Erik Erikson: Autobiographic Erik Erikson had a psychosexual theory that emphasized that in addition to mediating between id impulses

and superego demands, the ego makes a positive contribution to development, acquiring attitudes and skills that make the individual an active, contributing member of society (Berk, 2008). Eriksons first five stages parallel Freuds stages, but Erikson added three adult stages. The three stages he added are Early Adulthood, Middle Childhood, and Old Age. He was one of the first to recognize the lifespan nature of development. Erikson pointed out that normal development must be understood in relationship to each cultures life situation. (Berk 2008, p. 16) Erikson's basic philosophy might be said to rest on two major themes: (1) the world gets bigger as we go along and (2) failure is cumulative. While the first point is fairly obvious, we might take exception to the last. True, in many cases an individual who has to deal with horrendous circumstances as a child may be unable to negotiate later stages as easily as someone who didn't have as many challenges early on. For example, we know that orphans who weren't held or stroked as infants have an extremely hard time connecting with others when they become adults and have even died from lack of human contact. (Harder, 2009) Like Piaget, Erik Erikson (1902-1994) maintained that children develop in a predetermined order. Instead of focusing on cognitive development, however, Erikson was interested in how children socialize and how this affects their sense of self (AllPsych & Heffner Media Group, 2004). According to the theory, successful completion of each stage results in a healthy personality and successful interactions with others (AllPsych & Heffner Media Group, 2004). Failure to successfully complete a stage can result in a reduced ability to complete further

stages and therefore a more unhealthy personality and sense of self. These stages, however, can be resolved successfully at a later time. (AllPsych & Heffner Media Group, 2004) Erikson Stage 1 Stage one of Eriksons Psychosocial stages is from birth to age 1 and is the most fundamental stage in life. Basic trust verses mistrust: From warm, responsive care, infants gain a sense of trust that the world is good. Mistrust occurs if infants are neglected or handled harshly. During these times, the potential for personal growth is high, but so is the potential for failure. When I was a baby I liked to move around a lot. I was a happy, outgoing babying that would want to be held by anyone. I always wanted something soft to hold on to and cuddle. So, I think that I was very trusting and relaxed. I came from a very loving big family and always had someone giving me attention. When it came to learning things and trying to talk I developed these skills at an average time. I have never been the kind to catch on very quickly because I am just average and I have always been trusting. Babies who do not have a sense of trust to those taken care of them, from not getting enough attention and their needs met sometimes grow up being more afraid of the world. I seem more like a person who is not afraid of much at all. I was very trusting in stage one and as Ive grown up I have trusted most people unless they have given me a reason not to. Erikson Stage 2 Erik Eriksons psychosocial stage 2 is about autonomy versus shame and doubt. Using new mental and motor skills, children want to decide for themselves. Autonomy is fostered when parents permit reasonable free choice and do not force or shame the child (Berk, p.

16). According to Erikson it is in this stage that self-control and self-confidence is developed. It is when children start to do things for themselves or at least attempt to try. In this stage I would try to do things, but because of my laid back personality if I couldnt exactly do something myself it usually did not upset me. I was not the kind of child that had to do it myself and I would allow people to help me without usually getting upset about it. So I do not think that I experienced shame or doubt. If I could not accomplish a task I would get help willingly without making a scene about it usually. I do not think I had doubt because having help with something allowed me to continue to learn how-to and I think I felt that everything would always be fine. Erikson Stage 3 Erik Eriksons psychosocial stage three is initiative versus guilt. This stage is when children gain an insight into the person they can become (Berk, 2008). Throughout my childhood in stage three, my mom does not think I experienced guilt. She told me a story about how my older sister and cousin were playing once and I was not allowed to be included in their play. They were supposed to be in charge of me while my mom was out, but werent giving me attention. I went and turned on the water in the laundry room sink and left it on. My mom said she was mad when she saw my sister Stephanie had put towels all over the floor; well it was because she was working on cleaning up my mess due to me being bored as a result of not being included. My mom said I didnt act like I felt bad about it at all. I think shes probably right because I probably did not think I was the one who should be feeling any guilt. I differ a lot from my older sister though, because I was not the kind of girl that like putting on dresses that much when doing role play but my mom was very supportive of anything so she did not mind it at all

that I would rather dress up as a cowboy and put on my dads old cowboy boots. She found it acceptable for a country girl and my sister got into liking the glamorous things but I didnt. There was no guilt, just variety in my stage three. Erikson Stage 4 This stage is industry verses inferiority. In this stage it is very important that they have good attendance in school and I rarely ever got sick so I had great attendance. At school children learn to work and cooperate with others (Berk, 2008). This is when children began to discover the need to succeed. Inferiority develops when negative experiences at home or school lead to feelings of incompetence (Berk, 2008). I was a successful child and was always encouraged to improve myself. I was well praised every time I could do something on my own. I was the kind of child that would sit down at the kitchen table and work on my homework with pride that I could. My mom would walk away to do something come back and praise me that I finished without needing her there beside me the whole time. Sometimes if I was really lucky she would let me have a piece of candy for doing my homework so well or at least for trying to do it right by myself. I liked being able to do things but I never really got competitive about anything. It did not matter to me if I was the best or the greatest, just that I was trying and putting forth the effort was always acceptable. I did have to be the smartest child in class, I was just encouraged to be the best that I could be and that would make me great in my parents eyes. Erikson Stage 5 In Erik Eriksons psychosocial stage 5 the question Who am I? is what was usually going through my head and those around me as well. It is the stage of identity verses role

