Somewhere in the middle of my graduate program in counseling psychology I grasped the developmental point of view. Suddenly, Erik Erikson's eight stages of life provided a framework through which I could view my life and the lives of others in a way that made absolute sense to me and offered a logical way of getting through life more easily.
In the years since the lightbulb went on, I have been grateful for developmental theory as a way to explain personal growth and change; lately, as I consider the difficult times the United States is facing, I've been trying to adapt Erikson's stages to our nation. I crave a reason for why we are in the mess we are in, and I crave hope for the way out of it. Developmental theory just might be the answer.
Stage I is Infancy: Birth to 18 Months
Ego Development Outcome: Trust vs. Mistrust
Basic strength: Drive and Hope
Drive and hope were certainly apparent at our nation's birth, and our early relationships with other nations were fraught with growing--and sometimes misplaced--trust.
Stage II is Early Childhood: 18 Months to 3 Years
Ego Development Outcome: Autonomy vs. Shame
Basic Strengths: Self-control, Courage, and Will
A young nation developed beginning skills in diplomacy and a strong will to move west.
Stage III is Play Age: 3 to 5 Years
Ego Development Outcome: Initiative vs. Guilt
Basic Strength: Purpose
We copied the other nations around us to learn our roles and develop our identification as an independent player among countries around the world.
Stage IV School Age: 6 to 12 Years
Ego Development Outcome: Industry vs. Inferiority
Basic Strengths: Method and Competence
With a growing body of knowledge and skill, Americans develop a sense of industry, especially in the north. In the south we develop serious problems of self-esteem as we face the question of slavery.
Stage V is Adolescence: 12 to 18 Years
Ego Development Outcome: Identity vs. Role Confusion
Basic Strengths: Devotion and Fidelity
Now development depends on our own actions. Life becomes more complex as we face the inner turmoil of the type of nation we will be: industrial or agricultural? Can we find a way to collaborate or must one overrule the other. What will be the U.S. identity? This stage brings confusion and upheaval that includes the Civil War.
Stage VI is Young adulthood: 18 to 35
Ego Development Outcome: Intimacy and Solidarity vs. Isolation
Basic Strengths: Affiliation and Love
Once it becomes clear that we will be an industrial nation, we begin to find our way both economically and socially in the global world. We develop treaties, make trade pacts, and find our place in the world.
Stage VII is Middle Adulthood: 35 to 55 or 65
Ego Development Outcome: Generativity vs. Self absorption or Stagnation
Basic Strengths: Production and Care
At this point we begin the crucial work of making ourselves a productive and caring nation. We face periods of stagnation, but we are becoming more educated and developing strong evidence of national stability. Our relationships with the world of nations begins to change, and we look for
ways to create alliances that are satisfying economically and socially. We are stuck in this stage, trying to figure out how to avoid financial self-absorption (a by-product of human greed) and intellectual stagnation.
Stage VIII is Late Adulthood: 55 or 65 to Death
Ego Development Outcome: Integrity vs. Despair
Basic Strengths: Wisdom
We are not here yet. When we reach this stage, we will be a nation that balances between integrity and despair. We can only hope for wisdom to rise from the experiences that we--as a nation--have endured.
Now that I've written my way through the stages, I see that we are a nation stuck in middle adulthood, balancing on a fulcrum between productivity and stagnation. If we are to develop the basics strengths that come during this stage, production and care, we need to use all of our collaborative knowledge to get ourselves out of hills and valleys of middle adulthood, where we face the constant risks of economic and social stagnation and self-absorption.
America, it's time to grow up--all the way up. Only one more step to integrity and wisdom.
Mrs. B
In the years since the lightbulb went on, I have been grateful for developmental theory as a way to explain personal growth and change; lately, as I consider the difficult times the United States is facing, I've been trying to adapt Erikson's stages to our nation. I crave a reason for why we are in the mess we are in, and I crave hope for the way out of it. Developmental theory just might be the answer.
Stage I is Infancy: Birth to 18 Months
Ego Development Outcome: Trust vs. Mistrust
Basic strength: Drive and Hope
Drive and hope were certainly apparent at our nation's birth, and our early relationships with other nations were fraught with growing--and sometimes misplaced--trust.
Stage II is Early Childhood: 18 Months to 3 Years
Ego Development Outcome: Autonomy vs. Shame
Basic Strengths: Self-control, Courage, and Will
A young nation developed beginning skills in diplomacy and a strong will to move west.
Stage III is Play Age: 3 to 5 Years
Ego Development Outcome: Initiative vs. Guilt
Basic Strength: Purpose
We copied the other nations around us to learn our roles and develop our identification as an independent player among countries around the world.
Stage IV School Age: 6 to 12 Years
Ego Development Outcome: Industry vs. Inferiority
Basic Strengths: Method and Competence
With a growing body of knowledge and skill, Americans develop a sense of industry, especially in the north. In the south we develop serious problems of self-esteem as we face the question of slavery.
Stage V is Adolescence: 12 to 18 Years
Ego Development Outcome: Identity vs. Role Confusion
Basic Strengths: Devotion and Fidelity
Now development depends on our own actions. Life becomes more complex as we face the inner turmoil of the type of nation we will be: industrial or agricultural? Can we find a way to collaborate or must one overrule the other. What will be the U.S. identity? This stage brings confusion and upheaval that includes the Civil War.
Stage VI is Young adulthood: 18 to 35
Ego Development Outcome: Intimacy and Solidarity vs. Isolation
Basic Strengths: Affiliation and Love
Once it becomes clear that we will be an industrial nation, we begin to find our way both economically and socially in the global world. We develop treaties, make trade pacts, and find our place in the world.
Stage VII is Middle Adulthood: 35 to 55 or 65
Ego Development Outcome: Generativity vs. Self absorption or Stagnation
Basic Strengths: Production and Care
At this point we begin the crucial work of making ourselves a productive and caring nation. We face periods of stagnation, but we are becoming more educated and developing strong evidence of national stability. Our relationships with the world of nations begins to change, and we look for
ways to create alliances that are satisfying economically and socially. We are stuck in this stage, trying to figure out how to avoid financial self-absorption (a by-product of human greed) and intellectual stagnation.
Stage VIII is Late Adulthood: 55 or 65 to Death
Ego Development Outcome: Integrity vs. Despair
Basic Strengths: Wisdom
We are not here yet. When we reach this stage, we will be a nation that balances between integrity and despair. We can only hope for wisdom to rise from the experiences that we--as a nation--have endured.
Now that I've written my way through the stages, I see that we are a nation stuck in middle adulthood, balancing on a fulcrum between productivity and stagnation. If we are to develop the basics strengths that come during this stage, production and care, we need to use all of our collaborative knowledge to get ourselves out of hills and valleys of middle adulthood, where we face the constant risks of economic and social stagnation and self-absorption.
America, it's time to grow up--all the way up. Only one more step to integrity and wisdom.
Mrs. B
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