to help her mom cope with Howards disease. Sue recently started to date John, a 24-year old male, who is in the Intimacy versus Isolation stage of psychosocial development. It is evident that Sues interests and expectations will differ significantly from those of Johns, which can make the relationship a bit unstable, particularly when it comes to developing a mature sexual relationship. Sues decision is considered to be non-normative on the dimensions of timing, duration, or sequencing. Each member of the Standard family is experiencing every crises defined in Eriks ons Psychosocial Development Theory. During each stage, individuals adopt certain normative and non-normative patterns of behavior that are shaped by the interactions they develop with other individuals in the same context. As stated by Bergen, healthy resolution of each crisis or stage, however, may include social-emotional factors related to the other end of the continuum so that the monitoring and evaluating experiences will be realistic.

John was starting to develop a relationship with Sue. Moving to London, an unexpected event, will force him to redefine his goals and future plans. John probably decided to move to London to explore a more competitive market, or perhaps, to further his education. This individual is yet not prepared for a mature relationship and has no major

responsibilities/obligations with others. It is understandable for a person this age to move overseas and search for new opportunities. However, when making this type of decision, it is important to take into consideration each famil y members opinion. Frustrated after John made his decision, Sue decided to open her mind to new life opportunities. After an intensive job search, she finally landed a job in California. Brads decision to become a priest is considered to be a normative event. Usually by the age of 21, most individuals discover what their interests and vocation are. Although Brad had recently graduated from college, he believes that leading people and serving those in need is where his heart really is. Joining the priesthood will require Brad to stay away from his family, forcing him to spend less time helping with his younger siblings. Brads mom found out that Henry has been diagnosed with cancer. Henry did not take good care of himself during his 20s and 30s which, added to the pressures of the divorce, accelerated the cancer. Nobody in the family was expecting this diagnosis. Janet is very concerned and believes that she needs to do something to be able to pay for Johns medical bills. In the middle of her despair, she decides to go back to school. She gets accepted into medical schools. By going to school, she plans to find a cure for her ex-husbands disease. Janet also plans to use her Pell grants and student loans to help John with his expenses. Janet does not see her age as a barrier; however, she does not realize that her cognitive skills may not be as sharpen as a 21 year-old individual.

As this is were not enough, Alan breaks his leg (non-normative event) and Holly decides to join the ice hockey team (normative). Holly is the only girl in the family; however, being around boys may have motivated her to play a male-dominated sport. She thinks it is fun and will help her release some stress that she has lately acquired. Alan will have to stay at home for a couple of weeks until he recovers from his injury. Evidently, he is not going to be able to participate in all his school-related activities and will miss a considerable amount of school work. While drama appears to dominate the lives of some members of the Standard family, Bill and Ann decide to enjoy retirement by taking a world tour for 4 months (normative event). Being away for four months may have a negative impact on Grandma Mildred, who is not recuperating fast enough after her surgery. Although she has had limited progress after the procedure, she is good in spirits to the point that she decides to buy a motorcycle (non-normative). Madge has not been feeling well for the last couple of weeks. After a doctors visit, she discovered that she is expecting her third child. Madge has seriously committed to a relationship with Bob, and it is quite understandable that she and her husband have decided to bring a new baby into this world. This event may conflict with the job Madge accepted a year ago. In addition to that, Bobs National Guard Unit is sent overseas. Bob was mentally prepared for this event, but now that there is a baby on the way, he does not know what to do. He feels sorry that his wife will have to take care of all the family responsibilities while he is in a different country.

Reference: Bergen, Doris. Human Development: Traditional and Contemporary Theories. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2008. Print.

Вам также может понравиться