Psychosocial development

Development Across Life Span

Psychosocial Development

  • Focuses on the development of personality, relationships, and self-concept during infancy and childhood.

Learning Objectives

  • WALT: Understand development in key areas of infancy and childhood.

  • WILF: Identify and elaborate on different personalities in children based on factors affecting behavior.

  • Suggest strategies for addressing children's personalities and behavior using Erikson's theory.

Engage!

  • Personality Exploration:

    • Discussion on why some children exhibit negative and whiny behavior while others appear sweet and good-natured.

Infancy and Childhood Development: Psychosocial Development

  • Temperament: Behavioral characteristics present at birth.

    • Easy Temperament: Regular, adaptable, and cheerful.

    • Difficult Temperament: Irregular, non-adaptable, and irritable.

    • Slow to Warm Up: Requires gradual adjustment to change.

Attachment in Infancy and Childhood

  • Attachment Types:

    • Secure: Explores freely; distressed when caregiver leaves, easily comforted upon return.

    • Avoidant: Unattached; explores without seeking caregiver’s presence.

    • Ambivalent: Insecure attachment; upset when caregiver leaves, may show anger upon return.

    • Disorganized-disoriented: Insecure attachment often linked with past abuse.

Self-Concept Development

  • Definition of self-concept: An individual's perception of themselves, shaped by interactions with important figures in their lives.

    • Infants learn to separate ‘me’ from surroundings and others.

Erikson's Psychosocial Stages of Development

  • Developmental stages covering infancy to late adulthood:

    1. Infant (Birth to 1 year)

      • Crisis: Trust vs. Mistrust

    2. Toddler (1 to 3 years)

      • Crisis: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

    3. Preschool (3 to 5 years)

      • Crisis: Initiative vs. Guilt

    4. Elementary (5 to 12 years)

      • Crisis: Industry vs. Inferiority

    5. Adolescence (13 to early 20s)

      • Crisis: Identity vs. Role Confusion

    6. Early Adulthood (20s and 30s)

      • Crisis: Intimacy vs. Isolation

    7. Middle Adulthood (40s and 50s)

      • Crisis: Generativity vs. Stagnation

    8. Late Adulthood (60s and beyond)

      • Crisis: Ego Integrity vs. Despair

Successful Dealing with Crises:

  • Satisfaction with needs leads to trust and future expectations.

  • Successful actions in toddlers foster independence.

  • Preschoolers developing self-control feel capable.

  • Successful learning leads to competence in children.

  • Adolescents who discover their identity have stability.

  • Young adults with shared identities create fulfilling relationships.

  • Adults focusing on the future nurture creativity.

  • Older adults resolving past regrets will accept life’s end.

Unsuccessful Dealing with Crises:

  • Unmet needs foster mistrust and pessimism about future care.

  • Blocked independence fosters self-doubt in toddlers.

  • Failed regulation leads to guilt in preschoolers.

  • Comparing failure leads to inferiority in children.

  • Undeclared identity creates confusion in adolescents.

  • Young adults unable to find connection experience loneliness.

  • Adults locked in self-focus remain stagnant.

  • Older adults holding onto regrets see death as premature.

Erikson’s Theory

  • The first four stages crucial in infancy and childhood with a focus on social interactions.

    • Trust vs. Mistrust: First stage fostering a sense of trust.

    • Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt: Second stage fostering independence.

    • Initiative vs. Guilt: Third stage promoting responsibility and self-control.

    • Industry vs. Inferiority: Fourth stage facilitating skill development and self-esteem.

Conclusion

Strategies for Children's Personalities Based on Erikson's Theory

  • Suggest interventions and strategies to address and support children's diverse personalities and behaviors.