Description
In this final project journal, you will use a developmental theory as a specific lens for understanding the client and presenting issue(s). This assessment will assist in strengthening your understanding of human development across the lifespan and developmental theories and shape your professional identity as a counselor and how you work with clients. This final project journal is a draft and should address the critical elements so that you may receive feedback prior to your final submission in Week Nine. the questions to answer will be in the guidelines attached at the bottom, please go off of information using that and my final draft paper. Thank you!!! also use scholarly or peer reviewed sources. i will be attaching the guidelines for the assignment and my draft that was done for the final project already. This assignment is based off of a case study: Mary is a 21-year-old African American female, self-referred for inpatient treatment due to drug and alcohol use. She is from and still lives in New York City. She is currently unemployed and homeless and has charges pending due to a number of “bounced” checks written over the past several months. Mary has had several part-time jobs that she has been fired from or she abruptly quit. While in high school, she had aspirations of being an architect. Mary’s mother was a heavy drug user while pregnant with her. When Mary was born, she was addicted to crack and spent several months in the hospital. Mary reports that both of her parents were drug addicts and she experienced physical, sexual, and emotional abuse throughout childhood at their hands. Her father died of liver disease at the age of 37.Mary also reports that at the age of 14, she was kicked out of her family’s home because her father suspected that she was gay. Although they live in the same town, she has not had any contact with her mother for 7 years. Mary describes her relationship with her older sister as “fair.” Mary is not presently involved in a steady relationship, but she does have a network of friends in the local gay community whom she has been staying with off and on. Mary has serious trust issues and does not have anyone she can open up to in her support network. At the time that she left home, Mary survived by becoming involved in sexual relationships with older men, many of whom were also abusive. She has had numerous sexual partners (both male and female) over the past 7 years, has traded sex for drugs and money, has had sex under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and has been made to have sex against her will. Mary struggles with her identity and sexual orientation and considers herself as bisexual, not gay.
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Erik Erikson’s Developmental Theory
Brianna Hampton
Southern New Hampshire University
Human Development
01/06/2024
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Erik Erikson’s Developmental Theory
Counseling relies heavily on a sophisticated knowledge of human development over a
lifetime, acknowledging the complex interaction of biological, psychological, social, and cultural
elements. Developmental theories, which provide frameworks for appreciating the intricacies of
individual journeys, are crucial to this process (Teague & Jones, 2023). Erik Erikson’s
psychosocial developmental theory emerges as a significant prism through which counselors
may manage the obstacles that clients experience in this situation. This paper dives into applying
Erikson’s theory to a specific client scenario – Mary, a 21-year-old African American girl seeking
treatment for drug and alcohol concerns. It aims to demonstrate how Erikson’s theory enhances
our understanding of her struggles by exploring foundational information about Erikson’s theory
and analyzing Mary’s experiences across various developmental stages, informing a more
holistic and practical counseling approach.
Data: client
Mary, a 21-year-old African-American girl, has self-referred for inpatient treatment for
drug and alcohol abuse. She is presently unemployed, homeless, and facing prosecution for
writing bounced cheques in New York City. Mary has a history of work insecurity, having been
dismissed or quit various part-time jobs. She wanted to be an architect in high school, but her life
followed a different path. Because Mary’s mother was a potent drug user during her pregnancy,
Mary was born addicted to crack and spent months in the hospital. Mary’s parents were both drug
addicts, and she was subjected to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse throughout her
childhood. When Mary was 14, her father died of liver illness. She got kicked out of her family’s
house at that age owing to concerns that she was lesbian. Mary has been estranged from her
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mother for seven years and has survived by participating in sexual encounters with older, often
abusive men. She identifies as bisexual and has struggled with her sexual orientation and
identity. Mary began using alcohol at the age of 14, followed by inhalants, marijuana,
amphetamines, and cocaine. She began taking crack four months before entering rehab.
Essential elements of the theory
Erik Erikson’s psychosocial developmental theory is distinguished by its emphasis on the
interplay of biological, psychological, and social elements throughout a person’s life. The idea is
divided into eight developmental phases, each defined by a psychological crisis that humans
must negotiate to develop normally. These phases cover the whole human lifespan, giving a
thorough framework for comprehending the problems and activities of each age group (Teague
& Jones, 2023).
