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Have you ever heard of a person experiencing an identity crisis? We can thank Erik
Erikson for putting a label on the stages of identity! Erik H. Erikson was born in 1902 in
Frankfurt, Germany and died in 1994 in Harwich, Massachusetts. He developed his
psychosocial development theory based on the premise that cognitive and social development
occur hand in hand and cannot be separated (Morrison, 2012 p 141). Personality
development, in Erik H. Erikson's view, occurs through a series of identity crises that occur in
stages that must be overcome and internalized (Bio.com, 1996). Erikson was raised to think his
mothers husband was his father. In fact, he never met his birth father and learning the truth
about his rearing, led to his interest in identity (Cherry).
Eriksons Psychological Theory has eight stages of identity to complete in a life cycle.
Each stage builds off the one before it. If one stage is not completed successfully, it will most
likely have a negative impact on the way an individual views the world. I have experienced this
first hand. Four weeks ago, I would have told you I did not believe in an identity crisis. Today, I
am telling you, I am in the middle of one. I breezed through the first five stages of Eriksons
development. I am currently nearing the end of phase 6 and feeling the pressures of phase 7. I
am thrilled to have the opportunity to learn about these developmental stages. I am on my way
to healing the past in hopes of completing stage 6 successfully. With the path I am currently on,
I will be able to start stage 7 healthy and successful. I want nothing more than to have a life of
meaning. I feel learning the stages of development from Eriksons perspective have helped me
realize the true meaning of life and my real purpose!
saved my development by making sure I was taken care of. I would say I ended this stage
successfully.
I would say I was successful in this stage of development. I had strong, successful
leadership skills for a large part of my youth and young adulthood.
In this stage, I developed a great deal of accomplishment but as an adult I do not think I
ever achieved balance. I am torn as to whether this stage was a success for me. If balance is
truly the key to this phase, I would have to say I failed. I was praised but I feel my direction was
weak. My parents made sure I excelled at my strengths but I never acknowledged or grew what I
was weak in.
Identity vs. Role Confusion is the struggle to find ones individuality and relate to the
world. The strongest characteristics that come from this stage are devotion and fidelity (Harder).
The best definition I found for this stage is the following: Up to this stage, according to Erikson,
development mostly depends upon what is done to us. From here on out, development depends
primarily upon what we do. During this stage of life, we struggle to become individuals. We
will learn to define who we are by our individual beliefs, our opinions, and our experiences we
allow ourselves to have or those we deny ourselves. Erikson suggested there would be a decline
of responsibilities during this phase. Our most significant relationships during this stage are with
peer groups. If one fails this stage, they may struggle with extremes or rejecting things that are
true.
This was an interesting stage for me. In the literature that I have read, it suggests this
stage can come earlier for females. For me, this stage came later than 18. I had wonderful
relationships, was a very devoted friend, daughter and made sure all of my relationships were
fulfilled. This is a phase that I was very committed to playing volleyball and all of my focus was
to get a scholarship for college. I believe this focus carried me into my first year of college
(which I did obtain a scholarship for) and then everything fell apart. I had made a goal that I as
an individual would obtain a scholarship. I focused all of my extra time and energy from the
time I was 9 until I was 19 working out, jump training, passing a ball, and traveling to
tournaments. All of my focus was on this one aspect of my life. I was friends with girls who
played volleyball as much as I did. Once I got to college, I didnt set another goal. I had
achieved the very level I had been reaching for over 9 years. I was playing volleyball at a
Division 1 college and I did not make another goal. I had been driven by my coaches, by my
parents, and by my desire. When it came time to move forward, the only life skill I had was to
play volleyball. I was an average to below average student. I was overwhelmed. I should not
have been in a position to juggle classes, study tables, practice, travel games and tournaments
and be introduced to the bar scene all at once. I was not capable of making good decisions. My
discipline was gone. Although I did attend a Division 1 school, it was on the east coast and
volleyball out there was about as competitive as my 4th grade team in the Midwest. I ended up
completing my first semester. I failed all but one of my courses. It was the first time I had ever
failed anything in my life. I did not know what to do so I stopped going to class. I ended up
withdrawing from school and moved to the beach.
I would say this was a very difficult stage in my life. It has taken me many years
to try and get back on course and successfully gain the knowledge intended for this time frame. I
do not feel I was successful before this stage because of what I was supplied but because I was a
people pleaser. When it came down to me doing things to define myself and make myself
happy, I did not have an idea where to start. I am currently trying to learn lessons from this
particular stage.
own development. He became the most important thing in my life. He was my focus and I knew
I had to do right by him. As an adult woman in the last year or so of this phase now, I know I
have failed it. I am just now fixing the things I should have learned in the 5th stage. I am piecing
it together and working with a counselor. I have been doing so for two years now. I am guilty of
isolating myself socially. I do not feel comfortable answering questions about myself. I am just
learning who I am and what I stand for. I have noticed that I do not allow myself to hold many
relationships whether it is friends, family, or spouse. I am currently married but my marriage is
in turmoil. I met and married my husband 7 years ago. He is a great person but he is not what I
would have chosen if my life were in order the way it should have been. This will continue to be
a work in progress. However, I am encouraged that I am still just at the end of this age span for
the stage. I am not as far behind as I originally thought!
have contributed to my failures in Intimacy vs. Isolation. I do not personally feel you can fail a
previous stage and be successful as you go to the next stage or stages. I am aware of the
wonderful things I missed in my previous stage. I should have spent more time developing
friendships, striving for career goals, financial goals, looking for volunteer opportunities and
involving myself in the community. Having the knowledge I have of the things I should have
learned, combined with this class and the counseling I have taken part in for two years, I feel I
will be very successful in Generativity vs. Stagnation.
My love for kids will allow me to lead them to be more successful than myself. I feel
being open and honest with generations that follow me will help them to stay on track and make
better decisions. I am devoted to making a difference in the life of children. This will be my
focus when I come in to the Generativity vs. Stagnation phase.
to give. I know what it is like to be on top of the world and have my pick of colleges because of
athletic success. I know what it is like to struggle because I became a mother in my late teens. I
know what it is like to get off course and become stagnant and fight back to a life of meaning.
Most of all, I am learning to forgive. I have found it hardest to forgive myself but I feel that has
been the most healing piece to my individual puzzle. The thought that I was never meant to be
perfect is hard for this perfectionist to swallow! I am growing and I could not be more excited to
tackle the stages of development to allow for success in my elder years. I do not want to live a
life of fear and despair. I want to feel good about the woman I have become. I want to share my
life and experiences with others. I am learning this life is all about growing and learning. I
know now it is not about my success to further my monetary value and material items. It is
about furthering my success to help others further theirs. I want to look at my heavenly father
on my day to transfer and hear him say, well done child.
References
http://psychology.about.com/od/psychology101/u/psychology-theories.htm
Erikson, E. H. (2013). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved, Sep 02, 2013, from
http://www.biography.com/people/erik-h-erikson-37751
Morrison, G. M. (2012), Early Childhood Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ. Pearson
Education, Inc.