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VII.

DEVELOPMENTAL HISTORY These are just a few of the fascinating aspects of the field of human development: the science that studies how we learn and develop psychologically, from birth to the end of life. This very young science not only enables us to understand how each individual develops, it also gives us profound insights into who we are as adults. Each theory has its own perspective on the development of man. On our case study, we chose Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development. Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development The Psychosocial Stages of Development developed by Erikson enumerates eight stages though which healthily developing human should pass from infancy to late adulthood. Every stage describes a task to be accomplished. These development stages can be seen as a series of crisis and each stage forms on the successful accomplishment of the earlier stages. Successful resolution of these crises supports a healthy self-development. Failure to resolve the crisis damages the ego and maybe expected to reappear as problems in the future. Stage1. Infancy: Birth to 18 Months Ego Development Outcome: Trust vs. Mistrust Basic strength: Drive and Hope At this stage babies learn to trust that their parents will meet their basic needs. If a child's basic needs aren't properly met at this age, he or she might grow up with a general mistrust of the world. According to the parents of our patient, they were the one who took care for our patient since infancy until our patient was growing up. Our patient needs were provided by her parents.

Her mother stated that, whenever our patient cried they were immediately attended her needs, and when our patient frightened they were comforted her child. During those times, the parents of our patient felt that they were really trusted by her child. Therefore, our patient achieved trust as he was able to exhibit behaviours during that age. This stage occurs between birth and approximately 18 months of age. According to Erikson, the trust versus mistrust stage is the most important period in a persons life. Because an infant is entirely dependent upon his or her caregivers, the quality of care that the child receives plays an important role in the shaping of the childs personality. During this stage, children learn whether or not they can trust the people around them. When a baby cries, does his caregiver attend to his needs? When he is frightened, will someone comfort him? When these needs are consistently met, the child will learn that he can trust the people that are caring for him. If, however, these needs are not consistently met, the child will begin to mistrust the people around him. If a child successfully develops trust, he or she will feel safe and secure in the world. Caregivers who are inconsistent, emotionally unavailable or rejecting contribute to feelings of mistrust in the children they care for. Failure to develop trust will result in fear and a belief that the world is inconsistent and unpredictable.

Stage2. Early Childhood: 18 Months to 3 Years Ego Development Outcome: Autonomy vs. Shame Basic Strengths: Self-control, Courage, and Will As toddlers, children begin to develop independence and start to learn that they can do some things on their own such as going to the toilet. If a child is not encouraged properly at this age, he or she might develop shame and doubt about their abilities. According to the mother of our patient, as she observed our patient when she was on toddler stage, she said that her child gained a sense of personal control over the surroundings or the place where she was involved. For example in the house, she noticed that our patient knows where she should go whenever she wants to eliminate. Also, in choosing simple clothes whenever our patient is in the house, after taking a bath, our patient that time was the one choosing her clothes. She insisted her wants rather than ours. With that, we have seen that she could able to do some independent things during that stage. Therefore, our patient began to developed independence and started to learn things. This stage occurs between the ages of 18 months to approximately age two to three years. According to Erikson, children at this stage are focused on developing a greater sense of selfcontrol. Gaining a sense of personal control over the world is important at this stage of development. Toilet training plays a major role; learning to control ones body functions leads to a feeling of control and a sense of independence. Other important events include gaining more control over food choices, toy preferences and clothing selection.

Children who successfully complete this stage feel secure and confident, while those who do not are left with a sense of inadequacy and self-doubt. Stage 3. Play Age: 3 to 5 Years Ego Development Outcome: Initiative vs. Guilt Basic Strength: Purpose As preschoolers, children continue to develop more independence and start to do things of their own initiative. If a child is not able to take initiative and succeed at appropriate tasks, he or she might develop guilt over their needs and desires. During this stage, the only thing that she still remember, she first enrolled to class as a preschooler on their Barangay Day Care Center. Her mother told that, our patient used to play with an imaginary friend in their house. There were times that she observed our patient playing her Barbie doll while talking to no one. By then, she let our patient to play continually, because she thought that it is normal for a child like her. This stage occurs during the preschool years, between the ages of three and five. During the initiative versus guilt stage, children begin to assert their power and control over the world through directing play and other social interaction. Children need to begin asserting control and power over the environment by taking initiative by planning activities, accomplishing tasks and facing challenges. During this stage, it is important for caregivers to encourage exploration and to help children make appropriate choices. Caregivers who are discouraging or dismissive may cause children to feel ashamed of them and to become overly dependent upon the help of others.

