Erickson´s Developmental Theory

657 Words2 Pages

There are many well known developmental theories explaining human development. In nursing school I was exposed to some of these theories. In reviewing them I can appreciate various aspects of each of them. Looking back at my childhood I realized that many of these theories applied to me. I think the theory that best fits my perception of the stages of development would be Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development. Erikson theorizes there are 8 stages we progress through from infancy until adulthood. The 8 stages include Trust vs. Mistrust, Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt, Initiative vs. Guilt, Industry vs. Inferiority, Identity vs. Role Confusion, Intimacy vs Isolation, Generativity vs. Stagnation and Ego Integrity vs Despair. In each stage the individual will be confronted with a challenge and hopefully master that challenge before moving onto the next stage. Stages 1-5 focus on childhood development from birth up until adolescence. An interesting aspect of his theory is that through in each of the 8 stages our biological force is constantly negotiating with sociocultural forces and depending on how the individual reconciles this forces will determine if the individual carries on the virtue into the remaining developmental life stages. The first stage in Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development is Trust vs. Mistrust, which is characterized by oral-sensory and occurs from birth until age 2 years old. During this stage the infant depends on the parents to fulfill it’s basic needs. During this stage the infant will either develop trust or mistrust depending on how well the parents meet their need for warmth, regularity and affection. If they are neglected or abused they may see the world as undependable and unpred... ... middle of paper ... ...ost their self esteem and motivation to succeed. The fifth stage is Identity vs. Role Confusion and occurs from age 13-19 years old. During this stage adolescence are most concerned with their body image and how they appear to others. The adolescent is going through puberty and experiences profound bodily changes. This is the transition period from childhood to adulthood and is the time when we develop our sense of identity. I feel that having a sense of identity is important in giving young adults a sense of direction with regards to their future and what they want to accomplish in life. In conclusion I feel that as a nurse and parent it is very important to have an understanding of the various stages children go through. Knowing how to nurture your child through each stage will help your child grow up into a healthy, motivated and well adjusted individual.

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