Analysis Of Erikson's Psychosocial Development
Memories of the first stage of Erikson’s psychosocial development are nearly impossible for people to remember, for it is experienced from birth to approximately twelve to eighteen months. Even though we fail to explicitly remember it, the issue of trust is the first important developmental crisis that we all face as a newborn, for an infant relies on its caregivers for basic survival (Swartwood, 2012, p. 83). Children who grow up receiving reliable and fairly consistent care will typically end up being trustful adults. On the other hand, infants who receive inconsistent care “may begin to develop a sense that the world is an unreliable place and become mistrustful”(Swartwood, 2012, p. 83). The level and consistency of care an infant is accustomed
determines their resolution to this developmental crisis. Furthermore, Swartwood (2012, p. 83) asserts that, “It is only those children who experience more mistrustful situations than trusting and reliable situations that will ultimately achieve an unhealthy resolution of the crisis.” As an infant, I was fortunate enough to experience a preponderant amount of trusting and reliable situations. Even though my mother worked while I was a baby, my grandmother looked after me almost every week day. Everything I needed was granted to me. This is evident in my life today, for I am a trusting person, naively so at times. In middle school, I remember being unbelievably shocked when my friends went behind my back or hurt me, for I trusted them completely. Approximately halfway through high school, I figured out how to balance my desire to trust with my real world experiences. Similarly, my boyfriend, Matt, had reliable and consistent care as an infant, but grew into a moderately mistrusting adult. Throughout his childhood and adolescents, he was an overly trusting boy. He always saw the good in the world and was surrounded by numerous friends (Sue Morel, personal communications, 2015). Following two long term relationship that concluded with him being cheated on, Matt began to see the world as an unreliable place and question his ability to trust. This demonstrates that “development is a continuous process, [that is] slowly evolving as [an] individual ages”(Swartwood, 2012, p. 83).
determines their resolution to this developmental crisis. Furthermore, Swartwood (2012, p. 83) asserts that, “It is only those children who experience more mistrustful situations than trusting and reliable situations that will ultimately achieve an unhealthy resolution of the crisis.” As an infant, I was fortunate enough to experience a preponderant amount of trusting and reliable situations. Even though my mother worked while I was a baby, my grandmother looked after me almost every week day. Everything I needed was granted to me. This is evident in my life today, for I am a trusting person, naively so at times. In middle school, I remember being unbelievably shocked when my friends went behind my back or hurt me, for I trusted them completely. Approximately halfway through high school, I figured out how to balance my desire to trust with my real world experiences. Similarly, my boyfriend, Matt, had reliable and consistent care as an infant, but grew into a moderately mistrusting adult. Throughout his childhood and adolescents, he was an overly trusting boy. He always saw the good in the world and was surrounded by numerous friends (Sue Morel, personal communications, 2015). Following two long term relationship that concluded with him being cheated on, Matt began to see the world as an unreliable place and question his ability to trust. This demonstrates that “development is a continuous process, [that is] slowly evolving as [an] individual ages”(Swartwood, 2012, p. 83).