During infancy, the first stage, trust vs. distrust, emphasizes the significance of building a
stable bond with caregivers. Early infancy contrasts autonomy with guilt and uncertainty,
emphasizing the development of a sense of independence. The initiative vs. guilt stage allows
preschool-aged youngsters to explore their skills (Teague & Jones, 2023). The industry vs.
inferiority stage emphasizes acquiring skills and competence as individuals move through middle
childhood. The identity vs. role confusion stage of adolescence emphasizes building a coherent
self-identity. Intimacy vs. solitude, a topic pertinent to young adulthood, investigates the
formation of meaningful connections. Middle adulthood is related to the generativity vs.
stagnation stage, which emphasizes contributions to society and the next generation (Teague &
Jones, 2023). Finally, late adulthood is defined by ego integrity vs. despair, emphasizing
reflecting on one’s life and obtaining a sense of fulfillment.
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Erikson’s theory is distinctive in that it integrates social and cultural components, going
beyond Freud’s psychosexual phases. It acknowledges the dynamic nature of human growth and
the influence of social interactions on identity formation and general well-being (Teague &
Jones, 2023). By applying this theory to her situation, the counselor can get insights into how
Mary’s experiences coincide with or challenge the tasks associated with distinct developmental
stages.
Foundational Information
Erik Erikson, a German-American developmental psychologist and psychotherapist,
developed the psychosocial developmental theory. Erikson, who was born in 1902, enlarged
Sigmund Freud’s psychosexual phases by including social and cultural factors (Maree, 2021).
According to Erikson’s thesis, people go through eight phases of development, each defined by a
psychosocial crisis that changes their personality. Trust vs. mistrust, autonomy vs. shame and
doubt, initiative vs. guilt, industry vs. inferiority, identity vs. role confusion, closeness vs.
isolation, generativity vs. stagnation, and ego integrity vs. despair are among the phases from
infancy to late adulthood (Maree, 2021).
Appropriate Theory
Erik Erikson’s psychosocial developmental theory is pertinent to Mary’s case. Erikson’s eightstage theory highlights the interplay of biological, psychological, and social variables throughout
an individual’s lifespan. The stages include psychological crises that humans must endure to
develop normally (Orenstein & Lewis, 2022). Mary’s situation contains difficulties
corresponding to Erikson’s phases, including the identity vs. role uncertainty stage during
adolescence and the closeness vs. isolation stage in young adulthood. Her inability to develop
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stable connections, history of violent relationships, and trust issues are consistent with the
theory’s prediction that failing to establish closeness can lead to isolation. Erikson’s theory can
help us understand how Mary’s experiences, such as parental drug misuse, childhood
maltreatment, and sexual orientation concerns, shaped her development.
Mary’s identity concerns, trust issues, and difficulties in building solid relationships are
consistent with the theory’s emphasis on identity development and intimacy. The identity vs. role
uncertainty stage is essential to Mary’s adolescence, which was distinguished by being expelled
and participating in dangerous actions owing to her sexual orientation. According to the notion,
successfully navigating this stage results in a strong sense of identity. However, unresolved
conflicts may result in role confusion. Mary’s admission to therapy at the age of 21 indicates the
continuous nature of these difficulties. Given Mary’s problematic past, using Erikson’s theory
thoroughly explains the interplay between her biological, psychological, and social elements at
various developmental phases.
Conclusion
Finally, Erik Erikson’s psychosocial developmental theory provides a valuable lens for
analyzing Mary’s situation. It offers insights into the influence of her experiences on identity
formation and the creation of intimate relationships. The comprehensive approach of the theory
allows for a more nuanced analysis of Mary’s developmental journey, helping counselors
formulate appropriate therapies to assist her growth and recovery.
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References
Maree, J. G. (2021). The psychosocial development theory of Erik Erikson: Critical
overview. The Influence of Theorists and Pioneers on Early Childhood Education, 119133. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003120216-11
Orenstein, G. A., & Lewis L. (2022, November 7). Eriksons stages of psychosocial development
– StatPearls – NCBI bookshelf. National Center for Biotechnology
Information. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556096/
Teague, C. M., & Jones, J., (2023). J Ment Health Soc Behav, 5(1): 178
https://doi.org/10.33790/jmhsb1100178
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