The Life Cycle Completed; Erik Erikson

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The Life Cycle Completed; Erik Erikson

Introduction

            Erik Erickson is the most influential people in psychology known for his theory of social development for human beings. He was born in 15 June 1902 and died in 12 May 1994 in Frankfurt. Erickson interest in psychology is traced in childhood in that, he developed an interest in knowing why human beings behave the way they behave. Erickson left a legacy in theories of development along with the ego to the extent; many of his assumptions are currently used in the psychology field. One of his greatest innovations was postulate stages of development. In this regard, this paper seeks to write a summary ‘concerning the ninth stage of development in the life cycle development.

The life cycle completed by Eric Erickson outline that, every human being goes to certain stages to reach full development. These theorizing stages go through from birth to death. In 1997, three years after the death of Erik Erickson death, his wife Joan published an extended version of Erik book the life cycle completed in which he addressed the ninth stage of development. It is a well documented that, Joan does not offer any particular crisis set out in the characteristics of the ninth stage as compared to other stages. Joan Erickson in her nineties guides us through the major challenges experienced by the old aged while they age in the eighth age until in the ninth development stage. In her introductory remarks concerning the ninth stage writes on particular challenges faced by elders. These challenges occur in their bodies along with life choices that mostly affected by the investable wage of time. She outlines that, faith and hope must play a major role in the lives of eighties and nineties. To explain this deeply, she addresses conflicts of the first eights stages and how each of them are relevant in the ninth stage.

Particularly, individual success is highly determined by how an individual is brought up in the sense that, a child can enter in adolescence with a feeling of inferiority or a sense of competence, which as a result, can plague the rest of child life. With this regard, the book first analysis the eight stages in regard the issues and the basic virtues on each stage. First, it elaborates that, each stage is involved with two opposing emotional forces that relates and correspond to the inherent challenges. For the first life stage, Erickson outline that it is the infant stage, which is mostly shaped by the mother in feeding. Under the first stage, the common conflicts obtain is sensory distortion. The second stage involves the toddler been trained in walking and the major conflict been will power and self-control. The third stage is found in preschool that involves exploration and discovery with the possible outcome been ruthlessness. The fourth stage involves schoolchild mostly shaped by teachers, friends, neighborhood and the school. Under the fourth stage, the negative outcome is narrow virtuosity. The fifth stage involves adolescent ages influenced by peer groups thus, resolving identity and direction when growing up. Under this development stage, one of negative outcome is said to be fanaticism or else repudiation. In the sixth stage, in involve intimate relationship from work and social lives in addition, promiscuity been the possible outcome.

Additionally, the seventh stage involve mid adult with the eighth stage been the late adult which entails life achievements. In this regard, Joan Erickson outlines the joy and challenges of the ninth stage in life. According to Joan Erickson, the ninth stage is the despair of the eighth stage, which is magnified by experiences of an individual body, and mind, which as a result, lowers self-esteem as well as confidence. In this regard, she points out that, facing down despair in faith with appropriate humility is the wisest course in the stage of human development. Joan Erickson outlines that, it essential noting that, conflict and tension are the sources of commitment, strength and growth defining the entire aspect of the life cycle completed. Joan highlights that, every tension or negative outcome inherited in the stages of human development is what makes the whole human being. Additionally, the book outlines that, in the earlier life stages the positive elements are the source of strength but in the ninth stage involves overcoming negative elements.

The book conclude by outlining that, the ninth stage involves mistrust or trust, shame verses autonomy, despair or integrity, role confusion Vs identity and self-absorption verses generativist. It at this point, Joan Erickson considers the successful completion of ninth stage to move the person toward gero-transcendence. In addition, the ninth stage acknowledges changes that occur towards normal part of aging. A time, the age accept connection with dead relatives who in this case may have been close to the victim. In most cases, the old aged prefer quiet and peaceful place for meditations.

Conclusion

            In facts, Erickson theory is highly recognized. It is considered significant in describing development stages of a human being from birth to death. As discussed in the paper, Eric concept of stages of human development is remarkable which later, is extended by his wife in describing the ninth stage. Joan Erickson outlines that, the ninth stage involve the elderly from the age of 70s and 80s. Additionally, she outlines that, faith and hope must play a major role in the lives of eighties and nineties. In this regard, this paper has briefly discussed the ninth stage of development in the life cycle development.

 

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