Question

Psychologists like Jean Piaget and Erik Erikson theorized that humans go through stages in their development throughout life, growing from infancy to old age. Piaget outlined stages of thinking or cognitive development, and Erikson described stages of personality or psychosocial development. How can you use this information to better understand your own life? What stages of cognitive and psychosocial development have you gone through since you were an infant? Which stages will you go through as you develop into adulthood and old age?

In a multi-paragraph essay, describe all the different stages of cognitive and psychosocial development throughout your lifespan. Be sure to provide examples to illustrate the thoughts, emotions, and behavior typical of each stage. Include details from class materials, readings, and research on human development to support your discussion.

Answer 1

• Piaget’s cognitive development begins with the sensorimotor stage which between the age of birth to about age 2. This relates to child interactions with the environment by manipulating objects. The main focus in this stage is object permanence, when a baby has an object in their sight then it is removed and the baby continues to look for it.
• The next stage is preoperational which is between the ages 2-6 or the child’s preschool years. During this stage thechild becomes more and more capable of symbolic functioning, language development occurs, and the child still unduly influenced by own perception of the environment. Children are also considered egocentric meaning that they are only able to consider things from their own point of view.
• After they go into concrete operations stage which is at the age 7-11 years old. This is when logical reasoning can only be applied to objects that are real or can be seen. For example, there appears to be more blocks when they are spread out, than when they are in a small pile.
• The last stage is formal operational stage which is at the age of 12 and above. This is when the individual can think logically about potential events or abstract ideas. The child begins to do mathematical calculations, think creatively, use abstract reasoning, and imagine the outcome of particular actions.
• Erik Erikson’s psychosocial stages describes how personality develops through a series of stages. One of the main elements od Erikson’s psychosocial stage theory is the development of ego identity. First stages is from infancy to 18 months which tackles the basic conflict of trust vs mistrust.In the first year after birth, babies depend completely on adults for basic needs such as food, comfort, and warmth. If the caretakers meet these needs reliably, the babies become attached and develop a sense of security. Otherwise, they may develop a mistrustful, insecure attitude.
• Stage 2: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt-Between the ages of one and three, toddlers start to gain independence and learn skills such as toilet training, feeding themselves, and dressing themselves. Depending on how they face these challenges, toddlers can develop a sense of autonomy or a sense of doubt and shame about themselves.
• Stage 3: Initiative vs. Guilt-Between the ages of three and six, children must learn to control their impulses and act in a socially responsible way. If they can do this effectively, children become more self- confident. If not, they may develop a strong sense of guilt.
• Stage 4: Industry vs. Inferiority-Between the ages of six and twelve, children compete with peers in school and prepare to take on adult roles. They end this stage with either a sense of competence or a sense of inferiority-
• Stage 5: Identity vs. Role Confusion-During adolescence, which is the period between puberty and adulthood, children try to determine their identity and their direction in life. Depending on their success, they either acquire a sense of identity or remain uncertain about their roles in life.
• Stage 6: Intimacy vs. Isolation-In young adulthood, people face the challenge of developing intimate relationships with others. If they do not succeed, they may become isolated and lonely.
• Stage 7: Generativity vs. Self-Absorption-As people reach middle adulthood, they work to become productive members of society, either through parenting or through their jobs. If they fail, they become overly self-absorbed.
• Stage 8: Integrity vs. Despair-In old age, people examine their lives. They may either have a sense of contentment or be disappointed about their lives and fearful of the future.
• I can relate my cognitive development with Erikson more,since I was always a competitive child in my school and showcsed good grades along with certificates of being the most responsible,So thi industrious nature of mine during school did shape up my development as a teenager in high school wherein I always participated in extra curricular activities,which made me more confident to face the people and interact with them. These public speaking and social skills helped me realise my career goals,I was clear what I wanted professionally,it helped me build my identity and find my purpose instead of experiencing any role confusion which has made me a secure person today who values both relationships and professional life.