Introduction
In psychology, many scholars emphasize various phases of human development and the external and internal factors that influence the processes of maturation. Among the psychologists who analyzed human development and offered a set of stages that every individual undergoes is Erik Erikson and his theory of psychological development. Erikson’s theory is crucial to understanding the completion of each stage, which either results in success or trauma, and can be used to interpret the development of any person.
Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development
Erik Erikson’s suggested concept is the psychological defense mechanism, whose many components form and develop during the eight phases of psychosocial protective maturation under various social interactions. For instance, out of eight stages, the first one occurs in infancy and is defined as the Trust vs. Mistrust stage, the moment when the parental connection is crucial (Chung, 2018). The last stage people go through, the stage of Integrity vs. Despair, occurs in older adulthood, from 65 years old (Chung, 2018).
The reason I find this theory fascinating and credible is that each stage grows on the ones that came before it and prepares the foundation for the phases of growth that follow. The theory can be applied to any person to see how their personality develops. Erikson thought that at each phase, humans go through a crisis that marks a pivotal moment in their growth. Such crises, in Erikson’s opinion, are primarily caused by either attaining or failing to attain a particular psychological trait (Chung, 2018).
Both the possibility of failure and the possibilities for personal progress are great at this moment. From personal experience, I can assert that this theory helps me understand my personality more. I have completed the first stage and gained a trait of trust, which now allows me to build strong relationships with others. In comparison, a person I know did not have a strong connection to their parents, and they are now very introverted and alienate others.
Conclusion
Hence, the completion of each Erikson’s stage either results in success or trauma, and the theory may be applied to interpret the development of every person. Erik Erikson claimed that people develop and mature through eight stages through varied social interactions. The fact that each stage builds on the ones that came before it and lays the groundwork for the stages of growth to follow is what attracts me to this idea and makes it seem realistic.
Reference
Chung, D. (2018). The eight stages of psychosocial protective development: Developmental psychology. Journal of Behavioral and Brain Science, 8(06), 369. Web.