Erikson’s theory is considered a foundational theory for many other perspectives in lifespan development. Once individuals complete a stage and move to the next, they take with them the outcomes of the previous stage. Did they end up with the ideal result or the not-so-ideal result? In this Assignment, you will apply each of Erikson’s stages to your own life and consider whether earlier stages are predictive of later stages and if old conflicts could be resolved later in life through methods such as therapy to have a better outcome in current or future stages.
To prepare, review the provided resources related to Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development and consider how it relates to your personal experiences. For stages you have not yet reached, predict the likely outcome. Refer to the “Erikson’s Psychosocial Development Theory Template” provided in the Week’s Resources for further instructions and requirements to complete this Assignment.
Submit: A 2- to 3-page paper applying Erikson’s psychosocial development theory to your personal growth and experiences. Your application should include the following:
Connect Erikson’s Theory to Personal Experiences Describe each stage of Erikson’s theory and the outcome of each psychosocial crisis, using evidence from your personal experience to support this outcome.
Predict the negotiation of future stage(s) of development based on the scholarly evidence and your personal experiences thus far. Critiquing Erikson’s Stages: Analyze the ways in which Erikson’s theory does or does not accurately explain your personal psychosocial development. Be sure to provide specific examples to support your analysis.
Assess the accuracy of the age ranges given in Erikson’s theory in representing life stages as we know them today. Explain any updates you think would be necessary to describe modern people. Discuss two criticisms that you have of Erikson’s theory, including options to address these criticisms.