confusion. While thinking we are young adults many have a lot of curiosity as we try to form our own personal identity. By exploring values and vocational goals, the young person forms a personal identity and the negative outcome is confusion about future adult roles (Berk, 2008). This in my mind is the most complex stage because it is the most confusing. I know who I was or did I only think that I knew? In my opinion all those in the adolescence stage have a lot of confusion, but it does not necessarily mean they do not know who they are. Sure I might have asked people lots of questions and needed lots of advice but thats because I wanted to be the one making the educated decisions not the guesses. I knew who I was, but sometimes I needed reassurance. It does not matter how old we are or what stage we are in there is always going to be more we can learn and we can learn a lot from other people in our lives. I had an idea of who I was and who I wanted to become but I did not know enough to know the little details on my own. I had some role confusion because I did not understand what peoples expectations of me were. I did not know what all I should expect to myself. I knew what my values and morals were but I did not think I had to listen to my parents very much and I was not always honest to the people in my life. I had different groups of friends and sometimes acted different depending on who I was around. I kept quiet about my faith sometimes because I was not sure what people would think of me because of it and wanted to be accepted by as many people as I could. I was not the kind that wanted to talk about my personal life with my family because their judgment was the kind I was most afraid of because they mean so much to me. I did not come off as emotional to them as my older sister did in this stage, but that is because I was about talking things through with my closes of friends at this stage. I lied to my family members about things

sometimes and felt like there were parts of my life they just could never understand. I had my identity, but my identity did seem to be a little confused at times. Erikson Stage 6 Erik Eriksons psychosocial stage 6 is Early Adulthood. It is the stage of intimacy versus isolation. Throughout this stage young adults establish intimate relationships. Because of earlier disappointments, some individuals cannot form close bonds and remain isolated (Berk, 2008). In this stage the most important events are supposed to be love relationships. In this stage I have close relationships with friends but am not open to forming any special relationship with a guy that could be a possible soul mate. I isolate the dating option from my life style and do not want to think about men because I do not want distractions getting in the way of my college education or future job opportunities. I do not want to have another person in my life that I would have to make time for because I do not want my life to be more complex than it already is. I am open to having close friendship relationships, but not to anything that is beyond the just friends zone. Being prepared and successful is my top concern right now. I keep close friendships with my friends that are closest to me and mean the most to me. I rely on my friends when I get frustrated and they always pull through for me because they know I am always here for them too. My friends are my support system and I am closet to the ones who have a positive effect on my life and do not associate with the negative type ones very often. I tend to try to avoid anything that might bring me down or slow me down as much as possible. I am not isolating people; I am just not ready to think about the person one special person I want share my entire life and future with yet.

Erikson Stage 7 Erik Eriksons psychosocial stage seven is in middle adulthood. It is the stage of generatively versus stagnation. It is the stage of generativity versus stagnation, generativity in this stage being the ability to care for other people. Those who fail in this stage lack meaningful accomplishments and often feel sluggish like they have a dull life. The important event for this stage is usually considered to be parenting. It is in this stage where each adult must find some way to satisfy and support the next generation. In this stage I would be more on the generativity side I think. I think that because I have such a good and open heart that I am good at putting others before myself. I would be very good at taking care of and guiding the next generation because to me they are the future of this world; so I would want them to be the best person they can be and to make a positive difference. I love children so I would enjoy caring for them and being a part of how they are raised. I think I would have at least 4 children maybe 6 at the most. I would want my children to have a family of their own and I would want to be involved in their life as much as possible. Erikson Stage 8 Erik Eriksons eighth psychosocial stage is the stage of integrity versus despair. Integrity results from feeling that life was worth living as it happened. Older people who are dissatisfied with their lives fear death. This is the most important stage because it is where you are looking back on your life span and reflecting on it. It is the stage of old age, the last stage a person has before they reach death so they decide what their offsprings will receive from them upon death.

In this stage I would have integrity because I like to think that I try to live my life to the fullest. I would be fine with the fact of death because I know it is part of the circle of life and that everyone has to have their time. I was once told that every time a person dies a baby is born so I know that the world would still go on and it would be okay without me here someday. I think that living a good life through all the ups and down is a part of life and death is not something people would normally look forward to but it is something that all people need to accept that it has to take place. People cant live forever thats just how it is so I would die with integrity and become someones guardian angel.

References Berk, L. (2008). Infants, Children, and Adolescents. Pearson Education Inc.: 75 Arlington Street, Suite 300, Boston, MA 02116 Arlene F. Harder The Developmental Stages of Erik Erikson (2009).

<http://www.learningplaceonline.com/stages/organize/Erikson.htm> AllPsych and Heffner Media Group, Inc. (2004.) Eriksons Stages of Psychosocial Development. <http://allpsych.com/psychology101/social_development.html>