Your Response to Your Environment Chapter 4 Page 85

Erikson Eric Erikson – psychoanalyst who developed one of the most respected theories on personality/human development. Erikson stated that individuals must confront certain crises in each state of life that must be resolved before moving on to the next stage. Successes and failures in each stage cause the personality to develop and change.

Stage 1 - Trust vs Mistrust Occurs during infancy Children who receive consistent love and attention develop confidence and trust. Children who are unloved or abused become insecure and mistrustful. Mistrust is a poor foundation for personality development.

Stage 2 – Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt Occurs between ages of 1 & 4 Children begin to experience autonomy or freedom of self direction. They develop confidence and assert themselves. They take pride in themselves and accomplishments. Children who are not allowed to explore their worlds cannot establish autonomy. If their failures are emphasized rather than their successes they become shameful and doubt their self worth.

Stage 3 – Initiative vs Guilt Occurs at age 4 – 5. Develop imagination and begin to do things on their own. Need freedom to try new things If not given freedom may feel guilty and cling to parents and lack imagination.

Stage 4 - Accomplishment and Industry vs Inferiority Occurs from ages 6 – 12 They learn that work is meaningful and worthwhile. They learn about getting along with others. If they don’t receive praise for accomplishments they may develop a deep sense of failure and inferiority. They may behave in devious, dishonest ways to compensate.

Stage 5 – Identity vs Identity Confusion Occurs during adolescence Individual is working to develop a sense of identity in order to understandtheir roles in society. If they are unable to establish stableroles for themselves they may bepreoccupied with themselves. They may become fragmented and insecure.

Stage 6 – Intimacy vs Isolation Occurs in young adults Individuals begin to feel the need to establish close, stable relationships. Failure leads to feelings of insecurity and they begin to feel isolated and alone.

Stage 7 – Generativity vs Self Absorption Occurs in adulthood Individuals become concerned with others, especially future generations. If they fail they may become self absorbed with only concerns for themselves.

Stage 8 - Integrity vs Despair Occurs in older adulthood People begin to feel a state of being complete or satisfied with life. Failure leads to feelings of despair and they look at life as a series of missed opportunities and wrong decisions.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs Basic/Physical Needs (Physiological) Food, Water, Shelter, Clothing and Sleep Safety and Security Safe from physical danger, secure in routine & knowing what to expect in life. Love and Acceptance (Belonging) Feel love in relationships w/others Esteem Feeling you are a worthy person Self Actualization Full Potential

Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development Preconventional Level: Moral decisions are based on punishment and rewards Stage 1 – Threat of punishment influences decisions Stage 2 – Desire for rewards influences decisions

Conventional Level: Moral decisions are based on social rules and expectations Stage 3 – Opinions of others influence decisions Stage 4 – Respect for law and order guides behavior

Postconventional Level: Moral decisions are based on personal ethics concerning what is morally right. Stage 5 – Personal priorities concerning individual human rights influence decisions Stage 6 – Self-chosen ethical principals guide decisions.

Defense Mechanisms Ways that people may react, almost automatically, to anxiety-producing events or threats. Especially threats to a person’s self esteem. Some defense mechanisms are healthy, others are not.

Direct Attack Directly attack the source of a threat. Can be “lashing out” More often it is directly dealing with the conflict. The second response is more healthy.

Compensation Using a substitute method to achieve a desire goal. Makes up for a real or imagined deficiency. Compensates lack of math ability by excelling in science.

Rationalization Explain the weakness or failure using a socially acceptable excuse. Saying you failed a test because the subject matter was impractical. Rationalization only makes a person feel better on a temporary basis.

Projection Blaming other people for your failures. Running into someone and then blaming them for not watching where they were going. Project feeling of blame on others, sometimes a “scapegoat”.

Displacement Transferring the emotion connected with one person to an unrelated person or thing. Getting frustrated something that happened at school and yelling at your parents at home.

Conversion Transferring the energy of a desire you cannot express into a physical symptom. Rather than dealing with the problem, you let the stress in your life cause headaches or stomach problems

Regression Reverting back to a less mature stage of development. Running to parents, crying, calling names, throwing or breaking things.

Idealization Valuing something far beyond it’s worth. You may idealize yourself and act conceited. You can also idealize others or possessions to help yourself feel better.

Daydreaming Attempting to escape reality by not facing life. Accomplishing in your imagination what you can’t accomplish in real life.

Giving Up Feeling like the world is against you and ceasing to try anymore.