Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory and Maslow’s Hierarchy of ...



Erickson’s Psychosocial Theory and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory

Criptal Graham

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Introduction

This paper will compare to well known theories to my practical life. I will apply Erickson’s Psychosocial Theory and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to my everyday living. This paper will reflect feelings and thoughts that I have experienced during my forty years of growing up. As well as bring to life the above mentioned theories as I explore them.

Erickson’s Psychosocial Theory applied to My Life

According to Newman & Newman’s writings Trust vs. Mistrust is one of Erickson’s Psychosocial Crisis. This is during the period of life the young child is 0-1 years of age. At the beginning is Basic trust vs. Mistrust. This is during the infancy period when the child is making a social connection with the parent. The child is forming bonds that will either be strengthened or weakened in the future of his life. Nonetheless at this present time in life the child is establishing positive or negative relationships. Erickson has said that the psychosocial development that is taking place at this stage is Oral sensory. (Mehmet, A). For infants trust is an emotion, a positive experimental state of confidence that their needs will be met and that they are valued.

My life at this age was told to me. I remember stories that I can compare to the psychosocial crisis Trust vs. Mistrust. When I was a young baby I was abducted by my dad from my mom’s home. I was told there was no crying involved. I was wrapped in my blanket and carried away. Imagine the trust that a child can have with people they know or not know. My dad and mom were just youngsters themselves also my dad had an alcohol problem. He decided to take me to his house when she turned her back. As my dad ran up the highway with me, I was told I was just looking up at him. However, when my mom and grandmother came to get me back, they said I was still doing okay. I was very calm and was not aware of any change in my surroundings. This says a lot about how the child can form bonds and make new bonds at this age level.

Mistrust is the other part of this crisis. However as the story is told to me, I did not show any signs of mistrust toward my father. Evidently, at his home I also had the necessities that I needed. According to Erickson all infants experience some levels of mistrust. One reason would be because of a result of mismatches between their needs not being met. Also, mistrust could be a result of the care giving strategies that a child receives. Another reason for mistrust within a child is when there are difficulties in dealing with strong feelings (Newman pg. 170).

The fourth stage is Industry vs. Inferiority. This covers ages six to twelve years old of the child’s life. The development the child is securing here is Latency. The child is now realizing that there are rules and regulations in the place called earth. The child at this point has started some type of educational setting and has to surrender his or her will to the will of the one who has rule over them. This can be a very challenging time for the child and should be handled according to the measure of the child’s resistance (Mehmet, A).

Relating Industry vs. Inferiority to my life I can say this is when I started to find my identity. I remember this was during my elementary school years and I was very opinionated. The teachers use to comment on my ability to speak my mind at such a young age. I had no problem obeying the teachers who had rule over me even though I came from a dysfunctional troubled home. The statistics on children who comes from a problem home are more likely to be dysfunctional in schools and society. However thanks to God I exceeded the norms. Even though I was not aware of the term industry then I seem to act with an eagerness to acquire skills and had a desire to perform meaningful work (Newman & Newman, pg. 305)

According to Erickson inferiority is something that children go through in middle childhood. Inferiority is when a child has feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy. This usually comes from two sources one’s self and the social environment.

Many times during my middle childhood years I remember feeling inferior to the adults who were in my life. Although I started out as a child that felt free to voice my opinions and share my ideas, I did not stay that way. I started feeling very shy and timid because of the things that I experienced from other adults. My Mom had three other children. Two of them were younger than I was and they always asked me for advice. This was okay with me until my Mom got offended and told my brother and sister I did not know everything.

From then on, I felt very inferior around my parents. I did not want them to hear the other children asking me for any advice. I felt as though I would get into trouble if I acted like I knew everything. Still today I am going through something like this in my home. I am a college graduate and my husband is a high school graduate and I feel as though he is offended by my education. Therefore, I am skeptical about how I use the information that I have obtained.

