Introduction
To understand people better and explain their behaviors and perceptions of themselves and the world around them, applying the lenses of different theories and psychosocial development is effective. Interviewing individuals about their life challenges, coping mechanisms, and cultural expectations, and learning how they perceive themselves and their close ones, can help us practice Erikson’s theory. The five listed areas are essential for understanding how the developmental stage can define individuals’ actions or attitudes. Brian and Laura participated in personal interviews, and as a result, similarities and differences emerged in how these participants discussed the five topics. Covering these areas through Erikson’s theory is practical and informative.
Interviewee Information
To begin, it is essential to provide background information on the two individuals who chose to participate in the interview. The first interviewee is Laura, a 55-year-old African American woman. She states that she is satisfied with her life and loves her culture, but blames the world for not allowing representatives of minority races to succeed as easily as white people can. Laura also finds religion integral to her life, and she attends her local church frequently. Her family and neighbors also play a primary role in her daily life.
The second participant is Brian, a forty-two-year-old white male who is unmarried and has no children. He is now working to improve his relationships with his parents and develop his career. Brian reports difficulty expressing his feelings and recognizing others’ emotions. Both participants are in midlife adulthood, which is the seventh stage of Erikson’s theory – stagnation vs. generativity. For the sake of anonymity, the interviewees’ real names have been replaced with pseudonyms.
Self-Perception
The first topic to emerge in the interviews was participants’ self-perception. This concept refers to how individuals view themselves, their characteristics, and their self-esteem (Blatný et al., 2019). To explore how the particular theory can explain people’s perceptions of themselves, it is essential to present Brian’s and Laura’s comments, provide an overview of Erikson’s theory, and then combine the observations with the theoretical tenets.
Interviewee Information
Although both interviewees are in Erikson’s seventh stage of psychological development, they perceive themselves differently, as evidenced in their responses. Firstly, Laura indicated that she saw herself “as an extremely caring person, a wonderful mother, and a great friend” who could always “forget about herself and only pay attention to the closest ones and some people around.” She also explained that she could become overly controlling, but only because she saw her primary objective as ensuring that others needed her and could benefit from her help or presence.
Further, Brian stated that he was “just a human with a good job and a boring life.” For Brian, it was challenging to express how he perceived himself. He indicated he was responsible and determined, but his achievements in his management position were driven solely by personal gain rather than by a desire to contribute to others.
Theory
Regarding self-perception, Erikson’s theory explains how people in different stages of development can view themselves. According to research, generativity is associated with better and clearer self-esteem, self-efficacy, and self-concept (Blatný et al., 2019). The authors indicate that the more generativity one has during the seventh stage of psychosocial development, the greater the clarity one has about oneself. This relationship is “a manifestation of mature identity consisting of a clear, consistent view of the self” (Blatný et al., 2019, p. 223). At the same time, stagnation prevents individuals from determining their purpose in midlife adulthood or recognizing that they should leave some legacy (Blatný et al., 2019). Instead, they are focused on personal benefits and either do not want to care for others or lack the understanding of how to do that.
Theory and Interviewee Connection/Analysis
The tenets of Erikson’s theory help explain why Laura and Brian differ in how they talk about themselves. Laura’s levels of generativity are incredibly high. She has found her way of contributing to the wellness of her family and society, which is what many people seek during the generativity vs. stagnation developmental phase (Blatný et al., 2019). She sees herself clearly and has high self-esteem because she can evaluate herself as successful in her roles, enabling Laura to experience the best effects of generativity.
However, Brian is stagnating because he cannot even explain who he is or what his purpose in life is. In the face of high levels of stagnation, people tend to focus on themselves (Blatný et al., 2019). Even though Brian has a management position, he does not recognize how he can improve the world; he only wants to make a profit.
Perception of Family
It is hard to argue that family plays a valuable role in many people’s lives as they grow up with their relatives and then have their own kids. According to Erikson’s theory, an individual’s perception of their family, to some extent, depends on the stage of psychosocial development they are in (Newton et al., 2020). By comparing how Laura sees her neighbors as her family and how Brian has no children or wife, and tries at least to spend time with his parents, it will be possible to highlight some theoretical assumptions about their stage of development.
Interviewee Information
When asked to share some information about their family connections, the participants again responded differently. Brian, who has just entered the seventh stage of Erikson’s theory, shared that he had never been married or had children. Previously, Brian was not interested in spending time with his parents, but over the last year, he has been feeling a need to visit them more frequently. What is more, Brian indicated that he has improved his parents’ living conditions. Regarding the other participant, who began this developmental stage approximately 15 years ago, she shared that she has been living with her daughter and grandchildren for the last 5 years, raising them and helping around the house. Additionally, all the people in their neighborhood were also a part of the family for Laura, and her favorite activity was babysitting other children.
