1 . 1. Explain the different stages of Erik Erikson's Psycho Social Theory.
Ans: Erik Erikson, the famous psychoanalyst, developed a psycho social theory. According to him development of an individual is the result of his interaction with his social environment. The social development of an individual puts him in specific pressures or conflicts by making specific demands at different stages of his life. The way in which the crisis of each stage is resolved has a major bearing on the development of one's personality. He discovered 8 crisis of life at different stages. 1. Trust Vs. Mistrust (Birth to 1 years): During this period the baby is completely dependent upon his/ her mother for the satisfaction of his/her needs. The way the child is nourished, handled protected and kept safe at this stage may provide with a sense of security or insecurity and a feeling of trust or mistrust in the mother and ultimately in its surroundings. 2 Autonomy Vs. Shame and Doubt (1 ½ to 3 years): With the newly developed motor and language skills, the child now engages in exploring his environment and experimenting with his strengths and limitations for achieving a sense of autonomy and independence. He may be provided adequate opportunities for the same. The children who are denied the opportunity feel ashamed. 3. Initiative Vs. guilt (3 to 6): During this stage the child begins to take initiative in interacting with his environment ceaselessly and engages in planning and carrying out activities of various kinds. The extent to which he is encouraged by the parents and the social environment goes a long way in developing ability in the child to initiate plan and carry out these activities in later life. 4. Industry Vs. Inferiority (6 to 12 years): By this age children go to school where the school environment generate pressures on them to work hard and perform well. Even the parents demand to handle household duties. And also the child has to compete with his peer group. If the child succeeds in school, he will be likely to develop a sense of industry or else sense of inferiority. 5. Identity Vs. Role Confusion (12 to 19 years): At this stage the adolescents begin to search for their own personal identity by questioning and redefining his own socio-psychological identity established during earlier stages. The extent to which an individual is able to develop a sense of identity will depend upon the degree of success he achieves in resolving the crisis related to all the previous stages. This identity will develops required confidence in his ability to do things 6. Intimacy Vs. Isolation (20 to 45): During this stage the individual tends to develop a sense of intimacy or commitment to a close relationship with another person. The relationships develop into such a close involvement that he tends to risk even the loss of his ego or image. This crisis is resolved by striking a balance between the need for intimacy and the need to maintain one's individuality. 7. Creativity Vs. Stagnation: (Middle Adulthood 45-65 years): At this stage the individual needs to satisfy his need for generativity a concern to establish and guide the next generation. The individual has to do the creative and productive work for the welfare of the society. If he does it only for him, it becomes stagnant. 8. Ego-integrity Vs. Despair (Old Age, about 65 onwards): Ego integrity refers to the successful resolution of the previous crises. A person with a developed sense of ego-integrity is at peace. On the other hand, persons who have not been able to successfully resolve the previous crises feel deep sense of despair. The successful resolution of crises at different stages develops a well all rounded personality. Hence, healthy social environment should be provided to individual to develop as a healthy social being.
Q2.. Why is the period of adolescence called 'storm and stress'? Ans. Adolescence is a period of transition from childhood to adulthood and a period of significance for human development. It is considered as 'storm and stress age. Storm and Stress refers to the period of adolescence in which teenagers are in conflict with their parents, are moody, and engage in risky behavior. This is the time when an individual undergoes tremendous changes physically, emotionally and psychologically. It is because of the changes the child undergoes, stress and strain. The reasons are; 1. It is a transition from childhood to adulthood. 2. The physique changes rapidly which makes them feel awkward. 3. The onset of puberty brings number of changes like menstruation in girls and nocturnal emission in boys, growth of pubic hair etc., creates fear. They feel shy to clarify their doubts from parents or teachers.4. They are attracted towards opposite sex which is not acceptable by parents due to social stigma.
5. Adolescents are more enthusiastic about their physical appearance. The underdeveloped or overdeveloped physique, physical deformity etc., feel them inferior and keep themselves isolated.
6. The glands produce increased amount of hormones which stir up their emotions.
7 .In general parents neither treat them as children nor adults. It creates a role conflict.
8. It is a hero worship age. They want to follow their heroes either good or bad.
9. The adolescents want to be independent. They find difficulty in adjusting to the needs and demands of the parents.
10. They are very curious to know about sex related information. They try to get the same through unacceptable ways when parents feel shy to answer their questions.
