Eric Erikson's Psychosocial Development Model

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“Can I go to the bathroom?” These were the hardest words I had to say in elementary school. As a shy, unassertive child, I would avoid asking all together. Since my time in psychology class, Erik Erikson’s psychosocial development model has fascinated me, mainly because it describes this particular aspect of my life. Just as Erikson theorized, my parents facilitated my social skills by offering me a loving, supportive environment. Having reflected on my own development and the goodness of change, I became interested in watching other people grow and change. When psychology class was over, developmental was my favorite unit by far because it held my attention from Stage 1. When I was an infant, my dad gave me plenty of attention. He flew me around like an airplane. He fed and cared for me. Since my parents were kind and willing to invest time in growing my imagination, I learned to trust my parents and to trust other people . They improved my physical and emotional wellbeing through play. My father gained my trust and I also unconsciously learned to be a trustworthy person to my peers, allowing me to get closer to them …show more content…

There’s always more to learn. However, my parents played a part in building my current identity by encouraging me to try new classes and activities. My mother told me to take a stress-reducing elective to balance out the busy and demanding core classes freshman year. I expressed an interest in dance, so I requested it. After two years of dance class, I learned what I was capable of and that I enjoyed providing knowledge to others. Having taken my mother’s advice, I discovered a new talent and a new hobby. Dance was another book on the shelf of artistry for me, but it also gave me the chance to make new friends and practice leading and teaching. While teaching classmates how to do pirouettes is rewarding, watching their learning pay off in group evaluations is even

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