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Essay / Stages of Adult Development According to Erikson's Psychosocial Theory
Table of ContentsErikson's Psychosocial Stages of DevelopmentThe Psychosocial Stages of Generativity versus Stagnation and Ego Integrity versus DespairConnection to the Hierarchy of Adults Maslow's NeedsConclusionReferencesFrom childhood, humans begin to go through phases that help them become healthy, well-developed people. As an adult, there are more than just physical changes that occur. Adults face many changes in their lives, such as retirement, empty nest syndrome, and generally whatever else life throws at them. Even with all of these changes in midlife and late adulthood, it is important for a person to age healthily. As they get older, it would be good for them to stay active and social and live their lives doing what makes them happy. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Erikson's Psychosocial Stages of Development As a person moves from adolescence to adulthood, they will notice all the physical, emotional, mental, and social changes. During early adulthood, an individual's size is at its peak, strength and endurance are at their peak, women are also more fertile. After the onset of adulthood, the forties approach. From forty to sixty-five years old, various changes occur. Around midlife, people begin to age physically. They gain weight, lose hair and may suffer from visual and hearing impairments. Menopause symptoms begin in women's 40s. During menopause, there is less estrogen, women have difficulty functioning sexually, hot flashes, night sweats, and the risk of developing osteoporosis increases. Adults in quarantine face many changes in their lives, such as dealing with feelings of sadness once their nest is empty. Parents often feel grief when their young adult children have moved out and started life. Empty nest syndrome doesn't affect all parents the same way, but it shouldn't be seen as a negative thing. It is suggested that parents engage in activities that interest them and possibly strengthen the bond in their marriage, if appropriate. Some mature adults also experience life after retirement and some decide to return to school to try another career. Some of them are also caring for their own aging parents and are still raising young children and teenagers or deciding to have another baby. As people move through these stages, their personalities and the way they deal with various situations change. Erik Erikson's stages of psychosocial development were created to support his theory on personality development at different phases of life. The theory is based on his idea that development is influenced by the relationships people form and their social interactions. He believed that conflicts that arise in life influence development and that if the individual resolves the conflict, he will move on to the next stage of his development. Once conflicts are resolved, the individual will have skills and strengths that will serve them throughout their lives. If conflicts are not resolved, the individual will not learn the skills that will help them become emotionally and mentally developed adults. For example, Erikson's psychosocial stages include various stages that a person must go through, such as establishingrelationships. An adult must also develop generativity or in other words, he must add something valuable to the society and guide the next generation. Once they reach late adulthood, ego integrity must be developed, meaning that at this stage one must have the wisdom and ability to accept one's past experiences as well as what will happen when the end of life approaches. According to Erikson, a person will have difficulty coping with depression and stress and will likely stagnate if they don't complete these steps and resolve conflicts. The Psychosocial Stages of Generativity versus Stagnation and Ego Integrity versus Despair The stages of Erikson's psychosocial stages of development occur at different ages. The stage of generativity versus stagnation is the seventh stage. At this point, it is important for adults in their 40s to late adulthood to be compassionate toward people and aware of what they give to society. The generativity or stagnation stage aims to guide the next generation and make contributions to society that will be part of their legacy. Charles L. Slater asserts that generativity is important not only for society but also for the individual. Generativity typically manifests itself when parents bond and show love toward their children. People in leadership positions demonstrate generativity when they are passionate about the mission and show they care about the people who work with them. As has already been said, parents demonstrate generativity when they bond and show love toward their children. According to Erikson, when parents are good to their children, they guide the next generation. While this is true, it is important to consider that not all adults have children, but they can show generosity in many ways, such as doing community service, becoming a mentor, and donating to charitable works. Generativity is about an individual devoting their time and effort to causes greater than themselves. The efforts they devote to these causes will have a lasting effect even when they are no longer alive. If a person does not contribute to society and show generosity, he or she will experience stagnation. It is necessary for a person to acquire these skills before moving on to other stages of development. Ego integrity versus despair is the final stage of Erikson's stages of psychosocial development. This stage is reached at the end of adulthood. During this stage, older adults begin to look back on their lives and accept or reject what has happened. Erikson's theory suggests that when older people are content and accepting of what has happened in their lives, they gain integrity. This means that by re-examining their lives, they accept everything as it was and experience no regrets. When an elderly person has wisdom and is not afraid of the end of his life, he has crossed the stage of ego integrity against despair. On the other hand, if they do not accept what has happened in their life, they will feel hopeless. For example, an elderly and perhaps ill person, as they approach the end of their life, might look back on their life experiences and feel satisfied because they achieved their goals and lived a life that made happy, or she will feel hopeless because she realizes she did it. not accomplishing the things they wanted and this could lead to feelings of dissatisfaction. For a person to have integrity instead of despair, it is crucial that people try to live their lives to the fullest. For example,many people had goals of continuing their education and earning a college degree, but they may have had to put their goals on hold. If they are lucky enough to finally be able to achieve their goal, it will be something they can remember during this stage and it will make them proud. Additionally, some people want to take the time to travel but never seem to get the chance. Life goes by so quickly and if everyone only focuses on their work and doesn't take the time to enjoy life, they will experience despair rather than ego integrity. When the final stage is reached, the individual may also reflect on how generative or stagnant they have been. If generativity has been demonstrated, they have made significant contributions to society. This relates to ego integrity and despair because when people participate in things like being a mentor or volunteering and helping those less fortunate, they feel proud of themselves because their good deeds will have a lasting impact on the lives of others. This will be a factor of feeling of integrity with regard to one's life. Connecting to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Ego integrity versus despair and generativity versus stagnation coincide with Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs. The hierarchy of needs is based on Maslow's belief that people must satisfy their basic needs before satisfying other needs and achieving the primary goal of self-actualization. He created a pyramid that shows every need humans should receive before moving up the ladder. Physiological needs are at the lowest level of the hierarchy. These include necessities such as food, shelter and water. When a person meets these basic needs, they can now move up the hierarchy and meet their security needs. Generativity vs. stagnation is like esteem needs in Maslow's hierarchy. This part of the hierarchy suggests that people have a desire for recognition, respect, and to be complimented for things they have accomplished. Since Erikson's theory suggests that generativity is accomplished once the person has guided the next generation or made efforts to contribute to society, this will help a person receive praise and recognition that will meet his or her developmental needs. 'estimated. Self-realization and ego integrity versus despair are linked in several ways. Self-actualization occurs when a person strives to be the best version of themselves and to be all that they can be in life. A person has integrity once he looks back on his life and sees that he had a happy and full life. These theories are different, but they are also similar because they focus on the person going through different stages in order to ultimately achieve the main goals. Self-realization and ego integrity.Keep in mind: This is just a sample.Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.Get a custom essayConclusionFor an individual to go through life, he must reach certain milestones that will help him develop the skills he will need to continue developing. For example, generativity vs. stagnation. It would not be easy for a person to have an ego of integrity if they were not generative. Self-actualization in Maslow's hierarchy cannot be achieved until basic needs are met. For example, the need for recognition and praise. Adulthood brings many changes and experiences in life. Going through the stages of development will help individuals reach their full potential and