Running head: ERIKSON SELF STUDY

Erikson Self Study

Brittany Sowers
Ivy Tech Community College

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Introduction

One of the main theorist educators refer to in early childhood is Erik Erikson.
Erikson was the first to suggest that children are not just little people, but
they are also products of society's expectations, prejudices and prohibitions
(Erikson Institute). Erikson was born in Germany in 1902 and completed his
college degree in art. With his degree, he became an art teacher to young
children at a psychoanalytically enlightened school. This inspired him to earn
a certificate from the Maria Montessori School, and also went on to study at
Vienna Psychoanalytic Institute and then became part of Yale University's
Department of Human Relations (Erikson Institute). Through his studies and
working with children, he developed eight psychosocial stages that we go
through in a lifetime. With this project, I will be exploring my past and how I
was brought up through each stage. By asking my parents and grandparents
how I was raised, I will understand why I am the way I am.
Stage One
Trust vs. Mistrust
During the first stage of life birth to age one, we develop trust versus mistrust. Infants
require special needs to be met in an orderly fashion. For an infant to develop trust, they need to
know they are being taken care of, diapers are being changed, being feed when they are hungry,
being touched and loved. If a child does not receive care and affection, they will develop mistrust
and lose hope for their next stage of life (McLeod, S. 2008).
During my first stage of life, I was well taken care of. I was the second child to my mother. My
mother had married at a young age and gave birth to a boy, my older brother Paul. My mother
Melissa grew up in a very small country town, with all of her aunts, uncles, and cousins. It was

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normal in their town to be wed and have children at a young age. My mother was sixteen when
she married her first husband and was divorced four years later at the age of twenty. My mother
and father Jim met when she was twenty-one, and he was nineteen. I was born a year later.
During my first year, my mother, father, brother and I lived in an apartment in Indianapolis with
my mothers sister Laura, her husband Keith and 4-month-old son, my cousin Zach. My mom
and Aunt Laura stayed home with Zack, Paul and me, while my dad and uncle Keith went to
work. My mom and aunt took very good care of us children, making sure we had good clean
hygiene, feed, and played with us throughout the day. My older brother Paul liked to think of
himself as the helper while the men were gone during the day. He was always playing with Zack
and I. When my dad would get home from work he loved to lay me on his stomach and watch
TV. If I were upset and crying, he was able to get me to stop by slightly rubbing the bridge of my
nose between my forehead and middle of my nose. I believe that I turned out on the trusting side
of Eriksons stage one of development.
Stage Two
Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
This stage occurs between eight-teen months of age and three years of age. During this
stage, children are trying to learn how to do things themselves and becoming independent.
Children are trying to have more control over their food choices, clothing selections and toys
they play with. Children who can do this come out on the autonomy side. Children who are not
able to make the decision for themselves may end up in the shame and doubt side and have little
confidence in their next stage (McLeod, S. 2008).

During my stage two of Erikson's stages, we were all living in Evansville with my
grandma and grandpa. I have heard many of stories from my mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, aunts

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and uncles from when my cousin and I were in our terrible twos. He was just a few months older
than I was, and we worked together like a team. I would roll my walker to counter tops and high
places so that Zack could climb and grab things. He and I were very adventurous. I have always
heard from my family that I was a garbage disposal and would eat anything. I would sit with my
grandma and try and help her garden. One time I ended up eating a worm while I was helping
her! Gross! I believe that during my stage two I ended up on the autonomy side. I was very
adventures and always trying to do things myself.

Stage Three
Initiative vs. Guilt
During this stage, age three to five, children start to manipulate their
environment in some way. They begin experimenting with make-believe
situations and pretend play. Children who are encouraged in this stage come
out with a feeling of purpose, and those who are punished feel a sense of
guilt. (McLeod, S. 2008)

When I was in Erikson's stage three, I became a big sister to my brother

Bradley. I have heard many stories that I did not like the idea of having a
little brother the first month he was home from the hospital. Some of the
stories I hear today are a bit embarrassing. I would take his food; I would
throw things at him, and would do things to make him cry. I think I used to be
the baby that when this other baby came along I was jealous. My mom said
after many of talks about how I was his big sister and had to help take care
of him I became more loving and playful with him. My grandmother says that

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after awhile it was a complete turnaround, I went from not wanting a little
brother to spoiling him and wanting to do everything with him. I would try to
dress him up in my doll clothes, push him in my baby stroller. I believe by the
end of this stage I came out feeling like I had a purpose, a purpose to help
take care of my brother.
Stage Four
Industry vs. Inferiority
During this stage between five years and twelve years of age children
want to feel competent in what they do. Children will start finding out what
activities they are well at and become more involved in school education.
Children do not want to feel inferior, or they will not try new things (McLeod, S.
2008).

