During the movie, the audience receives a clear cut example of this stage of development when Forrest spends time trying to help Jenny escape various situations and her opinion of him and his actions seem to weigh more heavily on his mind and heart than even the opinions of his beloved mother.

This become evidenced in several social scenes and retelling stories that Forrest provides to the people in the bus stop about his previous years of development.

The final stages of the development phase are also clearly portrayed and illuminated during the movie and the character of Forrest Gump.

The first time that this stage of development is seen is in the army. Before this, during the football years he is still in the stage of expectations of peers where as the peers expect him to be able to play football and the constant yelling of Run Forrest RUN! Is heard on the screen as he dashes down the football field and pleases his peers with touchdowns provides a foundation from that stage into the next one of expectation of self.

If all of the stages are successfully completed during the lifespan of childhood and adolescence, it becomes possible for the final stage to be entered.

However, if one or more of these previous stages fails for any reason the individual become stuck in that stage and it can date all the way to the infant stage of expectations of others.

One example would be the infant stage. If the infant cries for a hunger reason or a dirty diaper and that need is not met the infant cannot successfully move into the next stage and will become an adult that is needy and demanding of those around him or her in his or her adult life.

If an individual does not achieve success during the expectation of others stage in childhood that individual will become an adult who is constantly seeking the approval of others through co-dependent thoughts and behaviors.

In the case of Forrest Gump it is evidenced that he successfully passes through the various stages of infancy, childhood and adolescence and is able to move into the final step of the developmental theory of lifespan development and become self expectant.

It is during this stage that the adult begins to expect results from himself or herself and is no longer dependent on the outside world for internal validation.

This can be seen when Forrest enters the Army and performs various tasks including the completion of his tour of duty through injury and saves all of his fellow troops in the battle field however, the illustration of this stage is not finished with the military examples.

When Bubba dies and is unable to complete their dream of being shrimp boat co-owners Forrest confidently moves into the field on his own and become a financially successful owner of a shrimp company. He divides his earnings fifty-fifty with the family of Bubba and the proceeds of that partnership are sent with regularity to the family so...

(1994) Forrest Gump. Paramount Studios
Stages of Social-Emotional Development in Children and Teenagers. (Accessed 7-11-07) http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/development/erickson.shtml