Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, as articulated by Erik Erikson, explain eight stages through which a healthily developing human should pass from infancy to late adulthood. In each stage, the person confronts, and hopefully masters, new challenges. Each stage builds upon the successful completion of earlier stages. The challenges of stages not successfully completed may be expected to reappear as problems in the future.
However, mastery of a stage is not required to advance to the next stage. Erikson's stage theory characterizes an individual advancing through the eight life stages as a function of negotiating his or her biological forces and sociocultural forces. Each stage is characterized by a psychosocial crisis of these two conflicting forces (as shown in the table below). If an individual does indeed successfully reconcile these forces (favoring the first mentioned attribute in the crisis), he or she emerges from the stage with the corresponding virtue. For example, if an infant enters into the toddler stage (autonomy vs. shame & doubt) with more trust than mistrust, he or she carries the virtue of hope into the remaining life stages.[1]
The first stage of Erik Erikson's theory centers around the infant's basic needs being met by the parents and this interaction leading to trust or mistrust. Trust as defined by Erikson is "an essential truthfulness of others as well as a fundamental sense of one's own trustworthiness."[4] The infant depends on the parents, especially the mother, for sustenance and comfort. The child's relative understanding of world and society come from the parents and their interaction with the child. If the parents expose the child to warmth, regularity, and dependable affection, the infant's view of the world will be one of trust. Should the parents fail to provide a secure environment and to meet the child's basic needs; a sense of mistrust will result.[5] Development of mistrust can lead to feelings of frustration, suspicion, withdrawal, and a lack of confidence.[4]
According to Erik Erikson, the major developmental task in infancy is to learn whether or not other people, especially primary caregivers, regularly satisfy basic needs. If caregivers are consistent sources of food, comfort, and affection, an infant learns trust- that others are dependable and reliable. If they are neglectful, or perhaps even abusive, the infant instead learns mistrust- that the world is in an undependable, unpredictable, and possibly a dangerous place. While negative, having some experience with mistrust allows the infant to gain an understanding of what constitutes dangerous situations later in life.[5]
Will: Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt (Muscular-Anal, 2-4 years)[edit]
Existential Question: Is It OK to Be Me?
As the child gains control over eliminative functions and motor abilities,then they begin to explore their surroundings. The parents still provide a strong base of a security from which the child can venture out to assert their will. The parents' patience and encouragement helps foster autonomy in the child. Children at this age like to explore the world around them and they are constantly learning about their environment. Caution must be taken at this age while children may explore things that are dangerous to their health and safety.
At this age children develop their first interests. For example, a child who enjoys music may like to play with the radio. Children who enjoy the outdoors may be interested in animals and plants. Highly restrictive parents, however, are more likely to instill in the child a sense of doubt, and reluctance to attempt new challenges. As they gain increased muscular coordination and mobility, toddlers become capable of satisfying some of their own needs. They begin to feed themselves, wash and dress themselves, and use the bathroom.
If caregivers encourage self-sufficient behavior, toddlers develop a sense of autonomy—a sense of being able to handle
Age range Physical Intellectual/cognitive Social/emotional and behavioral moral 0-1 years Raises head slightly Holds hand in fist Lifts head and chest while lying on stomach Uses sucking, grasping and rooting reflexes Rolls over Reaches for and touches objects Crawls Grasps and pulls things towards self Sits without support Stands unaided Walks with aid Picks objects up with thumb and one finger See clearly within 13 inches Focus on and follow moving object Begins to anticipate…
QF1030 – Child Development (1) This assignment will discuss the importance of observation techniques and examine the advantages and disadvantages for each method of observation that I have used in my book of celebration. I will identify how observations inform the childs learning and how they fit into the assessment cycle. The analysis of the observations will enable me to reflect on any developments needed and implications for future practice within the setting. It was during the eighteenth…
Understand child and young person’s development Child development is a term used to explain the varying aspects of development from birth through to adulthood which are traditionally measured against milestones as to when these should occur. Over the years studies of development have associated chronological age with the achievement of milestones. However there can be considerable variation in the achievement of milestones, even between children with developmental trajectories within the normal…
Child Development in the Classroom “I feel I must play an important role in the child’s development of social competence and friendship skills. I will do my best to help these children develop peer friendships. My responsibilities involve not only imparting academic skills but social skills as well. Some methods are setting up study-buddies and team projects.” As children grow older, they develop in several different ways. Child development includes physical, intellectual, social, and emotional…
in response to what he wants and may grab and push. At 2-3 year the child finds it hard to wait or make a choice , but cannot yet understand reason or control his impulses - he may know what you want him to do but he can't yet make himself do it if he wants to do something else. The child loves to copy what adults do and the way you look, eg making houses out of boxes and rugs, dressing up, digging in the garden. At 3 the child often enjoys being with other children and they now begin to play together…
Study Guide Chapter 2 1. Development: the pattern of change that occur throughout the life span A. Biological B. Cognitive C. Sociemotional 2. Prenatal: conception to birth Infancy to toddler: birth to age 2 Early childhood: age 2 to 6 Late/middle childhood: age 6 to 11 Adolescent: age 11 to 18 3. Theory: an organized system of assumptions and principles that claims to explain certain phenomena Theory example: providing isolated divorced mothers with social support will lead them…
more neatly., child can balanceIncrease muscle co-ordinationChild can catch a ball 1m in one hand.Drawing and writing neaterCutting is accurateIncrease stamina swimming, gymnastic etc., joins in activities.Boy have wet dream puberty startBody proportions similar to adultGrowth differentiatesPuberty completesBody changes stabilise | Basic language, gurgling, cooing, babbling, general sound, crying to express a need,Speech easily understood, child ask questions, enjoy talking, child can decode familiar…
deployment, making it that much harder on a child’s psychosocial development. A child’s psychosocial functioning throughout a deployment can be influenced by many factors. (Flake, Davis, Johnson, & Middleton, 2009) Support systems, parenting techniques, and coping mechanisms have all been seen to impact the child’s psychosocial functioning and development. “Psychosocial functioning is determined by a child’s psychological development within a social environment. Psychosocial morbidity occurs when…
KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS Key Terms and Concepts lateralization myelin nightmare night terror obesity child abuse cycle-of-violence hypothesis psychological maltreatment child neglect resilience handedness Brochure Outline Physical Growth: Children’s physical growth during the preschool period proceeds steadily. Differences in height and weight reflect individual differences, gender, and economic status. In addition to gaining height and weight, the body of the preschooler undergoes…
CHILD DEVELOPMENT 0-3 Months Children of this age can communicate with others by crying if they need or want something, or if something is wrong. They do not know right from wrong behaviour. They use fine motor skills they will also use facial expressions to show emotions. Young babies observe surroundings, may make movements to reach out, will grasp fingers and rattles. 3-6 months At this age they are using more of their gross motor skills, like lifting their head, legs and arms. Some babies…