Reflection Paper on Erikson’s Theory

Holding hands, hugging and caring for someone you love can mean the world to you. According to Erikson’s theory I am at the sixth stage of development. Finding someone to share my life with is one of the many priorities that I seem to have now. As much similarity I have with Erikson’s theory, I completely cannot relate everything that his theory suggests. I still ask questions about myself and try to discover myself in various ways. This makes me in a constant transition between the fifth and sixth stage of Erikson’s theory. This might be because I have just entered the sixth stage. Erikson’s sixth stage in the theory of development tells us that from the age of 20 to 34 one will seek intimacy or isolation. This stage is also important in giving and receiving of physical and emotional connection, support, love, comfort, trust, and all the other elements that we would typically associate with healthy adult relationships.

We explore relationships leading toward longer term commitments with someone other than a family member. Being successful in this stage can lead to comfortable relationships and a sense of commitment, safety, and care within a relationship. On the other hand isolation means being and feeling excluded from the usual life experiences of loving relationships. This logically is characterized by feelings of loneliness, alienation, social withdrawal or non-participation. Avoiding intimacy, fearing commitment and relationships can lead to isolation and depression. Thus to be successful in this stage, it is highly important that we achieve our identity. Developing close, intimate friendships are important to person so that we will have strong relationship. If not, its failure will lead to isolation and the lack of relationship and have affect in our lives. According to Erikson’s sixth theory, I share a deep connection with few of my friends. I strongly agree that as we grow older we tend to have a more meaningful friendship with a few rather than having several meaningful friendships.

But I still think I have a lot to develop about myself, hence it takes me back to the fifth stage where he explains about developing an identity or being in a role confusion. He believes that here the child has to learn the roles he will occupy as an adult. It is during this stage that the adolescent will re-examine his identity and try to find out exactly who he is. But confining this idea in just one particular stage of life makes it unclear and confusing. As much as I agree with the theory, I still think one cannot fully develop a proper identity of one’s self in just the teen years. We can discover ourselves but having a concrete identity takes more time and this idea should also be present in the sixth stage of Erikson’s theory. Throughout life, we are all changing and evolving. Erik Erikson believed that development continues throughout life. Erikson developed his theory of psychosocial development taking into account the specific cultural context as well as age criteria, behavioral and social, mental and somatic components.

According to him, each stage in life corresponds to certain expectations the society and an individual about himself might have. These stages are carefully synchronized to give a proper idea of one’s development throughout his life and each stage makes a smooth transition to the next. I admit that his ideas can be related to my life. When I was small, my mother and especially my grandmother used to take care of me which helped me build an immense amount of love and trust for them. Soon I stared asking questions about everything which my parents effortlessly answered without being angry or avowing it. This helped me to be more autonomous. I remember my first time I went out by myself when I was ten years old. My father was really proud of me which eventually helped me boost confidence. Guidance from my parents and especially my friends helped me discover what was right or wrong.

All these events can be related to each of the eight stages of Erikson’s theory. Relating many events from my life to Erikson’s theory makes it more accurate. I am beginning to understand how each of his previous stage is more influential to the proceeding stage. Though I fall into the sixth stage in Erikson’s theory, the idea of the fifth stage is the most crucial part of a person’s life. My recent passage into the sixth stage makes me wonder whether I have fully discovered myself, but I also believe that as by the time I reach late twenties, I will have a proper understanding of my capabilities and will focus more into intimacy.

a) Describe the stage of Erikson’s theory that you are supposed to be in. Do you think that this describes the major things currently going on in your life? Explain why or why not. Be sure to describe Erikson’s stage that you are discussing, and to include specific events from your life. b) Think over your past. Do you think that you are still struggling with any of the earlier stages of Erikson’s theory? Explain why or why not. Be sure to describe Erikson’s stage(s) that you are discussing, and to include specific events from your life. c) Do you think that Erikson’s theory is a good theory? Explain whether you think it is a good explanation for events in your life.