Stages of Development

In

Interpersonal Theory
Sullivan believed that childhood experiences determine, to a large degree, the adult personality and throughout our childhood, the mother plays the most significant role. He also believed that personality can develop past adolescence and even well into adulthood. He called the stages in his developmental theory Epochs. He believed that we pass through these stages in a particular order but the timing of such is dictated by our social environment. Much of the focus in Sullivan's theory revolved around the conflicts of adolescence. He suggested that many adulthood problems arise from the confusions of adolescence.

Sullivan's Developmental Epochs:

Sullivan saw interpersonal development as taking place over seven stages, from infancy to mature adulthood. Personality changes are most likely during transitions between stages. The developmental epochs are:

Infancy (birth to 1 year) Childhood (1 to 5 years old) Juvenile (6 to 8 years old) Preadolescence (9 to 12 years old) Early Adolescence (13 to 17 years old) Late Adolescence (18 to 22 or 23 years old) Adulthood (23 years old and on)

1) INFANCY (From birth to 1 year) The period from birth until the emergence of syntaxic language (use of grammar) is called infancy During infancy children use autistic language, which takes place on a prototaxic or parataxic level. From birth to about age one, the child begins the process of developing. This is a time when the child receives tenderness from the mother. While having empathic relationship with mother child develops anxiety which may increase to the point of terror. Such terror is controlled by the built-in protections; a. Apathy (lack of interest or boredom) b. Somnolent detachment (that allow the baby to go to sleep)

2) CHILDHOOD (From 1 to 5 years) The stage that lasts from the beginning of syntaxic language until the need for playmates of equal status is called childhood The childs primary interpersonal relationship continues to be with the mother, who is now differentiated from other persons who look after the child. The development of speech and improved communication is a key in this stage of development.

3) JUVENILE ERA (From 6 to 8 years) The juvenile stage begins with the need for peers of equal status and continues until the child develops a need for an intimate relationship with a companion By this stage of development in interpersonal relationships children should learn three abilities; a) Compete b) Compromise c) Cooperate The above three abilities as well as orientation toward living, help a child to develop intimacy which is a vital block for the next developmental stage. The main focus as a juvenile is the need for playmates and the beginning of healthy socialization 4) PREADOLESCENCE (From 9 to 12 years) Preadolescence spans the time from the need for a single best friend until puberty During this stage, the child's ability to form a close relationship with a peer is the major focus which will later assist the child in feeling worthy and likable. Without this ability, forming the intimate relationships in late adolescence and adulthood will be difficult. Children who do not learn intimacy during preadolescence add difficulties related to potential sexual partners during later stages. This is the most crucial stage because mistakes made earlier can be corrected during preadolescence, but errors made during preadolescence are nearly impossible to overcome in later life.

5) EARLY ADOLESCENCE (From 13 to 17 years) Early adolescence begins with the onset of puberty and desiring dynamism In this stage children may develop intimacy with a single friend of the same gender as well as sexual interest in many persons of the opposite gender. Children may confuse lust with love and develop sexual relationships that may devoid of true intimacy due to lack of preexisting capacity for intimacy The onset of puberty changes this need for friendship to a need for sexual expression. Self worth will often become identical with sexual attractiveness and acceptance by opposite sex peers

6) LATE ADOLESCENCE (From 18 to 22 or 23 years) Late adolescence may begin when a person is able to feel both intimacy and lust toward the same person This stage is characterized by a stable pattern of sexual activity as young people learn how to live in the adult world. Long term relationship becomes the primary focus during this stage and need for friendship and need for sexual expression get combined during late adolescence. Conflicts between parental control and self-expression are usual and the overuse of selective inattention in previous stages can result in a off-center perception of the self and the world.

7) ADULTHOOD (From 23 to onwards) Late adolescence flows into adulthood, a time when a person establishes a stable relationship with a significant other person During the last stage person usually develops a consistent pattern of viewing the world With success during previous stages adult relationships and socialization become easier to attain and solid background of interpersonal conflicts usually results in anxiety The struggles of adulthood include; a) Financial security b) Career c) Family