Erik Erikson was a German developmental psychologist and psychoanalyst known for his theory on psychological development of human beings. Erikson believed that personality develops in a series of eight stages over the lifespan: Trust vs Mistrust, Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt, Initiative vs Guilt, Industry vs Inferiority, Identity vs Role Confusion, Intimacy vs Isolation, Generativity vs Stagnation and Ego Integrity vs Despair. Examples of these stages can be recognised in the ? lm Looking For Alibrandi. Looking For Alibrandi follows Joesphine Alibrandi at her ?
nal year in high school, the year she meets her father, falls in love, looses her best friend and ? nd the truth about her family. By re? ecting on my own life experiences and the characters in Looking For Alibrandi, I am able to see how the theory applies to the process of growing up. Erikson? s theory is evident through Josie? s character in Looking For Alibrandi. Due to her age, Josie is classi? ed in the ? fth stage, Identity vs Role Confusion. This is a major stage in development where the child has to learn the roles they will occupy as an adult.
It is during this stage that the adolescent will re-examine their identity and try to ? nd out exactly who they are. Josie is a confused girl, searching to ? nd where she belongs in two different cultures. It is during Tomato Day where Josie? s negative feelings towards her Italian culture are expressed, “this might be where I come from, but do I really belong here? ”. However, out of the resolution of her family con? icts she ? nds a sense of belonging and commits to her own sense of identity “what?
The Essay on Sexual Identity Children Roles Sex
Traditional Sex Roles in Children The conflict over appropriate sex roles runs into unresolved questions of what sexual identity is and how it is formed. According to most psychologists, sexual identity is built up by stages beginning with genes, hormones, early mothering, and family upbringing. In these early years, parents may give dolls to boys or baseball mitts to girls, so long as their ...
s important is who I feel I am”. Josie? s new acceptance of her culture is shown in the closing scene, in contrast to the opening, where Josie invites her friends to celebrate Tomato Day rather than leaving with them. Thus, Erik Erikson? s theory accurately applies to the process of growing up. Identity vs Role Confusion is also shown through John Barton? s character in Looking For Alibrandi. Erikson? s theory states that if the parents continually push their child to conform to their views, the teen will face identity confusion.
Those who remain unsure of their beliefs and desires will feel insecure and confused about themselves and the future. John feels enormous pressure to live up to his fathers expectations and the absence of support from his family results in John committing suicide. John tried to be what his father wanted him to be and didn? t attempt to make an identity for himself, “I don? t know what I want”. John? s death is evident of role confusion, precluding him from progressing to further stages, showing Erikson? s theory does apply to the process of growing up. Erikson?
s theory is also evident through Nonna Katia? s character in Looking For Alibrandi. According to her age, Katia is placed in the eighth and ? nal stage of Erikson? s theory, Integrity vs Despair. This phase occurs during old age and is focused on re? ecting back on life. Those who feel proud of their accomplishments will feel a sense of integrity. Successfully completing this phase means looking back with few regrets and a general feeling of satisfaction. Katia is often focusing back on life as seen through all the photos and stories she shares about her past, “I was most beautiful of them all”.
Although, she does regret parts of her life such as staying with Francesco, “I did my duty, I stayed with him. That was my penance. ” Katia successfully completed this stage with feelings of contempt and only few regrets, showing Erikson? s theory does apply to the process of growing up. Industry vs Inferiority is a stage I have successfully achieved in Erikson? s theory. This stage covers the early school years from approximately age 5 to 11. Through social interactions, children begin to develop a sense of pride in their accomplishments and abilities.
The Term Paper on Ben Carson An In depth Look At His Life Through Erik Eriksons Eight Stages Of Development
Ben Carson: An in-depth look at his life through Erik Erikson's Eight Stages of Development Erik Erikson admits that Freuds ideas are basically correct. However, Erikson insists that society and culture are of great influence on the persons development. The Eriksons theory of life span development is the essential ground for observation of human development and it reveals the constant development ...
Children who are encouraged and commended by parents and teachers develop a feeling of competence and belief in their skills. In primary school, I was voted to be one of eight prefects, a leadership role held within the school. This accomplishment increased my con? dence in my abilities and therefore lead to further leadership roles such as class captain in high school. Thus, Erikson? s theory has successfully applied to my own life experiences in the process of growing up. However, there are circumstances where both the ?
lm Looking For Alibrandi and my own life experiences have not matched Erikson? s theory. This is evident through Christina Alibrandi? s character in Looking For Alibrandi. Christina is in sixth stage of Erikson? s theory, Intimacy vs Isolation. Erikson believed it was vital that people develop close, committed relationships with other people. Those who are successful at this step will form relationships that are committed and secure. Christina tries to be part of long term relationships as seen when she goes on a date with doctor and talks about her previous relationship with Michael Andretti.
However, she is unable to maintain an intimate, committed relationship and doesn? t have a marital partner. According to Erikson, less committed relationships are more likely to suffer emotional isolation, loneliness, and depression. Despite this, Christina has a very strong relationship with her daughter Josie who says “I? d die if my mum died”. Therefore, Erikson? s theory does not apply to the process of growing up in Looking For Alibrandi. Erikson? s theory states that personality develops in a series of eight stages over the lifespan. In most cases, Erikson?
s theory accurately applies the process of growing up in my own life and to the characters in the ? lm Looking For Alibrandi. However, in some circumstances Erikson? s theory does not match. Applying and evaluating theories can be dif? cult as each individual has their own experiences. Different people will be able to relate to different stages and some stages may not ? t in depending upon what situations and experiences the individual has faced. I believe Erikson has created an accurate overall theory that applies to the process of growing up.
The Essay on Erikson Theory Life People Begin
Erik H. Erikson, just like many others, had a theory of socialization process. In his theory during a human's life they will meet main challenges during eight points in their life. The first stage is during infancy, from birth until about the age of eighteen months. This is the time that infants must begin to trust people, and have the feeling of being safe. As you would assume family and people ...