Theory
According to Erik Erikson’s theory of development, one’s perceptions of family change when they enter a particular stage. Thus, people with higher levels of generativity aim to be more involved with spending time with family members and sharing their wisdom with them (Newton et al., 2020). During this stage, many people want children or grandchildren because they can realize their determination to contribute to the world by raising kids (Newton et al., 2020). What is more, they can impact their relatives in many other ways, mainly by viewing their communication as an opportunity to make a positive impact.
If stagnation becomes more powerful for some people, they may fail to find support and joy in their families and may avoid having children if they are not parents yet. However, stagnation in other spheres might also make some individuals redirect their energy into meaningful activities with their children, senior parents, or other relatives, even if their spiritual connection was weaker before.
Theory and Interviewee Connection
As evident from the previous sections, the participants’ actions and attitudes can be explained using Erikson’s theory. For instance, Laura has higher levels of generativity, as she is determined to make a positive impact on her daughter, grandchildren, and the people around her and derives happiness from doing so. Family is Laura’s primary source of inspiration, and according to Newton et al. (2020), this is common among individuals in the generativity vs. stagnation stage. Her energy is so high that she can share it with other individuals in the neighborhood, and the need to leave an impact makes her consider them her family.
However, for personal reasons, Brian seems to be experiencing more stagnation in this phase (Newton et al., 2020). With no children and no intention of starting his own family, he seeks to spend more time with his parents and improve their lives, as this is his only opportunity to positively affect his family. The latter is a key tenet of Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development.
Life Challenges
Everyone can face various obstacles and issues at different stages of psychosocial development. Erikson’s theory can help explain how the life challenges the two participants discuss are defined by the seventh developmental phase they are currently undergoing (Berk, 2018). Depending on whether an individual’s levels of stagnation and generativity are lower or higher, they can avoid experiencing some issues.
Interviewee Information
As Brian indicated, he constantly felt pressure from his colleagues and others with their own families because he had never had a wife or children, despite entering midlife. Brian also stated that, while he felt it was only appropriate to care for his personal well-being, he sometimes experienced loneliness and an internal void. Trying to address these issues, he tried “to improve relations with mom and dad,” but a certain distance remained between them. Further, Laura expressed her concerns regarding not being able or willing to find time for herself and focus on hobbies or other activities. This participant highlighted no other challenges.
Theory
When exploring Erikson’s theory, it is essential to consider the problems people may face at each stage. For example, if one experiences higher levels of stagnation, they may be concerned about having no meaning in their life or about lacking the means or willingness to contribute to others’ well-being (Berk, 2018). They might also have communication problems due to poor-quality social connections (Joshi et al., 2021). At the same time, higher levels of generativity can sometimes shift one’s focus entirely from themselves to other people.
Theory and Interviewee Connection
The challenges that Brian and Laura described during the interview can be explained using Erikson’s theory. During this stage of generativity vs. stagnation, Brian is not included in social relationships, which prevents him from benefiting others or succeeding in managing his closeness with his parents (Joshi et al., 2021). Stagnation weighs on him, and the fact that he has no achievements in family life makes him and others keep their distance, as it is expected of people in their forties to have children (Berk, 2018). As for Laura, she does not have severe challenges because generativity is associated with enhanced well-being (Blatný et al., 2019). At the same time, she might have concerns about focusing on herself, as leaving a legacy is now her main objective.
Coping Skills
When facing issues, people need to use effective and healthy coping mechanisms. The latter can include strategies such as prayer or medication to help one feel less stressed and more supported. According to Erikson’s theory, one’s coping mechanisms can depend on the stage of psychosocial development they are in (Berk, 2018). It is possible to apply the theory by comparing how Laura and Brian manage their negative feelings.
Interviewee Information
During the interview, the participants shared insights into their coping skills. Laura indicated that she found calmness and happiness in communicating with others, and it was always “effective to help those in need when being stressed or overwhelmed to feel needed and impactful again.” She also found strength in her faith, and whenever she faced negative thoughts, she prayed or assisted in the local church. As for Brian, he described managing stress by distracting himself from it.
Theory
The selected theory can define how people use coping strategies to manage stress and negative emotions. According to Berk (2018) and Newton et al. (2020), people with higher levels of generativity are not only more likely to contribute to society or their families but also to have strong connections with them. Therefore, they can find support in other communities or cope with stress by helping others further. However, stagnation can prevent one from finding a good and healthy way to cope with stress.
