Teacher's Influence on Child Outcome

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TEACHER’S INFLUENCE ON CHILD OUTCOME AS EXPLORED BY ERICK H. ERICKSON’S STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT Erikson was largely concerned with how personality and behaviour is influenced after birth - not before birth - and especially during childhood. His psychosocial theory is widely and highly regarded. As with any concept there are critics, but generally Erikson's theory is considered fundamentally significant. Erikson was a psychoanalyst and also a humanitarian. So his theory is useful far beyond psychoanalysis - it's useful for any application involving personal awareness and development - of oneself or others. In this work, we posit that the behaviour of parents and teachers has an influence on child outcome. Using Erick H. Erickson’s stages of personality development, this essay will explain how a teacher can help a child reach his/ her fullest potential. As a starting point, conceptual definitions of the key terms contained in the question will first be given, after which focus will shift to the bone of contention of this piece of writing. Erikson's psychosocial theory essentially states that each person experiences eight 'psychosocial crises' (internal conflicts linked to life's key stages) which help to define his or her growth and personality William (2011). The stages of personal development that will be discussed here refer to all of the human lifespan, from infancy through old age. Each stage poses a unique developmental task and simultaneously confronts individuals with a crisis that they must resolve. As employed by Erikson (1968), a crisis is not “a threat of catastrophe but a turning point, a crucial period of increased vulnerability and heightened potential.” More importantly he said, “rememsber that conflict and tension are sources of growth, strength, and commitment” (Erikson & Erikson, 1997). He would see great people of history, such as German
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