Analyzing Erikson's Theory Of Development

According to the organisation Young Minds our first relationship as an infant helps to create the template by which we understand the world. The quality of this relationship helps to form the framework for our future beliefs and values. In his book, Attachment and Loss, Dr John Bowlby explains that children who have experienced a secure attachment: “Are more likely to express a representational model of attachment figure(s) as being available, responsive and helpful and a complimentary model of himself as .... a potentially lovable person.― This child is likely to “approach the world with confidence and, when faced with potentially alarming situations, is likely to tackle them effectively or seek help.― Adults, especially parents and teachers, (as well as peers to some extent) can help make these major life transitions as easy as possible for the child or young person. Many fears can be alleviated simply by talking things through in a patient, sympathetic and understanding way.

According to Glasser, children learn best how to control their own life with adults who encourage them to act in their own interests. From the beginning, people do not know what their needs are, or how to satisfy them. However, babies know how they feel. They also know that when their needs are not met, they feel bad. This knowledge allows them to extract some idea of what their needs are.

Many are smothered growing up, which can lead to two basic things. You can become totally dependent on your parent or decide the break free but still somehow suffer from the lack of knowledge for doing everyday tasks. Because of the feeling of not being able to succeed on their own, many children develop anxiety. Helicopter parenting has been observed to stunts kids’ emotional and cognitive development. Children lose their voices, because their care giver, the person who provides them with everything won’t let them speak—being that without them “you would be nowhere.”

As I can distinctly remember at age 4, my hurt for not living with my biological parents which was not their fault, but, all because my father’s aunt who had no children decided she wanted to have me live with her. This was a verbal arrangement of adoption, so there was no documentation to prove anything. My hurt was soon dispelled as I grew up realizing that even though they were not my parents, “they were my parents”. Initiative vs. Guilt tells us that, In order for a child to have control over initiative the child must first learn and accept that there are things that are not allowed and things that they will need to be punished for. A child must be free to use their imagination without feelings of guilt or worry of being punished.

The key behind this theory is that the early bond that develops between caregiver and child influences expectations about how the world works and how people are supposed to behave and interact. They further emphasized that mental representations that the infants form are

Trust vs. Mistrust Erik Erikson’s first stage of the childhood development stages is Trust vs. Mistrust. These stages take place from the very first moments of life, and end around 18 months of age. This stage is all about how infants learn how to trust others, focusing on the ones that provide them with their basic needs. In this stage, it’s absolutely crucial that babies and early toddlers learn a secure sense of security during this stage.

Erikson, a developmental psychologist, had established stages that explained psychosocial behaviors respective to age groups. In considering the significance of each stage to Erikson’s theory, trust vs. mistrust plays a key role in Muhammad’s development. Trust vs mistrust is centered around infants to eighteen-month old toddlers gaining trust by the care of the caretaker. This trust relies heavily on the caretaker providing basic needs for their survival. His theory explains that if these basic needs are not met, the infant will not develop trust and present anxious behavior.

This stage Trust vs. Mistrust. Happens in the first year of life, is centered around the infant’s needs being met. If the need is not being met the infant may learn to mistrust. Stage two is Autonomy vs. Doubt. It happens in the second year of life and includes a sense of self-control and adequacy.

All childhoods are different. Some children grow up in the best families with loving and giving and caring. Other children’s upbringings are a little harder and tougher. For rougher families, often the children are given a lot of responsibility for far too young an age.

Failure to develop trust will result in fear and belief that the world is unpredictable and inconsistent. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (toddlerhood): Following infants’ understanding of a predictable environment, toddlers are starting to realize if they can depend on others. At this stage, toddlers are a step towards developing as an individual, in other

But, if the caregiver is distant or overly obstructive with the infant’s needs, an insecure attachment style will be developed (Weisskirch, 2017). The interactions between the infant and the caregiver

Erikson’s second stage of development is called “Autonomy versus Shame and Doubt”, where Freud describes it as the “Anal Stage”. Erikson’s second stage occurs between the ages of one to three and compares it with how well a caregiver permits a child to exercise her or his will, and in providing the freedom in order for the child to make choices regarding his or her own life (Boeree, 2006). In stage two, Erikson demonstrated how a child is challenging the boundaries, in order for them to see the effect that it can have on their life (Boeree, 2006). This is the time where the parents or caregivers have to walk a tightrope when it comes to granting the child with enough space in order for them to make decisions and to investigate on their own. If the parents are over protective and denies the child their own will, doubt and shame may develop causing nervousness and problems when it comes to initiating actions (Boeree, 2006).

Attachment is organised into four different styles, secure attachment, insecure avoidant attachment, insecure resistant attachment and insecure disorganised attachment, all which are identified by Ainsworth (1970). In secure attachment situations the infants feel confident that their care-giver will be able to meet their needs. The infants use their caregivers for times of distress and as a safe base to explore the environment around them. (Main, & Cassidy, 1988). In times of separation the infants will want to be reunited with their care-givers usually by physical contact or interaction.

In addition, some infants are classified as disorganized/disoriented with regard to attachment as they are not able to settle in to a single, organized attachment pattern when in distress. Instead, they become disoriented or resort to conflicting behavioral strategies. Attachments are not characteristic of either the caregivers or infants. It is the relationship bonds overtime between emotion and behaviors as infant and caregiver interact, particularly when infant needs for comfort are of concern. Sense of trust develops when a baby’s needs are responded to.

Erikson’s psychosocial theory of development analyses the influence of independent factors, society and parents on development of personality from infanthood to adulthood. Corresponding to Erikson’s theory, every individual has to progress through a sequence of eight interconnected stages over the complete life cycle. The eight stages consist of: Stage 1 – from Birth-2 years of age (Infancy) Trust vs. Mistrust This first stage focuses on the infant’s primary needs being fulfilled by the parent/s and this communication provoking either trust or mistrust. Erikson defines trust “as a fundamental and necessary sense of an individual’s self-worth”.