PERSONAL DEVELOPMENTAL THEORY

Personal Developmental Theory

Personal Developmental Theory

Erik Erikson believed that we develop in psychosocial stages versus psychosexual stages that Freud developed” (Santrock? 2008? p.23). “The word 'psychosocial' was Erikson's term that he derived from the words psychological meaning mind and social meaning relationship” (Chapman? 2007). Erikson was concerned with how personality and behavior is influenced after birth. Erikson stood strong on his belief concerning nurture and experience.

The key element within Erikson's theory was ego identity. According to Erikson? “the ego identity was our conscious sense of self development through all processes of social interaction” (Ratti? 2008). Within Erikson's key elements were eight stages that unfold and develop as we go through life. “In each one of the stages a distinctive developmental task confronts individuals with a situation that must be worked through in order to have a constructive outcome” (Santrock? 2008? p.23).

Working as a developmental psychologist then turning his interest to the field of moral education? Lawrence Kohlberg became to be well known for his theory of moral development. His theory spurred the interest of the psychological community on moral development (Nucci? 2002). His ideas were influenced by Jean Piaget? John Dewey? and James Mark Baldwin. He argued that experiences shape children's understandings of moral concepts such as justice? rights? equality? and human welfare. Kohlberg developed his theory from the research that he conducted at Harvard's Center for Moral Education (Barger? 2000).

To evaluate the moral stages? Kohlberg made a series of moral dilemmas that pit one moral value against another (Kalat? 2002). He observed the explanations? not the choices? that the subject made. The explanations were used to match the subject to one of Kohlberg's stages. Kohlberg's theory of levels and stages of moral reasoning is supported by findings from longitudinal and cross-cultural research. Kohlberg divided moral development into six distinguished stages which can be identified into three major levels.

Much of who we are or who we develop into can be summed up in only eight different stages. During these eight different stages we develop what is considered one of the two important traits of that time period. Of these sixteen possible traits that one can develop usually one is desired while the other is often times not. During each of Erik Erikson's stages the traits are presented in opposites such as stage one is trust vs. mistrust? stage two is autonomy vs. shame? stage three is initiative vs. guilt? stage four is industry vs. inferiority? stage five is identity vs. role confusion? stage six is intimacy and solidarity vs. isolation? stage seven is generativity vs. self absorption or stagnation and stage eight is integrity vs. despair. These stages are Erikson's view of what each person encounters during a full life.

1. Infancy: Birth to 18 Months

Ego Development Outcome: Trust vs. Mistrust

Basic strength: Drive and Hope

Erikson also referred to infancy as the Oral Sensory Stage where the major emphasis is on the mother's positive and loving care for the child? with a big emphasis on visual contact and touch ...