Erickson's Timeline

Erikson’s Eight Stages of Life

After reading through Erikson’s eight stages of life, I cannot place myself in just one stage of life. My belief is that everyone goes through each stage that Erikson represents in his eight stages of life, multiple times throughout the life cycle. I find that there are small parts of myself still experiencing each stage at one time or another in my life. Trust versus mistrust, autonomy versus doubt, initiative versus guilt, industry versus inferiority, identity versus role confusion, intimacy versus isolation, and Generativity versus stagnation are all stages I continue to go through in my life. Although each adult goes through infancy, early childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, and mature adulthood; I believe the questions Erikson asks in each of these stages can be asked numerous times throughout life.

In infancy, the issue is trust versus mistrust with the question, ‘how secure can I be?’ This question can be asked multiple times during other stages of life as the person experiences life with achievements and disappointments. The question in early childhood, according to Erikson, is ‘how can I be independent?’ While most people gain their independence at variant stages of life, the question can be asked multiple times, especially during relationships. The question ‘how can I be good?’ asked in the school age of childhood also can be asked in many situations from home and work atmosphere to internal, self-seeking goals and morals.

During adolescence and young adulthood the question asked is ‘who am I?’ and ‘how do I fit in the world?’ I ask myself that question often as a way to reevaluate where I am in life and where I am going. Continuing to question my identity in the world is a process that continues throughout adulthood. At times I can fit into the world and know where I am, who I am, and where I am going; other times I question who I am, where I am going, and what I have done. At times I love who I am but at other times, I want to change my identity and become something or someone different. I can see myself in multiple identity statuses from moratorium to searching.

Adulthood

I seek to be different from my parents, rejecting identifications associated with them. I see how I am similar to my mother and how I can be different from the traits I do not like. At other times, I cherish my relationship with my mother and value the sameness we share throughout life. I see myself as an identity achiever, relying on my own skills, adaptability, knowledge, and goals. I make most of my decisions based on justice and moral responsibility. However, I can see myself more as the searcher, experiencing self-criticism, experiencing strong emotions, and a strong belief in the spiritual world. I consciously and unconsciously, at times, strive to obtain the answers to my questions, while knowing the answers will come. I ask these questions in various situations throughout my life to seek the right path to follow. I have a strong faith and belief that each person is alive for a reason to help others in way or another.

Childhood

I believe my son is in the Childhood (play age). He is preoccupied with power. He is in his intrusive mode of operation. He is very loud, aggressive, always on the go, and is curious about everything. He wants to be the center of attention, have everything go the way he wants, and expects people to let him make decisions even though he is ten years old. My son’s motto is ‘play long, play hard.’ This describes him very well; when he puts his energy into something, he does it long and hard. He is learning how to be good and get what he wants by behaving. However, he does push the limits and want to be in control. My son understands when he behaves in a way that is not acceptable, he does not get his way. I believe this will continue throughout his entire life – pushing the limits, testing his boundaries, and trying anything to get what he wants.

References

Axia College (2010). Developmental Stages and Tasks. Erikson’s Theory of Psychological Development. Retrieved April 23, 2011 from PSY/230 website.