Theories of Development

Development is a series of changes with age that occur in the lifetime. Prominent psychologists such as Sigmund Freud, Eric Erickson, Jean Piaget and Lawrence Kohlberg explain the development as a series of stages. The stage is a development stage where people show typical behavior patterns and build specific abilities. Each stage theory has three assumptions.

People pass the stage in a specific order and each stage is built on the ability to grow on the previous stage.

Austrian psychiatrist Sigmund Freud first explained personal development as a series of stages. At these stages, Freud believes that childhood is the most important. He believes that a personality was formed when he was 5 years old.

Freud's personality development theory is explained in detail in Chapter 13 "Personality" on pages 268 to 273.

Like Freud, Eric Ericsson believes in the importance of early childhood. But Ericsson believes that development of personality will occur throughout human life. In the early 1960s, Ericsson proposed a theory to describe the eight stages of development. According to Mr. Ericsson, people are facing new challenges at all stages and the outcome of the phase depends on how people respond to them. Ericsson staged the stage based on these possible results:

The baby in the first year after birth completely depends on the basic needs of adults such as food, comfort, warmth and so on. If the caregiver can satisfy these needs surely, the baby will stick together and feel safe. Otherwise, they may take disbelief and dangerous attitudes.

From 1 to 3 years old, young children become self-sustaining and begin to master skills such as toilet training, feeding, changing clothes. Depending on how children face these challenges, young children develop a feeling of autonomy or doubt and they may be ashamed of themselves.

The development of character is mainly studied by the theory of psychosocial development of Ericsson. Ericsson's theory includes eight levels of psychosocial development and these theories are organized in the following order: Phase 1 - trust and disbelief phase 2 - Autonomy and shame and suspicion Phase 3 - Initiative and Guilt 4 - Industry and Disadvantage 5 - Identity and Chaos (Adolescence: 12 - 20 years) Stage 6 - Intimacy and Isolation Stage 7 - Stages of Generation and War 8 - Stage of Integrity and Despair Stage 5 of the Theory of Ericsson It reflects adolescence. Erikson insists that during this time individuals ask questions and explore their identity and their role in society. Furthermore, those who did not overcome the identity crisis said that it is difficult to establish and maintain a close relationship in life without forming a stable identity due to criminal acts and actions.

Many development theories contain aspects of identity formation. Two theories about this subject are emphasized: the theory of psychosocial development of Erik Erikson (in particular the "role and role identity" in his theory) and the theory of James Marcia's status. Ericsson's belief is that in each person's life, they encounter various crises and conflicts. Each confrontation occurs at some stage of life and must be resolved successfully before proceeding to the next stage. The specific stage associated with identity formation occurs during adolescence known as "confusion of identity and role".