My Erikson Timeline by

Stage 1: Trust vs Mistrust

hwarner19_1 — 2024-02-26 20:27:10 UTC

The first stage in Erikson's psychosocial development is trust vs mistrust. This stage is birth to 18 months. At this age trust helps form healthy relationships. Trust can be built with dependable caregivers. But with a lack of trust the child can grow to struggle to form healthy relationships. "If mistrust predominates, children will view the world as unfriendly and unpredictable and will have trouble forming quality relationships" (Martorell, 2023, p. 150). At this age I was being frequently exposed to living with different people. At one point I lived with my mom and dad, then just my mom but visiting my dad, and eventually my mom and step dad. "Sensitive, responsive, consistent caregiving is the key to successful resolution of this conflict" (Martorell, 2023, p. 164).I think this created mistrust as it didn't allow me to get used to the situation I was living in.

Stage 2: Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt

hwarner19_1 — 2024-02-26 20:38:23 UTC

The second stage in Erikson's psychological development is Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt. This stage is at 18 months-3 years. During this stage children will form a sense of judgement and independence. Toddlers only have so much free will so the parents have to set limits, which is where shame and doubt comes in. "As children are better able to make their wishes understood, they become more powerful and independent" (Martorell, 2023, p. 156). My mother tells me that I was independent at this age. My sister wasn't born yet so I often did things by myself.

Stage 3: Initiative vs Guilt

hwarner19_1 — 2024-02-26 20:51:45 UTC

The third stage in Erikson's psychosocial development is Initiative vs Guilt. This stage is at about 3-5 years old. At this stage children are learning to socialize more, try new things, and make goals. What can hold them back is the guilt or fear or doing something wrong or others not approving. " At the same time, they are learning that some of the things they want to do meet social approval, whereas others do not" (Martorell, 2023, p. 210). During this time I went to a fun school and daycare. Being around children my age and doing fun activities allowed us initiate new things.

Stage 4: Industry vs Inferiority

hwarner19_1 — 2024-02-26 21:01:21 UTC

The fourth stage in Erikson's psychological development is Industry vs Inferiority. This stage is from 6-12 years old. Industry is often felt when academic work is good but it can also help if a parent, teacher, or student also praises the academic work. Poor grades or lack of praise can result in inferiority. "If children are unable to obtain the praise of others or lack motivation and self-esteem, they may develop a feeling of low self-worth and thus develop a sense of inferiority" (Martorell, 2023, p. 275). At this age I experience bullying and home problems. While my grades were good I think the other problems led to feeling inferiority.

Stage 5: Identity vs Role Confusion

hwarner19_1 — 2024-02-26 21:11:16 UTC

The fifth stage in Erikson's psychological development is Identity vs Role Confusion. This occurs at 12-18 years old. During this stage the person develops a sense of self or struggles to do so. Things that can affect this are commitments, crises, achievements, a sense of belonging, and goals. "Erikson’s fifth stage of psychosocial development in which an adolescent seeks to develop a coherent sense of self, including the role she or he is to play in society" (Martarell, 2023, p. 336). I think during the start of this stage I had role confusion due to school going online from COVID and a lot of overwhelming issues going on. School going online changed a lot for me and affected what role I thought I needed to play in society. As I'm 18 now I think I do have a better sense of identity but it took time.

Stage 6: Intimacy vs Isolation

hwarner19_1 — 2024-02-26 21:22:42 UTC

The sixth stage of Erikson's psychological development is Intimacy vs Isolation. This stage is at about 18-40 years old. What determines where you are in this stage is the relationships you have. Family, friends, and significant others can help avoid the feeling of isolation. "Good relationships foster adjustment, which in turn fosters good relationships" (Martorell, 2023, p.351). While I haven't yet reached this stage I want to work towards avoiding isolation. In order to do this it's important to have healthy relationships with people.

Stage 7: Generativity vs Stagnation

hwarner19_1 — 2024-02-26 22:19:11 UTC

This seventh stage of Erikson's psychological development is Generativity vs Stagnation. This stage occurs at 40-65. To achieve generativity you can start a family, have a career that helps others, or do something that makes a positive change. Those who don't do this often feel they lack a sense of purpose. "The modern family structure is becoming increasingly diverse. "We now see families of single or divorced parents, households that may include a stepparent and stepsiblings or a parent’s live-in partner, and an increasing number of unmarried parents, gay and lesbian households with children, and mixed race households" (Martorell, 2023, p. 4). There's so many different kinds of families and all can show generativity.

Stage 8: Ego Integrity vs Despair

hwarner19_1 — 2024-02-26 22:27:05 UTC

The eighth and final stage of Erikson's psychological development is Ego Integrity vs Despair. This stage is any age after 65. The stage revolves around the reflection of your life choices. Are you happy and at peace with your life or are you stuck facing frustration and regret? You will fall in despair if you linger on the frustration of this. "Development is lifelong. At the moment of conception, a single cell divides and divides again, over and over, in an orchestrated, organized fashion. Although each child born of this process is a unique individual, development is nonetheless patterned and orderly and follows a blueprint laid out by our evolutionary history. It is not until the heart ceases beating and the neurons of the brain stop firing that our stories end" (Martorell, 2023, p. 2). Everyone is human and everyone has different paths that lead that to develop in their own way. While you may not have been able to fully control how your life went, you can try to do things to prevent despair.

Reference

hwarner19_1 — 2024-02-26 22:29:44 UTC