rivera humandevelopmenttheories

8/8/2019 Rivera HumanDevelopmentTheories

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Introduction to Psychology

Author: Edwin Rivera

Professor: Michelle Rollins

Week 5 Assignment

Eriksons Social Development

Life Stage Observation

Infant: Trust vs. Mistrust (This is the stage in life

where ones attitude towards trust and mistrustis formed. An infant forms trust when they are

given love, warmth, physical care and touch. An

infant forms mistrust when given inadequate care

by cold, indifferent parents. (Coon & Mitterer,

2008))

The infant happily watched the funny faces her

mother was making at her. Initially, the infant hadbeen crying and upset in her carrier car seat when

they arrived at Starbucks. Once the mother was

able to put the car seat down and pick up the

infant, the crying stopped and she was smiling at

her mother. The mother then proceeded to make

faces causing the infant to laugh. I think this

observation supports the trust part this life stage. I

was not able to observe anything that may have

lead to mistrust. I think the reason I did not

observe anything that could lead to mistrust,

because people tend to show a better face in

public.

Toddler: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (This

stage where children are expressing their self-

control. They want to do things for themselves.

Parents can either encourage their children,

giving the child a sense of autonomy, or the

parents can ridicule or be overprotect, causing

the child to feel shame and doubt with their

actions. (Coon & Mitterer, 2008))

The toddler was able to explore new a surrounding

by climbing on the furniture at Starbucks. The

parents had walked into the store with the boy,

while the father went and ordered drinks the

mother took their son over to the plush chairs that

we have. From there, the boy began climbing up

and down on the furniture. When trying to get up

a few times, he did fall back on his bottom, but his

mother encouraged him to get back up and try

again. This observation supports autonomy.

This next observation basically the same thing

happens. A couple walks in with their toddler. The

mother takes the boy to the chairs, while the

father orders drinks. Instead of letting the boy

explore and climb all over the furniture, he was sat

down on the chair and told to hold still. At that age

it is hard for any child to hold still, so every time he



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would try and stand or look over the back of the

chair the mother would remind him to hold still. I

think this observation could lead the child to feel

shame or doubt, by not allowing him to explore his

surroundings.

Preschooler: Initiative vs. Guilt (At this pointchildren have moved beyond self-control to take

the initiative. During this stage, initiative is

encouraged by letting children ask questions, play

freely, choose activities, and use their

imagination. Feeling of guilt are felt when

children are not able to do those things and are

criticized. (Coon & Mitterer, 2008))

The child was allowed to play with the toys how heimagined them. My family ended up making a trip

to Chuck-E-Cheese and I was able to observe a

little boy playing in the jungle gym tube area. Up in

the tubes, there is a section that has a clear area

plastic like a window and a steering wheel. The

kept calling down to his parents saying he was

flying a plane. In return, they would ask where he

was flying to. This is a good observation for

initiative.

Once again I wasnt able to observe any actions

where guilt could be the result.

School-Age Child: Industry vs. Inferiority (This the

stage where children enter school and for this

first time it isnt just the parents that help shape

their attitudes; teachers, friends, other adults

outside of the house and classmates help shape a

childs attitude. Life skills are beginning to be

learned here. A sense of industry will occur if

praise is given for work well done, and feelings of

inferiority are felt if work is regarded as messy

and inadequate. (Coon & Mitterer, 2008))

There were several children in the classroom

working on coloring a picture receiving words of

praise from their parents. While at my sons open

house at school (he is only in first grade), the

children were given a picture they could color if

they so chose while waiting for more people to

arrive. Several of them did color the picture and

when finished showed their parents. I did not see

any parents give anything but praise worthy

comments, thus enforcing industry.

There was also a paper on each desk for thechildren to write their names on. That paper would

then be put on the desk where they were sitting,

so when school started they would know where

they were sitting. I did several parents have their

child rewrite their name neater on the paper,

including my own wife. This could be construed as

possibly causing inferiority, but none of the

parents I saw were saying it in a condescending

way. It was more along the lines of How about

you retry writing that, but slower? I think the

children were in a hurry because of excitement of

a new school year.

Adolescent: Identity vs. Role Confusion (This is

the Who am I? stage. Adolescents build their

sense of identity during this time. They use their

experiences, values, talents, relationships,

culture, and life history to develop and unify a

sense of self. If they fail to do this, role confusion

A group of teenagers walking around the mall,

talking and just goofing around. At this stage in

life, most teenagers find their sense of self with a

group of friends. The fact they were all happy and

just enjoying each others company shows a sense

of identity. Each was comfortable enough with



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will happen, where they dont know who they are

or where they are going. (Coon & Mitterer, 2008))

their self and was able to contribute something to

the group.

My next observation was of a young girl sitting by

herself at the food court. She just seemed to be

watching people walk by, not really interested in

any specific group. Just watching her, she seemed

to keep to herself. I am not sure if she was waiting

for someone or if this how she normally was, but if

this was her normal behavior it could be seen as

role confusion.

Young Adult: Intimacy vs. Isolation (People want

to make deep and meaningful relationships at

this stage. Here is where the desire for a family

really grows. If good loving relationships can be

formed, intimacy happens. On the other hand if

these relationships cant be formed, a person will

form a sense of isolation. (Coon & Mitterer,

2008))

A group (10-15) of young adults came into

Starbucks and sat around working on their

computers and chatting. This is a group that

regularly comes into Starbucks. They all study and

work on their college material together. They all

seem to know each other and get along really well.

I think this is a good showing of building lasting

relationships.

I was not really able to observe anybody with a

sense of isolation. There a plenty of people that

come into the Starbucks that I work at, but a lot

are traveling making it hard to observe if they

formed good relationships.

Middle-Age Adult: Generativity vs. Stagnation

(People who want to help or guide a younger

generation normally have the quality

generativity. These people want care aboutthemselves, their children and future

generations, trying to guide them as best as

possible. Failure to feel that need to care about

anyone but themselves leaves a person stagnant.

Their life has no meaning, leaving them bitter and

trapped. (Coon & Mitterer, 2008))

Parents and teachers talking about the children

and what is expected of the children. While at

open house, the teacher went over how the

classroom was run and her expectations of thechildren. The teacher alone shows generativity just

by picking her profession, of helping guide a

younger generation. Once the teacher was

through talking, the parents were then able to talk

to her one on one. The parents also show

generativity by asking questions that concern their

children.

Once again observing a person who feels bitter

and trapped is not easy. Most people, even if not

happy, generally try to appear happy and helpful in

public, so as not to bring attention to them.

Older Adult: Integrity vs. Despair (This is the time

when people reflect back on their life and what

they have accomplished. If a person feels that

they have lived a good responsible life normally

have a sense of integrity. On the other hand if a

person is filled with regret about their life, they

An older man came into Starbucks and gave me

personal tip instead of putting it in the tip jar. This

man is a regular customer, but on this particular

day, he handed me the tip and told me not even

think of putting in the tip jar. He said I did a great

job on his drink, so I deserved the tip. He has



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normally experience despair. (Coon & Mitterer,

2008))

always been a very nice guy. I think this is his way

of showing his appreciation and that he does not

mind giving praise when he thinks it is do. I think

this shows integrity in his character.

After making these observations, I realized that it is easier to pick out peoples good qualities in

a public setting. I think people are more inclined to act as society thinks they should. They are not going

to show the qualities that could be deemed as wrong or inappropriate, and because of this, it was

harder trying to observe the negative end of each life cycle. I think this just goes to prove that will a

person act how they think other people think they should act, not necessarily how they actually feel.

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