During my stage four of Erikson's stages of development I was very out

going and befriended everyone. I also enjoyed taking dance lessons three
nights a week at the local gymnastics facility. Since I befriended everyone
and never wanted to leave anyone out, I invited all the girls in my first-grade
class over for my birthday. My mom told me I could only have two girls stay
the night. Except, I did not want to hurt any of the other girls feelings since
we all played together at recess, so I invited ten girls over. I lived in a very
small house that did not hold that many people so my parents had to clear
out the living room for all of us to stay. My parents laugh about it to this day

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and say they have never heard so many girls laughing and screaming as loud
as we were that night.
I was very involved in dance lessons. I attended three nights out of the
week and socialized with all the girls. A few girls from my dance team and I
all lived in the same neighborhood and would get together outside of dance
class and practice. I also enjoyed going to school and loved to learn, my
mom says that when I came home from school I would talk her ear off about
what we learned in school that day.
I believe that I came out on the Industrious side of stage four. I felt
comfortable with my peers and got along with everyone, I enjoyed going to
school and participating in dance lessons.
Stage Five
Identity vs. Role Confusion
Stage five of Eriksons psychosocial stages is the adolescent years ages twelve to fifteen.
During this stage adolescents are trying to figure out where they fit in society, some will change
to fit in, and others will change to stand out. Also during this stage adolescents are learning their
role in society. Success in this stage will lead adolescents to fidelity. If the adolescent does not
find them self in this stage and who they want to be it will lead to role confusion (McLeod, S.
2008).

During my adolescent years, I was all over the place trying to figure out who I was and
who I wanted to be. I went from being a girly girl to a tom boy'. I was quite dancing and
gymnastics and started playing sports such as softball, volleyball, and basketball. Once I was in

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high school I started dying my different hair colors of dark black with bright highlights; I even
tried to color it red one time. I also became shy and somewhat introverted during my
adolescence. I narrowed my friends down and only hung out with people I felt comfortable with.
During this time, my older brother went to jail, and it put a strain on our family. I was upset with
him for messing up, and I was embarrassed to tell my friends what was happening. My parents
would argue because of my brother being in jail and it even made my younger brother act out
and start disobeying. I tried to be the peacemaker in our family since I was the only daughter
with three brothers. My dads business started falling apart because of the economy and he was
becoming stressed with everything going on. My mom had to pick up a second-night job
cleaning office buildings; I enjoyed going with her and helping her. During the end of high
school, around age eight-teen, I was still unsure of what I wanted to go to college for. It seemed
that all my friends had it figured out, but I was still on the edge of figuring it out. I eventually
went to USI in Evansville for a semester. I took classes to become an art, teacher. Unfortunately,
I had a roommate who was a bad influence, and I started drinking and not staying focused on my
school. After that semester I knew I could not waste my parents money and my time by drinking
and not attending classes, so I returned home and started working. During my adolescence I
believe I came out in the middle of identifying vs. role confusion. I had just about equal amounts
going on in my life.
Stage Six
Intimacy vs. Isolation
Eriksons stage six of Psychosocial Development Stages is intimacy vs.
isolation. This stage occurs between nineteen through forty years old. During
this stage, we are looking for love and commitment. A positive outcome
would be being open and committed in a relationship. A negative outcome

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would be an individual who does not make a connection nor create a

relationship; they may feel isolation (Mcleod, 2008).
At the age of twenty-four I am considered to be part of Erikson's stage
six of intimacy vs. isolation. I am currently in a loving, open relationship with
my boyfriend for three happy years. We share everything and talk about
things like being "ours". We share a personal relationship as friends and
lovers that can not be shared with others. We encourage each other to try
new and difficult things and push each other. In our free time, we like to do
activities together such as going to the movies, kayaking, bike rides and
anything that we can learn more about each other. Both of us enjoy speaking
to each others families and catching up. A great relationship also has rough
patches. The hard times help us grow and learn about each other just as well
as the good times. I have had a great beginning to stage six and believe it
will continue to be. As of now I am on the positive outcome for stage six and
look forward to seeing where I am at the end of this stage.
Stage Seven
Generativity vs. Stagnation
During middle adult hood, ages forty to sixty-five adults become stable
and start a family and give back or are focused on a career. If they do not
start a family or career they may become stagnate and feel that they are
unsuccessful (Mcleod, 2008).

I believe that when I am Eriksons Stage seven of life I will fell

generativity. I look forward to starting a family and a career. I plan on

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meeting a loving husband and raising beautifully smart children together and
creating a wonderful family. Also during this stage I would like to have
established a career of my own, to help provide for my family. I believe by
having a career of my own my children will learn it is important to stay
focused in life. I am very productive and always thinking of the less
fortunate, I would like to become part of an organization that helps people in
need of help. I have lots of love to share and give. I hope by the end of stage
seven I will have grandchildren to help take care and raise. I am looking
forward to this stage in life.

Stage Eight
Ego Integrity vs. Despair
At this stage of Eriksons psychosocial development stage people look
back on the life they lived and decide if they lived a long, healthy fulfilled
life, or they may feel as if the did not live the life they wanted and have
regrets about their life (Mcleod, 2008).
When I reach stage eight, ego integrity vs. despair, I know I will be on
the positive side of ego integrity. I live my life every day making decisions I
will not regret. And sometime I know I do not always make the best decision,
except I know that what does not kill me will make me stronger. I believe we
should life everyday to the fullest because we never know what tomorrow

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holds. I believe by the end of this stage I will have hopefully accomplished
everything on my bucket list and live happily in my families history.
Conclusion
After speaking to the people who helped raise me, I found out stories
from my past that help me understand the reasons I am who I am. Going
through each step week by week I feel like I was finding out about a new
person I never knew. I enjoyed learning about each stage and the outcomes
people go through. This project has made me look into other people's lives
and think "I couldn't walk a mile in their shoes". We all have different life
experiences that help shape and form the person we become.

Reference
Mcleod, Saul. (2008). Erik Erikson. Simply Psychology. Retrieved April
8, 2014, from http://www.simplypsychology.org/Erik-Erikson.html