Erikson's Stages Of Development Essay

Industry vs inferiority is the fourth stage in Erik Erikson's stages of development. In this stage a child is in elementary school growing, learning, and failing. These factors help children understand the world around them, but when a child does fail it could be crucial to their self esteem. In this stage a child learns competence, they learn to be successful and efficient and have confidence in what they do such as industry, but if they fail this stage, the fall under inferiority. If this skill is successfully achieved, it leads to an ability that contributes to lifelong well-being. Failing to master these critical tasks, however, can result in social and emotional struggles that last a lifetime. The major question of kids minds at this stage is “How can I be good?” What's supposed to

Children's efforts to master school work help them to grow and form a positive self-concept ... a sense of who they are. "In this stage children are learning to see the relationship between perseverance and the pleasure of a job completed" (Woolfolk, 1987). “The child that is ill prepared for school or lacks the tools for learning from life’s experience will despair” (Fleming, 2004). I believe I failed these tasks. The major question on my mind was “Why wasn’t I good enough?” This question started to consume me when I was hailed back in first grade. I remember my first day, entering the new school with new faces in the middle of the year, when friends were already forming. I was already a shy kid, and didn’t like to talk to anyone. After a few weeks into this new land, of First Grade I remembered my new teacher's facial expressions, how every time they changed when she looked at my assignments. I didn't understand why her facial expressions changed. I failed the first grade when I moved to Florida in the middle of the school year. I didn’t understand how the