Nieva, Angel Ann T.

Reinforcing Learning through the Application of

BSED English Psycho-social Theory

Introduction

Psychosocial theory evolves on the function of ego development connected with self-
understanding, identity formation, social relationships, and worldview across the lifespan
(Newman & Newman, 2020). Through the development of an individual, social interactions are
vital to providing an adequate amount of learning and substantial experience that will help the
sanction development. Its proponent was then first introduced by Sigmund Freud as psychosexual
theory. Freud believed that the personality develops during early childhood and that childhood
experience develops the sense of behavior. On the other hand, Eric Erickson enhanced Freud’s
theory with its Psychosocial theory, which serves as a function of understanding that the
development of a person is in social nature rather than sexual. Thus, he proposed that the
motivation of an individual is derived from the need to achieve in an area of life. Its purpose is to
see the meaning of life in its different stages of development, from infancy to adulthood.
Unfortunately, each stage has conflicts to face, which will become a success if it is passed hence
failure if the tasks in each conflict are incomplete. With these sentiments, it is vital to be the
foundation of an educator before facing the students and giving certain activities to each.
Furthermore, the view of a student’s lifespan since childhood will draw a broad framework that
will be helpful in the approach of the educator to the students. The educator will then notice that
some of the students are not socially competent, wants to work alone, or are dependent on social
and group activities. Thus, then, again, it can be drawn from the nature and social development
of a child since childhood. Teachers who apply psychosocial development in the classroom create
an environment where each child feels appreciated and comfortable learning new things and
building relationships with peers without fear (Hooser, 2010).

Significant Findings

According to Eric Erickson (1950/1963), different cultures and family situations allow different
timeframes for each stage of psychosocial crises. This is when the situation in the environment
provides the necessary stimulus. Then the crisis will occur in the sense that the tension between
the people and the environment will then resolve. Each crisis has its own resulting virtue or
essential strength (Erikson, 1961). With this, children will have a sense of crisis in every situation.
Hence, they will find the strength to resolve each.

In learning of the student, consistency in the classroom, teachers who are responsive and
warm (Hamre & Piante, 2001), and who cares for all students will foster a sense of trust. Helping
each student is a teacher’s goal; this is where students feel secure in their thinking and creativity.
Helping students learn how to recognize supporters and non-supporters in their own lessons will
encourage a healthy balance between trust and mistrust.

Developing purpose, according to Erickson (1950/1995), is considered an important stage for

the building society because “the child is at no time readier to learn quickly and avidly, to become
bigger in the sense of sharing obligation and performance, than during this period of his
development” (p. 232). For instance, children allowed to play developed the sense to imagine
other realities, including adult identities. For children to have a healthy sense of purpose, children
need opportunities to successfully pursue their initiative with a sense of realistic limits.

The identity of the individual must incorporate a belief in the self as a member of the culture
of the domain of his or her talent (Oyserman, 2007). Applying Erickson’s psychosocial
development of talent among gifted and non-gifted students creates a consistent and powerful
approach to maximizing the potential and talents of the students. Creating approaches to teaching
and learning sometimes leads to limited improvement of the students. Hence, looking back on
Erickson’s psychosocial development will create effectiveness and knowledge of the students
learning.

On the other hand, a number of researches that investigated the impact of social media usage
have revealed that it adds significant value through the availability of materials online (Aligwe,
Ugochukwu & Nwafor, 2017; Apuke, 2016; Fasae and Adegbilero-Iwari, 2016). The results
indicated that there are negative and positive advantages for social media users, especially for
children. With this, it has been found that the time of the students using social media is more
massive than the time spent on students’ interpersonal and academic and somehow causes
psychological and physical factors. Akhtar (2013) revealed that immoderate usage of the internet
can result in addiction among students, and it could lead to poor academic attainment. However,
it is also recommended that the use of the internet may perhaps be used in enhancing academic
performance, hence, be useful to the students’ learning.

Students can also join the internet or social groups reflecting aspects of their personality they
wish to discover or develop (Kolek & Saunders, 2008). It then results in the psychosocial
development of the students; since the interaction between other students is occurring- which
causes individuality formation and social skill advancement. According to William & Merten
(2009), social media helps students cope with emotional disturbances with particular reference to
grieving due to the passing of someone. According to Flad (2010), parents are worried about their
children’s habit of using different social media platforms since it happened to affect their
psychosocial behaviors. As a result of browsing the internet. It decreases face-to-face interaction,
lack of emotional connection, laziness, and inauthentic expression of feelings which have led
Bateman, Bonn, Curtis, Shaw & Simons (2016) to suggest that human behaviors are enhanced
through basic social norms.

Conclusion

Every student is different; hence an educator, should be dynamic with their activities and
approach to teaching. Eric Erickson’s psychosocial theory is a vital knowledge that teachers must
know. It builds self-awareness and the improvement of oneself to be better at teaching. It is then
an integral part for the teachers since they should approach each student with understanding and
ways that the students can cope; this same with working on activities that the students should do.
Some students are not into a group activity but individual work. Some students like to learn alone
and in silence rather than in a loud and participative environment. Parents and guardians should
help the school to pay more attention to their children, especially on the usage of gadgets and
social media, since it can also affect negatively the students learning. As a future educator, it will
give insight that proper guidance should be given to the students both in academic learning. And
in social interaction, whether physically and through social media, to better manage their time with
both aspects to minimize effects of it. Learning is difficult. It may be enjoyable to some and may
not to others. With this, learners and the educator should be specific, hence broad to their goal.
They need to acknowledge the need for interaction in a social form and the development of one
another in different stages with its conflict.
References:

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