Eriksons Theory of Psychosocial Development

Reflection Paper 1

From reading Eriksons theory of psychosocial development, I have found that there are multiple events in my life that relate to his ideas and concepts. I will discuss the current stage that I believe I am in out of the eight stages, certain issues regarding my past that have lead me to where I am currently, as well as whether I believe if Eriksons theory is accurate or not.

Out of the intense eight psychosocial development stages that Erikson has theorized, I believe I am midway between stage 5 and stage 6. Being that emotionally and mentally I have not fully emerged into young adulthood, I am still searching for who I am and my purpose in this world. Growing up, my parents never made me struggle; I always had the mindset that my social life was important which as Erikson theorized can have a negative solution; which may lead to a negative identity or a confusion of identity. From my personal experiences I believe I've had a rather negative outcome from being a "social butterfly", I have never indulged in anything except school and friends; until now that I am in college, I have no choice but to grow up on my own. Although my parents instilled strong principles in me, unfortunately I am lacking some of the most important.

I believe that since I was very spoiled as a child, some things are supposed to come rather easily to me. However, growing into a young woman I realized life is harder than imagined. Being that my parents are not heavily surrounded by my presence and I am not sheltered by their rules, I have had to learn how to survive on my own. It's very stressful and hard on me in this stage of life that I am currently living in because I didn't have to struggle as a child and now I have to struggle twice as hard; rather than any other individual that had independent principles