Simply Psychology, Second Edition

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If adults can find satisfaction and a sense of contribution through these roles, they are more likely to develop a sense of generativity, leading to feelings of productivity and fulfillment. Core conflicts are not exclusive to their originating stage but recurrent throughout the lifespan. Osborne (2009) argues that these crises extend beyond the stages in which they initially occur. Development of Industry: At school, children are given numerous opportunities to learn, achieve, and demonstrate their competencies. They work on various projects, participate in different activities, and collaborate with their peers. The id, ego, and superego have most commonly been conceptualized as three essential parts of the human personality.

In the highly repressive “Victorian” society in which Freud lived and worked, women, in particular, were forced to repress their sexual needs. In many cases, the result was some form of neurotic illness.

This approach helps foster a sense of industry, competence, and confidence in children, reducing feelings of inferiority. Stage 5. Identity vs. Role Confusion However, most evidence for Freud’s theories is from an unrepresentative sample. He mostly studied himself, his patients, and only one child (e.g., Little Hans). How they learn to cope with these situations— and how teachers and parents guide them through these challenges—can influence whether they develop a sense of industry or inferiority. He proposed that Little Hans’ horse phobia was symbolic of a deeper fear related to the Oedipus Complex – unconscious feelings of affection for his mother and rivalry with his father. The case of Little Hans is often used as an example of Freud’s theory of the Oedipal Complex in children. Peer Influence: Peer groups often become a significant influence during this stage. Adolescents often start to place more value on the opinions of their friends than their parents.

Little Hans (Herbert Graf): Little Hans, a five-year-old boy, feared horses. Freud never met Hans but used information from the boy’s father to diagnose him. However, Fisher & Greenberg (1996) argue that Freud’s theory should be evaluated in terms of specific hypotheses rather than a whole. They concluded that there is evidence to support Fr For example, a nutritionist giving a lecture intended to say we should always demand the best in bread, but instead said bed. Another example is where a person may call a friend’s new partner by the name of a previous one, whom we liked better. For example, rather than put on a child’s clothes, a supportive parent should have the patience to allow the child to try until they succeed or ask for assistance.

Isolation refers to the inability to form meaningful, intimate relationships with others. This could lead to feelings of loneliness, alienation, and exclusion. This is when children start to exert their independence, taking control over their bodily functions, which can greatly influence their sense of autonomy or shame and doubt. Erikson states parents must allow their children to explore the limits of their abilities within an encouraging environment that is tolerant of failure. However, if adolescents don’t have the support, time, or emotional capacity to explore their identity, they may be left with unresolved identity issues, feeling unsure about their roles and uncertain about their future. Also, pressuring someone into an identity can result in rebellion in the form of establishing a negative identity, and in addition to this feeling of unhappiness. Stage 6. Intimacy vs. Isolation

Freud believed that people could be cured by making conscious their unconscious thoughts and motivations, thus gaining insight. Shame and Doubt: Conversely, if the process is rushed, if there’s too much pressure, or if parents respond with anger or disappointment to accidents, the child may feel shame and start doubting their abilities. Prochaska, J., & C. DiClemente (1984). The transtheoretical approach: Crossing traditional boundaries of therapy. Homewood, Ill., Dow Jones-Irwin.

By understanding the importance of exploration and providing the right support, caregivers can help children navigate this stage successfully and minimize feelings of guilt. Stage 4. Industry vs. Inferiority Social Acceptance and Belonging: Feeling accepted and fitting in with peers can significantly affect an adolescent’s self-esteem and sense of identity. Erikson’s theory has good face validity. Many people find they can relate to his theories about various life cycle stages through their own experiences. Initiative versus guilt is the third stage of Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development. During the initiative versus guilt stage, children assert themselves more frequently through directing play and other social interaction. Here’s the conflict: During one session, in which Albert is encouraged to free associate, he demonstrated a degree of resistance in the following example:

Due to the nature of defense mechanisms and the inaccessibility of the deterministic forces operating in the unconscious, psychoanalysis in its classic form is a lengthy process, often involving 2 to 5 sessions per week for several years.

References

How does Maslow’s hierarchy of needs differ from Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development? Maslow Freud believed that by undoing the dreamwork, the analyst could study the manifest content (what they dreamt) and interpret the latent content ( what it meant) by understanding the symbols. This is a major stage of development where the child has to learn the roles he will occupy as an adult. During this stage, the adolescent will re-examine his identity and try to find out exactly who he or she is.