Erik Erikson (1902 -1994), was a German-born American psychoanalyst. He developed a psychosocial theory about the importance of childhood in the development of the personality.
We all know that babies which are held, tend to develop into healthy adults, and those who are neglected, tend to develop with some personality problems. The areas of negative impact can include the following: health and physical development, intellectual and cognitive development, emotional and psychological development, and social and behavioral development.
We are living in an age of neglect. The Bible plainly teaches that there should be a ‘family unit’ that provides the child with a father role-model and a mother role-model. Abraham was given great promises by God because God knew he would command his children after him in the ways of God.
Today our children are being raised without the father or the mother. Then, due to financial reasons, the child ends up in a Daycare Center for ten hours or so per day while mom or dad work. My children suffered these negative aspects of divorce in one degree or another. T was a teenager. G was just hitting his teenage years. N was still a child. They all internalized the divorce and then remarriage of both parents and another divorce during their first eighteen years of life. Traumatic experiences for each of them.
Fortunately, we have had many experiences of bonding and healing over the past twenty-five years or so. I am thankful for this mercy, and for the love and loyalty of my three children.
When the ‘unit’ breaks down, the growth process of the mind, emotions, and Erickson’s stages of development get thrown out of sync. The normal rules do not apply for development. Personalities can go awry.
Robert Cloninger, also of the early 1900’s, defined temperament as inborn, genetically transmitted traits that influence the way we process information.
He proposed three specific traits of temperament: harm avoidance, novelty seeking, and reward dependence, and later added persistence. Both harm avoidance, which involves the tendency to avoid risk, and novelty seeking, which involves the tendency to seek out stimulation even if it involves risk, seem to have a genetic component. Harm avoidance may be mediated by the neurotransmitter serotonin, while novelty seeking has been associated with both dopamine and norepinephrine.
There are genetic factors and chemical balances, or imbalances, that are involved with the development of the personality. Put these together with the quality of care-giving, or lack thereof, for the early years of life, and you can have a volatile temperament in the making.
Look at my own personal childhood. Insecurity, anxiety, shyness, fear of authority figures, unsure of myself, low self-esteem; all from being raised in a home full of hostility and attempted suicides. My personal experience with the Lord gave me new boldness in self-expression and thus in self-fulfillment. I was one of the fortunate ones.
What kind of environment was Adam Lanza raised in? What genetic or chemical deficiencies did he have circulating in and through the cells of the blood feeding his brain?
Maybe a better question is, what kind of future can our nation and world expect, when we have created a very unstable environment for our children to develop in as the future generation? The ‘family unit’ has been broken down into single family homes without one or the other parent as a role model. Many teenagers are left to fend for themselves while their single parent is away trying to earn enough to support the home.
It is interesting to consider the eight stages from Erik Erickson in light of today’s society.
1-Trust vs. Mistrust-between birth and one year of age:
Because an infant is utterly dependent, the development of trust is based on the dependability and quality of the child’s caregivers. If a child successfully develops trust, he or she will feel safe and secure in the world. Caregivers who are inconsistent, emotionally unavailable, or rejecting, contribute to feelings of mistrust in the children they care for. Failure to develop trust will result in fear and a belief that the world is inconsistent and unpredictable .
2-Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt-this takes place during early childhood:
It is focused on children developing a greater sense of personal control. Like Freud, Erikson believed that toilet training was a vital part of this process. However, Erikson’s reasoning was quite different than that of Freud’s. Erikson believed that learning to control one’s bodily functions leads to a feeling of control and a sense of independence. Other important events include gaining more control over food choices, toy preferences, and clothing selection. Children who successfully complete this stage feel secure and confident, while those who do not are left with a sense of inadequacy and self-doubt.
3-Initiative vs. Guilt-during the preschool years:
Children begin to assert their power and control over the world through directing play and other social interactions. Children who are successful at this stage feel capable and able to lead others. Those who fail to acquire these skills are left with a sense of guilt, self-doubt, and lack of initiative.
4-Industry vs. Inferiority-this stage covers the early school years from approximately age 5 to 11:
Through social interactions, children begin to develop a sense of pride in their accomplishments and abilities. Children who are encouraged and commended by parents and teachers develop a feeling of competence and belief in their skills. Those who receive little or no encouragement from parents, teachers, or peers will doubt their abilities to be successful.
5-Identity vs. Confusion-during adolescence:
Children explore their independence and develop a sense of self. Those who receive proper encouragement and reinforcement through personal exploration will emerge from this stage with a strong sense of self and a feeling of independence and control. Those who remain unsure of their beliefs and desires will feel insecure and confused about themselves and the future.
6-Intimacy vs. Isolation-this stage covers the period of early adulthood:
People are exploring personal relationships. Erikson believed it was vital that people develop close, committed relationships with other people. Those who are successful at this step will form relationships that are committed and secure.
Remember that each step builds on skills learned in previous steps. Erikson believed that a strong sense of personal identity was important for developing intimate relationships. Studies have demonstrated that those with a poor sense of self tend to have less committed relationships and are more likely to suffer emotional isolation, loneliness, and depression.
7-Generativity vs. Stagnation-adulthood:
We continue to build our lives, focusing on our career and family. Those who are successful during this phase will feel that they are contributing to the world by being active in their home and community. Those who fail to attain this skill will feel unproductive and uninvolved in the world.
8-Integrity vs. Despair-this phase occurs during old age:
It is focused on reflecting back on life. Those who are unsuccessful during this stage will feel that their life has been wasted and will experience many regrets. The individual will be left with feelings of bitterness and despair. Those who feel proud of their accomplishments will feel a sense of integrity. Successfully completing this phase means looking back with few regrets and a general feeling of satisfaction. These individuals will attain wisdom, even when confronting death.