Play and imagination takes on an important role at this stage. Children have their sense of initiative reinforced by being given the freedom and encouragement to play. When efforts to engage in physical and imaginative play are stifled by caregivers, children begin to feel that their self-initiated efforts are a source of embarrassment. Success in this stage leads to a sense of purpose, while failure results in a sense of guilt. Stage4. School Age: 6 to 12 Years Ego Development Outcome: Industry vs. Inferiority Basic Strengths: Method and Competence Throughout their school years, children continue to develop self-confidence through learning new things. If they are not encouraged and praised properly at this age, they may develop an inferiority complex. During this stage, often called the Latency, we are capable of learning, creating and accomplishing numerous new skills and knowledge, thus developing a sense of industry. This is also a very social stage of development and if we experience unresolved feelings of inadequacy and inferiority among our peers, we can have serious problems in terms of competence and selfesteem. According to our patient, during her elementary grade, she was very active in their school activities. By then, academic and extracurricular activities were still on balance. She could handle things on their own, if there were assignments given by her teachers, she used to answered it with confident. With that, her parents, teachers, relatives and friends were very proud of her. Therefore, industry on this stage were properly achieved and developed.

During the industry versus inferiority stage, children become capable of performing increasingly complex tasks. As a result, they strive to master new skills. Children who are encouraged and commended by parents and teachers develop a feeling of competence and belief in their skills. Those who receive little or no encouragement from parents, teachers, or peers will doubt their ability to be successful. According to Erikson, this stage is vital in the development of self-confidence. During school and other social activities, children receive praise and attention for performing various tasks such as reading, writing, drawing and solving problems. Children need to cope with new social and academic demands. Success leads to a sense of competence, while failure results in feelings of inferiority. Stage5. Adolescence: 12 to 18 Years Ego Development Outcome: Identity vs. Role Confusion Basic Strengths: Devotion and Fidelity When they reach the teenage years, children start to care about how they look to others. They start forming their own identity by experimenting with who they are. If a teenager is unable to properly develop an identity at this age, his or her role confusion will probably continue on into adulthood. The patient verbalized that, There was no confusion regarding with my identity. I know who I am. I am a pure girl. Therefore, the ego development outcome here is Identity.

This stage occurs during adolescence between the ages of approximately 12 to 18. Teens need to develop a sense of self and personal identity. During adolescence, children are exploring their independence and developing a sense of self. As they make the transition from childhood to adulthood, teens may begin to feel confused or insecure about themselves and how they fit in to society. As they seek to establish a sense of self, teens may experiment with different roles, activities and behaviors. According to Erikson, this is important to the process of forming a strong identity and developing a sense of direction in life. Those who receive proper encouragement and reinforcement through personal exploration will emerge from this stage with a strong sense of self and a feeling of independence and control. Those who remain unsure of their beliefs and desires will insecure and confused about themselves and the future. Stage 6. Young Adulthood: 18 to 35 Ego Development Outcome: Intimacy and Solidarity vs. Isolation Basic Strengths: Affiliation and Love During early adulthood most people fall in love, get married and start building their own family. If a person is unable to develop intimacy with others at this age (whether through marriage or close friendships), they will probably develop feelings of isolation. The patient stage in psychosocial development now is in the stage of young adulthood because he is 26 years of age. Our patient achieved intimacy as he is able to exhibit behaviours that are well acceptable for his age. Our patient was happily married with one son. As her 3

years being her wife to her husband and mother to her only one 3 year old son, she then developed close and committed relationship with them. Our patient is very close to her own family. Whenever there were problems arises and decision to be settled they were both agreeing and give final decision on it. In regards with their sexual relationship, they were both intimate while doing it. Still, the love and faithfulness to each other is still there. Also, our patient stated that she and her husband our planning to have another baby this year, but because there was surgery happened to her. They need to wait for another year to grant their wished. Therefore, our patient on this stage developed and well achieved the intimacy and solidarity to her loved ones. This stage takes place during young adulthood between the ages of approximately 19 and 40. During this period of time, the major conflict centers on forming intimate, loving relationships with other people. While psychosocial theory is often presented as a series of neatly defined, sequential steps, it is important to remember that each stage contributes to the next. For example, Erikson believed that having a fully formed sense of self (established during the identity versus confusion stage) is essential to being able to form intimate relationships. Studies have demonstrated that those with a poor sense of self tend to have less committed relationships and are more likely to suffer emotional isolation, loneliness, and depression. Erikson believed it was vital that people develop close, committed relationships with other people. Success leads to strong relationships, while failure results in loneliness and isolation.

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