“It is not the strongest of the species survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.” – Charles Darwin
The quote above by Charles Darwin refers to the theory of evolution, in which he deduced that creatures evolve through the process of natural selection; those that are most adaptable to the changing environment will survive and morph to better fit their new surroundings. The theory of evolution contributed to the ongoing process and study of human development. The study of human development is unique in a sense that it draws life and social science research methods and theories to explain how one’s psychological, cognitive and social-emotional development are influenced by biological, psychological and environmental factors (p.#). Many believe that one’s being is a product of “nature versus nurture”. However, research and studies show that human development involves both “nature and nurture” in each stage of life. The study of human development covers a lifespan, from conception until death. One may live a lifespan which he/she goes through the eleven life stages of psychosocial development. A positive resolution of psychosocial crisis in each life stage leads to successful adaptation for optimal development (p.9). In this paper, I will delve into my own biopsychosocial development which made me the person I am today.
According to Erikson’s psychosocial development theory, a lifespan has eleven sequential life stages starting with prenatal (conception until birth), infancy (birth until 2 years), toddlerhood (between 2 to 3 years), early school age (4 to about 5/6 years), middle childhood (6 to 12 years), early adolescence (preteen to 18), later adolescence (18 to 24 ...
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...the second turning point my life, where I felt I have accomplished my goal of obtaining a degree, hence, I re-shifted my focus to a future of becoming a wife. My role as a fiancée was to appease my significant other, and my purpose became to nurture an already frail relationship into one that is positive and healthy. However, by putting my own morals, values and goals aside, I found myself in identity confusion, a psychosocial crisis during this stage in life. Erikson states that during this stage, a person evaluates one’s identity (social role) and purpose (direction or meaning and values). Losing one’s own identity is a contributing factor that leads many marriages to divorces. By way of resolution, I have decided to regain my self-persona and find a meaningful career. In turn, the engagement did not survive, leading to my third turning point in life.
For my reflection paper I chose to write about chapter 9 that talks about lifespan development. This chapter grabbed my attention and I found it most interesting. In the textbookit discusses how there are certain factors that uncontrollably make us who we are. Those factorsare "unique combination of genes you inherited from your biological mother and father. Another is the historical era during which you grew up. Your individual development has also been shaped by the cultural, social, and family contexts within which you were raised." (Pg.352) The patterns of our lives are because of developmental psychology. "Developmental psychology is a scientific approach which aims to explain growth, change and consistency though the lifespan. Developmental
Evolution in general, is a hard concept to grasp. There are multiple factors that effect the outcome a species, for example: genetics, nurture, nature, and the environment all play an important role. It was once said that species do not survive due to the fact that they are the strongest or the most intelligent, but because that species is the most responsive to change.
Development throughout the lifespan goes through many stages. According to Erikson, who is a renowned developmental theorist, development throughout the lifespan is psychosocial. Erikson’s theory is still prominent in today’s models of personalities and developmental psychology. Erikson believed that you had to move through each stage to be successful in subsequent stages. The stages of psychosocial development start at birth.
Nature and Nurture is Theme number one in the Enduring Themes of Human Development. It helps psychologist’s come to many conclusions in terms of how children develop through time with their genetic material and their
In Erik Erikson’s theory he explains that in every stage, a positive or a negative attitude is developed within an individual. During our developing stages we are either successful or we fail. Each stage will come to us whether or not we’re ready for them or not. You can think of the stages as learning stages where crisis occur .Only if we have learned from the previous crisis we are successful. You cannot avoid 1 stage and move to a next stage because of the developing process. The outcome of our lives depends on the way we chose to progress throughout each stage in life. Erikson had his own way in describing each stage in life that we all must go through.
Erik Erikson developed eight psychosocial stages that occur through life. These stages help parents of younger children understand what the child is thinking and why they are acting the way that they do. For a person to become a well-rounded adult they need to succeed in each level. This essay will discuss the first six stages into young adulthood.
Noted psychologist Jerome Kagan once said "Genes and family may determine the foundation of the house, but time and place determine its form" (Moore 165). The debate on nature versus nurture has been a mystery for years, constantly begging the question of whether human behavior, ideas, and feelings are innate or learned over time. Nature, or genetic influences, are formed before birth and finely-tuned through early experiences. Genes are viewed as long and complicated chains that are present throughout life and develop over time. Nature supporters believe that genes form a child's conscience and determine one's approach to life, contrasting with nature is the idea that children are born “blank slates,” only to be formed by experience, or nurture. Nurture is constituted of the influence of millions of complex environmental factors that form a child's character. Advocators of nature do not believe that character is predetermined by genes, but formed over time. Although often separated, nature and nurture work together in human development. The human conscience is neither innate from birth or entirely shaped through experience, instead, genetics and environmental influences combine to form human behaviorism, character, and personality traits that constantly change and develop throughout life.
Erikson believes that, as we age and mature, our goal should move successfully from one stage to the next but he also believes that crises occurs at each stage. The crisis is psychosocial in nature. During our final stage, we tend to look back at our life. A person usually comes with two conclusion whether his/her life was sense of fulfillment or bunch of regrets. If a person has a healthy relationship with their children and their family members, he/she may feel sense of integrity. He/she may feel comfortable
Erik Erikson was a researcher of the Psychodynamic perspective who lived through the years 1902 to 1994. He developed a theory that dealt with the stages of human development and was referred to as a Neo-Freudian. A Neo-Freudian are those “who have revised Sigmund Freud’s theory” (Massey, 1986). His theory argued that “both society and culture challenge and shape us” (Feldman, 2011). Erik Erikson’s theory of psychological development does not specify specific ages, so the age categories can only be guessed upon. It is my personal thought that this was a smart move due to different age milestones for different cultures. The essay titled Erik Erikson: Ages, stages, and stories argues that the stages “are organized into a system of polarities that tempt us to think about psychological dynamics in a form that is more binary than Erikson intended.” Each stage has a ‘resolution’ or goal. Each stage presents a “crisis or conflict that the individual must resolve” (Feldman, 2011, p.16)
Nevertheless, Erikson’s eight stages of life are presumptions for understanding an individual’s entire life span. In the same manner, these eight stages aid individuals in finding his or her full identity or ego. Every individual will complete each stage at different levels because of his or her development. However, everyone will eventually discover his or her development from birth to death.
In 1874, Francis Galton said, “Nature is all that a man brings with him into the world; nurture is every influence that affects him after his birth”. The human body contains millions upon millions of cells and each of these cells contains hereditary information and DNA. However, there is no proof that the information carried in these genes predetermines the way in which we behave. I believe it is our life experiences and what we see and are told that shape the way in which we behave. Therefore, it appears to me that nurturing plays a far more governing and dominant role in a human being’s development rather than nature.
My name is Adetoun Oyewole – I am currently studying HND Hospitality Management. The purpose of this assignment is to bring out my personal development skills; which will lead me to professional development. This assignment will also enable me to focus on my personal skills that will lead me to success.
Provide written reflection on your own current skills and competencies against professional standards and organizational objectives given in the scenario. [1.1]
Each person’s life consists of normal stages of development; this is known as life span development. This development starts at infancy and continues through death. In each stage of development, each person experiences four types of development; physical, cognitive, social, and personality.
“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” – Charles Darwin