Running head: ERIKSON AND MASLOW PT 2
Erickson’s Psychosocial Theory and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory
Criptal Graham
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
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Introduction
This paper will compare to well known theories to my practical life. I will apply
Erickson’s Psychosocial Theory and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to my everyday
living. This paper will reflect feelings and thoughts that I have experienced during my
forty years of growing up. As well as bring to life the above mentioned theories as I
explore them.
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Erickson’s Psychosocial Theory applied to My Life
According to Newman & Newman’s writings Trust vs. Mistrust is one of
Erickson’s Psychosocial Crisis. This is during the period of life the young child is 0-1
years of age. At the beginning is Basic trust vs. Mistrust. This is during the infancy
period when the child is making a social connection with the parent. The child is forming
bonds that will either be strengthened or weakened in the future of his life. Nonetheless
at this present time in life the child is establishing positive or negative relationships.
Erickson has said that the psychosocial development that is taking place at this stage is
Oral sensory. (Mehmet, A). For infants trust is an emotion, a positive experimental state
of confidence that their needs will be met and that they are valued.
My life at this age was told to me. I remember stories that I can compare to the
psychosocial crisis Trust vs. Mistrust. When I was a young baby I was abducted by my
dad from my mom’s home. I was told there was no crying involved. I was wrapped in
my blanket and carried away. Imagine the trust that a child can have with people they
know or not know. My dad and mom were just youngsters themselves also my dad had
an alcohol problem. He decided to take me to his house when she turned her back. As
my dad ran up the highway with me, I was told I was just looking up at him. However,
when my mom and grandmother came to get me back, they said I was still doing okay. I
was very calm and was not aware of any change in my surroundings. This says a lot
about how the child can form bonds and make new bonds at this age level.
Mistrust is the other part of this crisis. However as the story is told to me, I did
not show any signs of mistrust toward my father. Evidently, at his home I also had the
necessities that I needed. According to Erickson all infants experience some levels of
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mistrust. One reason would be because of a result of mismatches between their needs not
being met. Also, mistrust could be a result of the care giving strategies that a child
receives. Another reason for mistrust within a child is when there are difficulties in
dealing with strong feelings (Newman pg. 170).
The fourth stage is Industry vs. Inferiority. This covers ages six to twelve
years old of the child’s life. The development the child is securing here is Latency. The
child is now realizing that there are rules and regulations in the place called earth. The
child at this point has started some type of educational setting and has to surrender his or
her will to the will of the one who has rule over them. This can be a very challenging
time for the child and should be handled according to the measure of the child’s
resistance (Mehmet, A).
Relating Industry vs. Inferiority to my life I can say this is when I started to find
my identity. I remember this was during my elementary school years and I was very
opinionated. The teachers use to comment on my ability to speak my mind at such a
young age. I had no problem obeying the teachers who had rule over me even though I
came from a dysfunctional troubled home. The statistics on children who comes from a
problem home are more likely to be dysfunctional in schools and society. However
thanks to God I exceeded the norms. Even though I was not aware of the term industry
then I seem to act with an eagerness to acquire skills and had a desire to perform
meaningful work (Newman & Newman, pg. 305)
According to Erickson inferiority is something that children go through in middle
childhood. Inferiority is when a child has feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy.
This usually comes from two sources one’s self and the social environment.
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Many times during my middle childhood years I remember feeling inferior to the
adults who were in my life. Although I started out as a child that felt free to voice my
opinions and share my ideas, I did not stay that way. I started feeling very shy and timid
because of the things that I experienced from other adults. My Mom had three other
children. Two of them were younger than I was and they always asked me for advice.
This was okay with me until my Mom got offended and told my brother and sister I did
not know everything.
From then on, I felt very inferior around my parents. I did not want them to hear
the other children asking me for any advice. I felt as though I would get into trouble if I
acted like I knew everything. Still today I am going through something like this in my
home. I am a college graduate and my husband is a high school graduate and I feel as
though he is offended by my education. Therefore, I am skeptical about how I use the
information that I have obtained.