The fifth stage is Identity vs. Role confusion and puberty and this is no longer a young child but adolescence. This is an even more challenging time for the young adolescent. They are seeking to be complete by fulfilling desires or accomplishments that would in some way define them. This is a very difficult time for the adolescent because self-worth is not prevalent within them. They are often confused in what roles they are suppose to play. The dilemma is whether to relive the past four stages in their lives or to let go and let this new person emerge. Erickson states that these last four stages have a big part to play in the adolescent’s identity (Mehmet, A).

As I entered into the adolescent period of my life I was very perplexed about my role. I was picked on because I did not have the best of things in life. I was always grateful for what I did have however children can be cruel. I felt like a child at school however I felt like someone else at home most of the time. I could act my age at home however we never knew when it would be right or wrong. It all depended on when my dad was intoxicated or not.

As far as, alienation I felt like I was alienated from other children. My siblings and I were not able to go play with other children regularly. We could play with children on our street and that was not many. Usually it was just one other family with children and they were dysfunctional also. Going through puberty and forming relationships was not that hard because I stuck with one boy until the twelfth grade.

The seventh stage is Generativity vs. Stagnation and this stage takes place in Adulthood. The adult here is said to have a sense of needing to give back to the next society. In other words either they have offspring that they are rearing or they are a community parent where they support children of all kinds. This is a very important to the adult that they contribute to society by helping to build strong confident citizens for the next generations (Mehmet, A).

Generativity vs. Stagnation is a very important stage in life to me because it is where I am currently. Most of my days consist of my thinking of how I can give back. I strive to find ways to enhance and enrich some young person’s life. I especially try to contribute and deposit positive information to my five children’s lives. They are amazed at how I can seem to put a sermon with all aspects of everyday living. I feel that as I grew up I had very influential people to deposit faith, hope, and love into my life and I want to do my share for the next generations.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs applied to my life

At the age of forty I find myself in the final four stages on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Assessment. The fifth stage is Intellectual Achievement this is also the first level of growth according to Maslow. This is where the individual feels the necessity to possess a lot of knowledge. The impulse to ask a lot of questions is prominent at this level of the needs assessment (William, Y).

This is a very important need in my life. I find myself everyday wondering if I am obtaining the knowledge today that will prepare me for tomorrow. It really does feel like a thriving need to possess the necessary knowledge to be successful and look like a valuable player in today’s society.

The sixth stage is Aesthetic Appreciation. The adult is interested in things that would help define more of their character in life. For example recognizing order, beauty of things, and searching out the infallible truths of matters (William, Y).

As I continue on in life I see where Aesthetic Appreciation is an important part of one’s well being. It is a desire of mine that my character passes before God and mankind. I try everyday to live so that people can speak well of me and to behave in a manner that will bring recognition to God. Because it is God who made me and I am responsible for being the very best person I can with his help and guidance.

The seventh level is Self Actualization. The individual at this level thrives on putting to good use for the betterment of life the capabilities, talents and the potential that they possess (William, Y).

In my own words I would call this need “practicing what I preach”. In other words, I have a strong need to recognize flaws and errors that are in my life. Then I admit them have a self examination and then I correct the flaws. I am very hard on myself. I critic my life thoroughly because it is important to me to be effective in the ministry I work in. I try to use every talent and gift that has been given me to help someone or to teach someone.

The final and eighth level is the Transcendence or Spiritual level. Maslow thought at this level one is looking beyond their natural ability to do. He simply thought that people who applied this level were more willing to see a more deeper beauty as opposed to those who do not use this level, he views them as “self doers” ( William, Y).

Certainly, I am presently at this level. I believe that I within myself and own power could not accomplish anything. However I believe with the help and aide of God I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (King J., Holy Bible). Then, there is a greater beauty to behold. For me, it is that of Christ Jesus and his infinite love and help.

Conclusion

In conclusion, what I have learned is that life has stages. Also, each stage has a lesson to be learned. I have learned that life has a needs assessment. While going through the different stages of life one will have a hierarchy of needs. It is necessary and prevalent to our well being that we master every stage and that every need met.

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