Theory and Interviewee Connection
The theory may explain differences in participants’ coping skills. Laura is strongly connected to other people and communities, which shapes her desire to manage negativity by doubling down on her efforts (Berk, 2018). What is more, faith leads her and helps her feel included and part of society. At the same time, because Brian lacks strong social connections and ways to contribute to others, he struggles to find effective coping methods.
Cultural Expectations
It is hard to disagree that culture can shape one’s perceptions of life and lead them to choose some concepts and values over others. Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development indicates that people act and experience the world in accordance with their developmental phase, but access to resources, shaped by culture, also plays a role (Berk, 2018). It is informative to compare and contrast the two participants’ responses and apply the theoretical lens to explain the differences.
Interviewee Information
When discussing the potential cultural expectations affecting their lives, the participants gave different responses. As an African-American woman, Laura was always taught to care for others and see family as the most essential value in life. Moreover, as the participant noted, she was always surrounded by numerous relatives, and friends and acquaintances were also treated as family. She understood that this was caused precisely by African Americans’ cultural characteristics. Laura also shared that she did not focus on her career because she was aware of racial disparities, so she focused on spheres where she could excel because of her race.
Brian was somewhat confused when asked to elaborate on how culture affects his life experiences. He only explained that he thought he could manage everything successfully, correctly, and on time because, as a white male, he had every opportunity in this world.
Theory
The theory under question suggests that people from different cultural backgrounds may differ in how they develop through the stages. In Erikson’s theory, access to essential resources and the values emphasized by one’s culture can determine whether an individual tends toward stagnation or generativity (Berk, 2018). What is more, it is critical to review the article by Newton and Baltys (2014), which highlights how African-American and white individuals view parenthood. It was hypothesized that “African Americans would have higher levels of total generativity than Whites” (Newton & Baltys, 2014, p. 187). The authors proved this concept, stating as an example that Black individuals tend to focus more on their families during this phase than white people.
Theory and Interviewee Connection
The outlined theoretical tenets and the participants’ described experiences can be combined to examine how the former explains the latter. One can notice that Laura’s cultural background informed her preferences and led her to pay increased attention to her family, especially during this stage, when focusing on one’s close people is common (Newton & Baltys, 2014). The theory also sheds light on why the participant cares for her daughter’s kids: “African Americans also have twice the odds of becoming caregiving grandparents,” and “the assumption of responsibility for raising their grandchildren has greater centrality” (Newton & Baltys, 2014, p. 174). As for Brian, his better access to various resources and opportunities, such as career advancements, might have made him more focused on himself. According to Erikson’s theory, precisely self-centered individuals tend to stagnate during this phase of development.
Reflection
This project demonstrated that a developmental theory can serve as a theoretical lens to explore and explain people’s behaviors and attitudes. The information from lectures and live sessions helped me spot differences between Brian’s and Laura’s responses and connect them to the relevant theoretical tenets. I discovered that generativity is associated with better health, well-being, satisfaction with life, and social connections (Berk, 2018). At the same time, stagnation can reduce one’s quality of life and distance oneself from others. I believe that using this theory can be effective in situations when a person’s actions or attitudes seem to have no explanation but can be described and justified by their stage of development.
Conclusion
To conclude, interviewing Brian and Laura shed light on how individuals might act differently when they have higher or lower levels of a given aspect at a given developmental stage. The two people who took part in the interviews were at the same stage of psychological development, which Erikson called generativity vs. stagnation. Their varied views of themselves and others highlighted how one could succeed or fail in achieving generativity. Stagnation led Brian to see himself as a responsible but boring man and reduced his involvement in the family. Laura, on the other hand, appeared to have high and strong self-esteem, support numerous people around her, and use healthy coping mechanisms.
References
Berk, L. E. (2018). Development through the lifespan (7th ed.). Pearson.
Blatný, M., Millová, K., Jelínek, M., & Romaňáková, M. (2019). Personality predictors of midlife generativity: A longitudinal study. Journal of Adult Development, 26(3), 219-231.
Joshi, A., Hambrick, D. C., & Kang, J. (2021). The generativity mindsets of chief executive officers: A new perspective on succession outcomes. Academy of Management Review, 46(2), 385-405.
Newton, N. J., & Baltys, I. H. (2014). Parent status and generativity within the context of race. The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 78(2), 171-195.
Newton, N. J., Chauhan, P. K., & Pates, J. L. (2020). Facing the future: Generativity, stagnation, intended legacies, and well-being in later life. Journal of Adult Development, 27(1), 70-80.