Chapter 3 Your Changing Personality Health 10 Ms. Meade

Erik Erikson Teens have new experiences, try new ideas; its an exciting time for discovering identity Teens develop new ways of thinking. While children think in only concrete terms, teens think in more abstract terms “What might happen, if this…” Teens consider variables (changeable factors that affect outcomes) Use logic to make predictions Plan to achieve desirable outcomes Thinking develops considerably

Personality Erik Erikson, a pioneer Psychologist describes how people become who they are as they move through eight stages in their lives. Teens experience new emotions/highs and lows; all normal in developing identity If you emerge from your teen years feeling OK, you can move into your adult tasks If teen has self-doubt, they’ll have difficulty performing adult tasks. At each stage a healthy person will master a task. Each stage ideally consists of positive development, and builds on the one before it. No one, however, moves perfectly through all the stages.

Erikson’s Stages 1-4 Stage 1: Infancy, ages 0-1. To learn trust Failure leads to: distrust that can last a lifetime Stage 2: Toddler Stage, ages 1 to 2. To learn independence. Failure leads to: remaining dependent and feel inadequate. Stage 3: Preschool Age, ages 3 to 5. To learn initiative. Failure leads to: avoiding leadership and risks. Stage 4: School Age, ages To learn industriousness Failure leads to: adult lacking social confidence and will perform poorly.

Erikson’s Stages 5-8 Stage 5: Adolescence, ages 13 to 20. To learn an identity. Failure leads to: a confused person without a secure sense of direction. Stage 6: Young Adulthood, ages 21 to 40. To learn intimacy (close, personal relationships) Failure leads to: avoidance of intimacy, misuse of sexuality, isolation, and destructiveness. Stage 7: Adulthood, ages 41 to 60. To learn generativity (giving yourself and your talents to others). Failure leads to: stagnation, self-involvement, and failure to encourage others. Stage 8: Older Adulthood, ages 61 and older. To learn ego integrity (satisfaction with life). Failure leads to: isolation, despair, and fears of death.

Maslow’s Theory Human Hierarchy of Needs According to Abraham Maslow Hierarchy: a ranking system in which each thing is placed above or below others. Needs: urgent wants for necessary things. This is a ladder of human needs that people of all ages experience at different times These needs are linked to life’s accomplishments.

Human Needs According to Maslow According to Maslow, people will first meet their basic needs before they can begin to think about their higher needs. Physiological needs: survival needs; foods, clothing and shelter Safety Needs: to feel physically safe and secure Love needs: to feel emotionally secure and belong Respect and esteem: to feel self worth and fulfillment Self-actualization needs: realization of one’s full potential; becoming “all that they can be”

SELF-ACTUALIZATION Traits of Self-Actualization: Accept themselves and others, and accept imperfections. Are self-motivated, rather than externally motivated. Are problem solvers, rather than complainers. Have a strong set of values by which they live, and are sensitive to ethical issues. Believe in the power of people, holding that most are basically good. Are at peace with themselves and their world.

Why is it especially beneficial for teens to be helpful to those who really need help? To be helpful fills a need to feel important and to be appreciated by others. Being helpful enhances self-esteem. Performing needed service to others helps in the development of identity. Others teens who volunteer in the community may find that this experience adds to self-understanding and identity. Also, making positive comments helps you develop self- esteem for yourself and others! You’ll hear better things about yourself if you’re being positive to others. Make positive comments as often as possible, it’s better for all! Therefore, we’ll all each other complete Erikson’s tasks and move up through Maslow’s hierarchy.