In Erikson’s view he sees these conflicts centered around developing a psychological quality or failing to develop that quality. Erikson’s theory is stage theory based on the assumption that development is universal and although there may be individual differences in terms of when and how it is experienced everyone in the end should develop and go through the same stages. In our world today, Erikson’s theory is often questioned due to the growing cross-cultural evidence that people in different cultures develop and go through different experiences and stages in life. Erikson’s fifth stage of his theory is the most controversial and fought over stage. This stage in Identity vs. Confusion and concerns adolescence children and the way they explore their independence and develop a sense of self.
Adolescents may not really want to cut the parental ties, but the adults on the other hand may have problems with their child becoming independent. (Bandura 1972 in Gross 1992). A Childs personality may decide whether they are going to be independent or not. Up until the child starts puberty they do not really have any major problems, but when they start the puberty stage their identification with same sex parent is weakened, but their dependence on the opposite sex parent strengthens. (Freud and daughter in Gross 1992).
This theory tends to look at individuals as the composite of their parental upbringing and how particular conflicts between themselves and their parents and within themselves get worked out. Mental illness is a result of an unsuccessful progression through childhood development stuck in the "anal" stage, which in turn, has resulted in problems with the balance of your personality structure (the ego, superego, and
The term “coming of age” refers to the self-exploration that one does in making the transition from a child into an adult. This inner reflection is vital in making the journey as the person leaves behind childish thoughts, beliefs, and fears and determines the principals and core values that they will adhere to the rest of their lives. Some religions and cultures believe that the transition into adulthood comes with a certain age, but the mental expedition into maturity doesn’t abide by any parameters. The start of the journey is dependent on the individual and can begin anywhere from the onset of puberty to after a person is physically mature. In some cases, a catalyst may be necessary to cause the self-reflection but in others, the person knows inherently that it’s time for a change; that they need something more.
Adolescence is a delicate time in one’s life because it is the transitional stage from childhood to adulthood and is a time when a young person goes through the stage of identity-versus-identity confusion. Erikson believed that in order for an adolescence to have healthy relationships and a solid foundation of who they are, they must go through each life transitional stages successfully. Erickson believed that if adolescence’s got struck in their transitional stages of life it would cause them to not be able to identify their role in life. Trauma can cause a great disruption in an adolescence life transition, especially the trauma of sexual abuse (Feldman, 2006). John
Bowlby’s theory of attachment is still relevant in understanding child care issues, but in a world dominated by parental issues psychological intervention may become a way of life. “Privation, when there is failure for a person to form an attachment to any individual- through a series of early different carers or family discord, Distortion occurs through lack of stimulation and affection” ( Woods, 2006, pg 139 ). Attachment issues may continue on in later life, a person could have trouble forming relationships. A person may feel the need to seek help with these issues and a good medium for help would be short term Psychodynamic
Erikson would explain it in terms of cognitive development. Freud would explain it in terms of psychosexual development. Philip is growing up into a young adult, and he is starting to make decisions based on his beliefs and ideas. According to Erikson, Philip is in his adolescent years and tries out many different roles to find out which single identity he wants to become. Right now he is confused on his roles and who he wants to be.
As adolescents start to gain independence, understand relationships that work and do not work make it hard for parents to let them grow, but as the adolescent sees it, parents are trying to keep them from self-expression and trying to figure out how they fit into the world around them (Bass, 2009). Media does not help adolescents acknowledge success since the media portrays physical appearance as perfection and possessions as riches causing complicated issues among adolescents (Bass, 2009). As an adult we have all gone through angry days as a teen, but the one thing the author Lyman Bass (2009) explains in the article “Adolescent Anger Management” there are signs that are beyond usual. These signs are when adolescents become defiant by the request of others, is mean to parents and other adults who hold some authority. Another signs are adolescents who are loners, depressed, trouble with expressing emotions, have few friends, and certain events trigger them into violent behaviors.
It was hoped that the questions could isolate specific areas and incidents that may have hindered any one stage of development thereby influencing the subject’s later view of adolescence. This focus is inspired by Erickson’s emphasis on the identity crisis as the “psychosocial aspect of adolescing.” (Erickson, 1968:91) This taxonomy of adolescence requires the active coalescing of previous stage outcomes to form an identity or identity confusion, which would form the basis for future physiological growth and social responsibility. All the stages that precede this stage end with some degree of a resolution of conflict, however, the degree and quality of identity established in adolescence is important because it the first experience of identity. The interview structure was designed to test the theory that later year views of life and recollections of adolescence would be influenced by any identified distonic outcomes in Erickson’s first four stages. Method The interview was conducted by telephone in one interview lasting approximately 2 hours.
Erikson proposed at each stage individual’s face developmental conflicts between a positive and possibly unhealthy substitute. Stages of Intimacy versus Isolation if a person’s significant other steps outside of the relationship on them or passes away in a accident that person may not be able to open up to anyone again in of fear of being hurt or not being able to deal with pain so they choose to isolate them self from the feeling of intimacy. How the individual resolves their problems can leave a bad impression on their self-image and how they may see people. According to the theory, completing each stage can have a result in a healthy personality and flourishing interactions with other people. Failure to successfully complete a stage will result in the reduced their ability to complete further stages and causing a more unhealthy personality and sense of self.