Foundations of Psychological Development

Foundations of Psychological Development

This psychological development incorporates changes in thought, feeling, and behavior over time. This process starts with early childhood and proceeds on to adolescence and further into adulthood. It can only move on to those stages from this one.

Understanding the various stages of psychological development enables us to understand how individuals grow. It clarifies how personalities come about. Furthermore, it also shows how relationships are built and maintained.

Many psychologists have assisted in this field. One of the biggest names is Sigmund Freud. He introduced a theory in which there were psychosexual stages. Erik Erikson did an extension to Freud’s work. He introduced a psychosocial model of development. The psychosocial model consists of eight different stages in life. In each of those eight stages, there is a different central conflict that people have to sort out.

Psychosexual Stages by Freud

Freud was able to identify five psychosexual stages. These are as follows:

1. Oral Stage: Birth-18 months
2. Anal Stage: 18 months-3 years
3. Phallic Stage: 3-6 years
4. Latency Stage: 6 years-puberty
5. Genital Stage: Puberty onwards

In the oral stage, the baby is curious about oral stimulation. He achieves it through sucking and biting. In the anal stage, the center of attention is the bladder and bowel movement control. During the phallic stage, the children become more familiar with their bodies and begin identifying with the same-sex parent.

The latency stage is relatively quiet. In that stage, sexual feelings are suppressed. Here, the focus of interest may shift to skill-building and friendship. Lastly, the final stage is the genital stage, that of mature intimacy.

Experiences during each stage of psychological development have a deep effect on adult personality, according to Freud. He did not say one must resolve every conflict as one cannot work out, but he argued if unresolved, issues in later years may be expected.

Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development

Where Erikson did truly concentrate on the social aspect of development is when he outlined eight stages, each with its own psychosocial crisis to be worked out in its positive form. These are listed as follows:

1. Trust vs. Mistrust (Birth to 1 year)
2. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (1 to 3 years)
3. Initiative vs. Guilt (3 to 6 years)
4. Industry vs. Inferiority (6 to 12 years)
5. Identity vs. Role Confusion (12 to 18 years)
6. Intimacy vs. Isolation (Young adulthood)
7. Generativity vs. Stagnation (Middle adulthood)
8. Integrity vs. Despair (Late adulthood)

Each of the stages of psychosocial development outlines a crisis that needs to be resolved. The stage of trust versus mistrust, therefore forms the foundation for the following stages since most of them deal with the establishment of social relationships. It therefore follows that the infant develops trusts if the child caregivers are reliable; otherwise, they may develop mistrust in case of inconsistency.

With the use of their will, children start to act independently. The second stage of a child is autonomy versus shame and doubt; at this stage, the child learns about independence. When he resolves the challenge successfully, then confidence and self-sufficiency develop. At the same time, unresolved challenges lead to a sense of shame.

With each stage of psychological development, new conflicts arise. Individuals resolve the conflict and build psychological strengths. On every resolution, it accumulates emotional well-being. And it continues throughout the life cycle.