Analyzing Erikson's Eight Stages Of Human Development

Erik Erikson was the developer of the psychosocial theory approach to human development and believed that people follow a sequence of stages of development from birth to death. The development stages “include tasks that result from biological forces and age related social or cultural expectations (Ashford & LeCroy, 2010, p.99)”. Within his psychological theory, Erikson identified eight psychosocial stages of human development which are equipped with “appropriate physical, emotional, and cognitive tasks that the individuals must master in the struggle to the demands of the social environment (Ashford & LeCroy, 2010, p.99-100)”. The eight stages include infancy (trust vs mistrust); early childhood (autonomy vs. shame, doubt); play age (initiative
This may be a type of self-fulfilling prophecy and an example of the Hawthorne effect” (Barker, 2003, p.241). In essence, the labeling theory is the influence of terms and classifications that are used for an individual whose behavior is then determined by such a label. Derived from sociology, the labeling theory is often associated with deviance and criminal activity. Howard Becker, the individual who continued the movement after it was established in the 1950’s, concluded that “deviance is created by society. Social groups create deviance by making the rules whose infraction constitutes deviance and applying those rules to particular people” (Becker, 1963, p.
According to The Social Work Dictionary, labeling is the “application of a name to a person or a person’s problems based on observed traits or patterns of behavior” (Barker, 2003, p.241). The title “foster child” comes with negative connotations and stereotypes, which says a child living in foster care, is one who has been delinquent or has psychological impairment. An article written by Susan M. Kools concluded the labeling theory’s notion that individuals “may adopt a self-definition and behavioral expectations described by others. ‘I am who others think I am and I will behave accordingly’ (1997, p.267)”. Furthermore, youth will adapt or behave according to the social role in their environment simply because such behavior is expected by others, thus their “behavior shapes and is shaped by social interaction (Kools, 1997, p. 264).” For an individual who has committed a crime and now been labeled deviant, removal of the label from the individual will be extremely difficult, as his identity has already been defined as a criminal or