The fifth stage is Identity vs. Role confusion and puberty and this is no longer a
young child but adolescence. This is an even more challenging time for the young
adolescent. They are seeking to be complete by fulfilling desires or accomplishments
that would in some way define them. This is a very difficult time for the adolescent
because self-worth is not prevalent within them. They are often confused in what roles
they are suppose to play. The dilemma is whether to relive the past four stages in their
lives or to let go and let this new person emerge. Erickson states that these last four
stages have a big part to play in the adolescent’s identity (Mehmet, A).
As I entered into the adolescent period of my life I was very perplexed about my
role. I was picked on because I did not have the best of things in life. I was always
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grateful for what I did have however children can be cruel. I felt like a child at school
however I felt like someone else at home most of the time. I could act my age at home
however we never knew when it would be right or wrong. It all depended on when my
dad was intoxicated or not.
As far as, alienation I felt like I was alienated from other children. My siblings
and I were not able to go play with other children regularly. We could play with children
on our street and that was not many. Usually it was just one other family with children
and they were dysfunctional also. Going through puberty and forming relationships was
not that hard because I stuck with one boy until the twelfth grade.
The seventh stage is Generativity vs. Stagnation and this stage takes place in
Adulthood. The adult here is said to have a sense of needing to give back to the next
society. In other words either they have offspring that they are rearing or they are a
community parent where they support children of all kinds. This is a very important to
the adult that they contribute to society by helping to build strong confident citizens for
the next generations (Mehmet, A).
Generativity vs. Stagnation is a very important stage in life to me because it is
where I am currently. Most of my days consist of my thinking of how I can give back. I
strive to find ways to enhance and enrich some young person’s life. I especially try to
contribute and deposit positive information to my five children’s lives. They are amazed
at how I can seem to put a sermon with all aspects of everyday living. I feel that as I
grew up I had very influential people to deposit faith, hope, and love into my life and I
want to do my share for the next generations.
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Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs applied to my life
At the age of forty I find myself in the final four stages on Maslow’s Hierarchy of
Needs Assessment. The fifth stage is Intellectual Achievement this is also the first level
of growth according to Maslow. This is where the individual feels the necessity to
possess a lot of knowledge. The impulse to ask a lot of questions is prominent at this
level of the needs assessment (William, Y).
This is a very important need in my life. I find myself everyday wondering if I
am obtaining the knowledge today that will prepare me for tomorrow. It really does feel
like a thriving need to possess the necessary knowledge to be successful and look like a
valuable player in today’s society.
The sixth stage is Aesthetic Appreciation. The adult is interested in things that
would help define more of their character in life. For example recognizing order, beauty
of things, and searching out the infallible truths of matters (William, Y).
As I continue on in life I see where Aesthetic Appreciation is an important part of
one’s well being.
It is a desire of mine that my character passes before God and
mankind. I try everyday to live so that people can speak well of me and to behave in a
manner that will bring recognition to God. Because it is God who made me and I am
responsible for being the very best person I can with his help and guidance.
The seventh level is Self Actualization. The individual at this level thrives on
putting to good use for the betterment of life the capabilities, talents and the potential that
they possess (William, Y).
In my own words I would call this need “practicing what I preach”. In other
words, I have a strong need to recognize flaws and errors that are in my life. Then I admit
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them have a self examination and then I correct the flaws. I am very hard on myself. I
critic my life thoroughly because it is important to me to be effective in the ministry I
work in. I try to use every talent and gift that has been given me to help someone or to
teach someone.
The final and eighth level is the Transcendence or Spiritual level.
Maslow
thought at this level one is looking beyond their natural ability to do. He simply thought
that people who applied this level were more willing to see a more deeper beauty as
opposed to those who do not use this level, he views them as “self doers” ( William, Y).
Certainly, I am presently at this level. I believe that I within myself and own
power could not accomplish anything. However I believe with the help and aide of God I
can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (King J., Holy Bible). Then, there is
a greater beauty to behold. For me, it is that of Christ Jesus and his infinite love and help.
Conclusion
In conclusion, what I have learned is that life has stages. Also, each stage has a
lesson to be learned. I have learned that life has a needs assessment. While going
through the different stages of life one will have a hierarchy of needs. It is necessary and
prevalent to our well being that we master every stage and that every need met.
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