Problem:
There has been an evolution of psychological personality theories that have come from psychoanalytic ideas presented by Sigmund Freud (Cervone & Pervin, 2023). These new theories are consistent with some aspects of Freud's work while diverging in some way to continue and expand our understanding or address issues of fit. There are some theorists that I was able to connect with more easily, and in review of this week's learning materials, one theorist that resonated with me was Erik Erikson. His theory extended the psychoanalytic theory provided by Freud to include development as being more than just instinctual by incorporating a psychosocial context (Cervone & Pervin, 2023). In addition, Erickson extended the understanding of personality development to include the entire life span and recognized psychological processes that contribute to the display of personality (Cervone & Pervin, 2023). These qualities made me particularly interested in this theory because it recognizes the variations of experience that exist, given our social contexts. Erikson's theory relied on key aspects of Freud's original ideas, such as development being influenced by psychosexual stages (Cervone & Pervin, 2023). Erickson diverges from Freud's ideas by emphasizing that people's perceptions of the future and their past contribute significantly to their personality, as well as extending the developmental period to include adolescence and different adulthood stages to include the entire lifespan (Cervone & Pervin, 2023). I believe Erickson's theory has clinical application because it outlines the different life stages that are experienced as people age, as well as the typical progression of developmental milestones that should be attained, and the negative outcomes that can develop because of a disruption in development. One example of clinical application can be taken from adolescence, in which the individual realizes consistency in how they see themselves with how others see them as well (Cervone & Pervin, 2023). This theoretical framework provides a standard that allows for assessment of any deficits in developmental milestones, providing guidance for intervention outcomes. If an adolescent struggles during this developmental period and, for example, feels ill at ease in their social roles, leading to mental health symptoms, they can potentially be treated by addressing the underlying issue and helping them to develop confidence to feel better in their social context. This same theoretical framework allows for this same assessment and intervention dynamic throughout the life span. In adulthood, if an individual does not have fulfilling relationships as stated by Erikson's theory, they could experience negative outcomes and have impoverished relationships (Cervone & Pervin, 2023). Erikson's expansion of Freud's psychoanalytic theory again allows for assessment of typical adulthood development and provides direction for clinical intervention by addressing the root cause of challenges. Erickson's theory really stood out to me because of how it considers the variation of the human experience and provides developmental milestones that extend to the last years of life. Erikson's theory continues to be an important topic in personality psychology as it encompasses a holistic approach to the understanding of personality development.
Respond to at least two of your colleagues' posts on two different days by comparing and contrasting your selected theorist's perspective with theirs.
Cite at least one scholarly resource in each of your substantive reply posts. Each substantive reply post should be a minimum of 250 words. Need Assignment Help?