“Stages of The Life Cycle”
Adolescent
Adolescent is
Bridging the gap between Childhood and Adult, during this period Child is
growing to become an adult. Time period is full of fantasies and fun along with
bit challenges and time sensitive tasks. E.g
- Goals
of Adolescent development - Personality
development, Physical and mental development. - Tasks (Identity / Role diffusion)
- Role models (In search of someone who is worth
following) - Growth spurt
- Physical growth and mental development
- Socially acquiring skills to be successful
- Cognitive development to be an adult member of
society - Emotional regulation in times of stress
Challenges
- Peer pressure
- Expectation of the parents
- Expectation regarding school work
- Using spare time
- Ideals and realistic goals
- Dealing with difficult situations,and stressful life situations
- This is not end of the world
- Options of future
- Identity
- Who I am
- What I want to achieve and what I can
- Competition in the society
- Acceptation of self-limitation
Physical
Domain
- Growing in body size, height, and weight
- Acquiring locomotive skills, i.e., crawling,
walking, talking,playing, riding a bicycle, etc.
Psychological
and Cognitive Development
- Acquiring skills to learn how to think, process or
organizethe information - Problem solving and memory functioning.
Social
& Emotional Development
- How to interact with outside world
- Identify feeling & emotions of self and others
- Learning to deal with intense emotions
- Modulate feelings to function as independent
individual.
Sexual
Development and Gender Identity
- Developmental domains
- Children learn about their own body
- Learning about sexual feelings, and how to handlethose feelings, and what is permissible in society
- Communications
- By speaking / writing
- Gestures (Facial gestures, body gestures)
- Self injurious/suicide gestures(overt and covert threat, or actual doing to hurt self with intent)
- Substance abuse gestures
- Risky sexual behavior gesture
- Passive aggressive behavior
- Psychosomatic complaints(when not explained by a medical work up)
- Warning
Signs of impounding danger - Withdrawal
- Decreased interest in school or social activities
- Decline in academic functioning
- Persistent worries, angry and aggressive out burst
- Changes in eating / sleeping patterns
- Avoiding conversation on particular subject
- Unusual activities
- being away from home for long periods of time,or at odd hours
- being on the phone or Internet for long periods of
time - disappearing from school
Stages of human Life (Erik Erikson’s)
Stage 1
Basic Trust versus Mistrust: (Birth to about 1 year of age)
Task: Trust or not to trust
Successful Achievement of Goals:
Affection and loving care
from caregiver (mother/father/caretaker)
(e.g., child’s needs: bathing,
basic daily care and hygiene)
Child learns to trust the immediate world;
begins to perceive an optimum view
of family life; can handle being
out of sight of caregiver
Unsuccessful Goal achievement due to:
Inattentive, poorly responsive caregiver
(illness, work, family crisis, etc.)
Child learns the immediate world
is not trustworthy; basic needs
are not met, and results in
mistrust and confusion
in later life
Stage 2
Autonomy versus Shame and Doubt (About 1 to 3 years of age)
Successful Achievement of Goal:
Parents permit autonomy;
are supportive without being
overly protective
Child gains self-confidence;
learning mastery of themselves
Self-esteem is enhanced
Unsuccessful Goal:
Parents are over-controlling,
punishment for being autonomous
Child feels angry and ashamed;
pervading sense of doubt, loss of self-confidence; may develop loss of
self-control and incompetence re: age-appropriate tasks,
e.g., toilet training, muscular skills
Stage 3
Initiative versus Guilt (3 to 5 years of age)
Successful Achievement of Goal:
Children develop physically and intellectually; curiosity and freedom
are encouraged
Child is supported and engaged;
encouraged to use their full potential
and take initiatives
‘Aggressive’ fantasies are managed
properly (neither punished
or encouraged)
Child develops initiative and ambition
Development of conscience
(moral values: right from wrong)
Unsuccessful Goal:
Parents are over-controlling,
punishment for being autonomous
Excessive punishment can restrict
initiative and ambition
can lead to rigid strong ego-centric
persona; in adulthood can manifest
itself in stubborn and a danger
towards self and others
Stage 4
Industry versus Inferiority (6 to 11 years of age)
Successful Achievement of Goal:
Parents and teachers encourage creativity
and curiosity. Diligence, productivity
and perseverance are demonstrated in
difficult tasks, and helps protect
against a sense of inferiority
Productive children take pride
in doing something, and completion
of work or task is a pleasure.
Unsuccessful Goal:
In excessive emphasis on rules and
regulations / ‘should’s and shouldnt’s,’
a child can develop a sense of duty,
but at the expense of a natural
desire to work
Discrimination in school / non-supportive
parents may lead to development of inferiority complex
Over-protection at home,
or excessive dependence on family
for emotional support, can lead
to emotional disregulation
Stage 5
Identity versus Role Diffusion (12 to 18 years of age)
Successful Achievement of Goal:
Developing a healthy sense of identity,
built on success in passing through
earlier stages
Success in attaining trust, autonomy,
initiative and industry
Sense of inner solidarity with
ideals of a social group whose
moral value may change, but
eventually an ethical system is
consolidated into a coherent
organizational framework
Unsuccessful Goal:
Identity crises can occur:
identity diffusion or role confusion,
characterized by not having a sense
of self, and by confusion about
the adolescent’s place in the world
Can manifest in behavioral abnormalities (e.g., running away, criminality,
overt psychosis problem in gender identity)
Adolescents may defend themselves
by joining cults, or identifying
with folk heroes
Positive attributes
- Good Genes
and Excellent environment - Supportive family
- Supportive school environment
- Acknowledging (accepting)
and empathic parent / teacher approach at time of crisis - Good physical health
- Positive role model
- Athletic activities
- Supportive extended family andcircle of friends
- Positive spare time activities
- Early intervention if need arises;seek professional help
Negatives or stumbling blocks/ Pathological Issues
- Learning disability
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Bipolar
Disorder - Schizophrenia
- Autistic Spectrum Disorder
- Substance abuse disorders
- Eating disorders
- Mental retardation
Stage 6
Intimacy
versus Self Absorption Isolation (21 to 40 years of age)
Stage 7
Genrativity
versus Stagnation (40 to 65 years)
Stage 8
Integrity
versus Despair and Isolation (65 years of age, or older)
Should you need additional information or would like to make an appointment with Dr. Tahir, email us at stahirmd@yahoo.com.
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