Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development: Where am I?
In reviewing Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development, in terms of my age and my station in life, I am clearly either in the latter stages of Stage 5, adolescence, when adolescents struggle with finding a true sense of self, or that of the early parts Stage 6, early adulthood. After much reflection, I have decided that I am in Stage 6. I feel that I have a more stable sense of self than I did when I was a young adolescent, and do not only look to my peer group to define my moral values and self-worth. I have a clear sense of personal direction and my goals and my beliefs about myself do not shift from day-to-day, as they did when I was in adolescence.
The central conflict in Stage 5 is "Identity vs. Identity Confusion" as the adolescent seeks to answer the question "Who am I?" I no longer ask myself this question frequently, rather I find myself struggling with the issues of "Intimacy vs. isolation" which define Erikson's sixth developmental stage. Finding a sense of closeness with others and getting to know the true self of others, now that I feel that I have found my own 'true North' in terms of my life and identity, is my most pressing current struggle. How will my career and life goals fit in with the life of another person, whether a loved one, a close friend, or even my family? "Erikson describes intimacy as finding oneself yet losing oneself in another," in friendships and in love relationships ("Erik Erikson and psychosocial development," E-ssortment, 2007). Finding the right balance of intimacy and isolation from others, meeting my own goals but still caring about the needs others still feels like a challenge. I know who I am, but I sometimes find it difficult to make that 'I' fit into the worlds of others I care about, whether it is to strike a good balance between studying and going out with friends, or to show love and caring without putting myself last around loved ones and relatives.
Works Cited
Erik Erikson and psychosocial development." E-ssortment. Retrieved 2 Aug 2007 at t http://www.azaz.essortment.com/psychosocialdev_rijk.htm
