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Many psychologists have studied psychosocial development. The two examples are Jean Piaget (1896 - 1980) and Erik Erikson (1902-1994). Piaget was the first psychologist to efficiently study cognitive development. His work includes a theory of children’s cognitive development, comprehensive observational studies of cognizance in children, and experiments to reveal different cognitive abilities. According to Piaget, children are born with a very basic mental structure which are inherited and then developed. To Piaget, cognitive development was an advanced restructuring of mental procedures as a result of biological maturation and environmental experience (nature-nurture). Children construct an understanding of the world around them, and then experience inconsistencies between what they already know and what they discover in their environment. Like Piaget, Erikson continued on the belief that children develop in a predetermined order. He studied how children socialize and in what manner their socialization affects their sense of self. Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development has eight distinct stages, each with two possible outcomes. The theory states that successful completion of each stage results in a healthy personality and successful interactions with others. Failure to complete a stage can result in a reduced ability to complete further stages and therefore a more unhealthy personality and sense of self. These stages, however, can be resolved successfully at a later time. I wanted to test both Piaget and Erikson’s theory and see if I can identify them in children of six and seven years of age. When I walked in Ms. Shannon’s class I introduced myself and told the kids to pretend I wasn’t in the class. I sat in the back an... ... middle of paper ... ...ed another one of Erikson’s stages “Initiative versus guilt” If given an opportunity, children develop a sense of initiative, and feel secure in their ability to lead others and make decisions. On the other hand, if this tendency is me with either criticism or control, children develop a sense of guilt. They may feel like a nuisance to others and will therefore remain followers, lacking in self-initiative. After I finished my observation I learned lot things I hadn’t realized by how they interacted with each other. I've been around children before but never analyzed their behavior or explained it using psychology. I have a newfound appreciation and sympathy for elementary school teachers, the kids still have a lot of cognitive developments growth to do and it takes a benevolent person to do such a work. Overall I found the experience fascinating and enlightening.

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