Every individual poses his/her unique identity. Phycologists attribute the exceptional character to different and diverse personality traits that can be categorized as either positive or negative. Furthermore, these personality traits can be innate or acquired and vary from one individual to another depending on environmental influence. Erikson's stages of psychological development are a detailed and a comprehensive psychoanalytic theory that identifies various stages in which a healthy developing person pass through from infancy to late adulthood. Erikson developed a total of eight psychosocial stages in which people grow throughout their whole lifespan. Successful passage of these steps leads to a confident and a mentally healthy individual. Various Erikson’s stages and how a child masters or fails to master their crises are analyzed in the paper.
Mastering Autonomy versus Doubt
A child undergoes this stages between the age of two to four years. At this stage, a child becomes mobile with his or her world. When presented with an opportunity to move by the caregivers, the child develops autonomy or a sense of independence. At this stage, parents and caregivers should be supportive by exercising patience as the child try out new things in life such as putting on clothes and shoes on their own. They must also not criticise a child for failing. If supported and encouraged, they become confident while performing simple activities such as putting on clothes. However, when restricted from performing tasks they believe they can perform competently, such as putting on clothes when the child says he/she can, the child may feel extremely doubtful of trying out new things in life (Jose B. Ashford, 1997) . A properly parented child comes from this stage confident of herself and proud of her newfound abilities rather than doubtful. Lisa, a three-year-old girl, struggles to put on a dress as her mother secretly watches. The first time, the dress gets stuck around her neck, and she feels frustrated. She tries a second time and eventually succeeds. From the experiment, she gets elated and extremely proud of herself. She, therefore, feels confident of performing such tasks on her own and does not require any help since she has mastered them.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Failing to Master Autonomy versus Doubt
Although caregivers can help foster independence in children by allowing them to explore their environments, many fail to ensure this due to fears and time constraints. Anthony fails to develop autonomy and therefore sticks out his hand everytime they are about to cross the road since he doubts whether he can cross the road without any assistance. He fails to become independent and continually relies on his parents.
Mastering Initiative versus Guilt
This stage occurs between the age of four to six years. At this age, the child feels the need and urge to perform certain activities on their own for a particular reason. Children randomly try out new things at this age even if they know there is a chance they might fail while trying. Guilt implies what the child says, mostly, it is a feeling that it is inappropriate to instigate something they think is right and desire to do. Guilt arises from being admonished or thinking that their actions are wrong or are likely to attract disapproval from their caregivers or parents. Initiative develops and flourishes when exploration and adventure are encouraged regardless of how dumb it may seem to the caregiver or the person taking care of the child.
Parents and caregivers should, therefore, support and promote a sense of initiative in young children such as allowing them to lead a group of children either at school or home while playing. However, the child might develop guilt about his/her needs if restricted from performing tasks independently. Moreover, inhibiting adventure, game-playing and exploration due to potential risks and time may suppress the development of confidence to initiate, thereby replacing it with fear of being wrong. Additionally, the fear of being termed or called stupid becomes part of their personality. They, therefore, prefer not to initiate to remain safe from being admonished or feeling sorry. While it is important to give children time to discover things, it is prudent to monitor their actions since their actions may result in injuries. When a child masters how to perform new tasks without any assistance, they become confident of themselves and prefer performing such tasks on their own. Wayne learned how to tie his shoelaces after several unsuccessful attempts. Although he initially felt guilty each time he failed, his success makes him confident and erases any signs of guilt.
Failing to Master Initiative versus Guilt
When a child fails to master how to perform new tasks, such as putting on clothes on their own, they get immobilized by guilt. Such a child continues to depend on caregivers, parents and older siblings to help with duties such as putting on clothes. Brad, feels guilty and ashamed of his inability to dress. Due to fear of being called stupid or failing while trying, he prefers to be assisted in putting his clothes all the time.
Conclusion
Exploration, game-playing, and adventure play a significant role towards a child's development and development of self-esteem. By discovering things on their own, they learn to become independent and as a result, stop relying on caregivers to help with such tasks. Parents and caregivers should, therefore, foster exploration among children since it is vital for their development.
References
Jose B. Ashford, C. W. (1997). Human Behaviour in the Social Environment: A Multidimensional Perspective. ISBN , 66-77.
