Example Of Essay On Life Experiences In The Stage

Identity versus Role Confusion

Identity versus Role Confusion

Introduction

Erik Erikson developed a lifespan model of development that consisted of eight stages. He used the psychosocial stages of development in depicting his view that personality develops in a predetermined order and is dependent on the developmental progress of each previous stage. He focused on the adolescent period as the critical stage of development of a person’s identity. He viewed the successful experience of each stage as the successful adoption of an integrated and wide set of life skills and abilities that make an individual autonomous (Harder, 2010). Each stage involves the attainment of basic virtues including hope, will, purpose, competence, fidelity, love, care, and wisdom. The paper explores the fifth stage; this occurs in reference to my personal experiences at the stage.

Identity vs. Role Confusion

The stage occurs between the ages of 12 and 18; this focuses on the development of individual identity and social relationships. There is a need for teenagers to develop a sense of self and personality. The successful experience of the stage results in the ability to stay true to oneself, whereas, failure results in a fragile sense of self and role confusion (Elkind, n.d.). Individuals at the stage develop a sense of self by testing roles; they then integrate the roles to form a single identity. The successful formation of self-identity is evident through certainty about sex role identity, planning for the future, active interest in the opposite sex, challenging adult authority and a depiction of self-acceptance. Identity confusion is evident through a lack of confidence, doubts about sex role identity, extreme obedience, extreme hostility to authority, and self-rejection.

I can relate to the experiences outlined in the stage. During my teenage years, I struggled to discover myself and my purpose in life. I sought guidance from my peers and family. The search for identity helped in learning the roles I could occupy as an adult. There were challenges in adapting to the bodily changes, but I succeeded in embracing healthy body image. I became comfortable with my body and embraced the changes. Interactions with friends and my first romantic relationship facilitated the development of fidelity (Harder, 2010). I developed the ability to commit to others by accepting and appreciating them even when we differed. I knew what I sought in life and my career. The stage was the most important one in my life. It facilitated the achievement of independence; this marked the beginning of my focus on the future in reference to relationships, family, career and goals to achieve. I focused on how I could become a productive member of the society. I succeeded in resolving the identity issue and achieving a sense of direction that helped in the subsequent years of life.

Impact on personality/development and the theory’s validity

The understanding of who I was as an individual facilitated the development of a unique personality. I acquired the ability to understand and control desires, feelings, and sensations associated with bodily changes. I conceived ideals to compare with the actual imperfections associated with religions, families, and societies in life. My personality was also impacted by the development of the ability to establish healthy relationships and interact with people by accommodating their differences. It improved my social skills as I became flexible and open-minded. The stage facilitated the development of self-esteem and self-concept. It facilitated the development of a personality comfortable with the new expectations of adult responsibilities. The theory is valid because most of the experiences and conflicts it outlined were evident in my teenage years. The self-identity and direction can be attributed to the successful experiences of the stage of development (Sokol, 2009).

Conclusion

Erikson’s fifth stage of psychosocial development remains the most important stage of the lifespan development process. The experiences at the stage gave me an opportunity to assess my personal attributes, develop a healthy personality, and attain a sense of direction in terms of career and relationships. It facilitates a personal coherence of self-sameness in life.

References

Elkind, D. (n.d.). Erik Erikson’s Eight Ages of Man. SSCBT. Supplemental Teaching Handouts, Module III. Retrieved March 15, 2015 from http://www.pdx.edu/sites/www.pdx.edu.ceed/files/sscbt_EriksonsEightAgesofMan.pdf
Harder, A. F. (2010). The Developmental Stages of Erik Erikson. Learning Place Online. Retrieved March 15, 2015 from http://www.isd361.k12.mn.us/schools/fhs/developmenterikerikson.pdf
Sokol, J. T. (2009). Identity Development Throughout the Lifetime: An examination of Eriksonian theory. Graduate Journal of Counseling Psychology, 1(2). Retrieved March 15, 2015 from http://epublications.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1030&context=gjcp