Counselling young people Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Counselling young people - Essay Example Erikson developed eight psychosocial stages that humans encounter throughout their life. The first stage, Trust vs. Mistrust, occurs from approximately birth to one year. Erikson (1950) defined trust as an essential trustfulness of others as well as a fundamental sense of ones own trustworthiness. He thought that an infant who gets fed when he is hungry and comforted when he needs comforting will develop trust. He also said that some mistrust is necessary to learn to discriminate between honest and dishonest persons. If mistrust wins over trust in this stage, the child will be frustrated, withdrawn, suspicious, and will lack self-confidence. The second stage, Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt, occurs between ages two and three. During this period it is important that the parents create a supportive atmosphere in which the child can develop a sense of self-control without a loss of self-esteem. Shame and doubt about the childs self-control and independence occur if basic trust was insufficiently developed or was lost such as when the childs will is broken by an over controlling parent. In this stage, Erikson said the child encounters rules, such as which areas of the house he is allowed to explore. The third stage, Initiative vs. Guilt, occurs between ages four and five. This is the stage in which the child must find out what kind of person he/she is going to be. The child develops a sense of responsibility that increases initiative during this period. If the child is irresponsible and is made to feel too anxious then they will have uncomfortable guilt feelings. Erikson (1950) believed that most guilt is quickly compensated for by a sense of accomplishment. Eriksons fourth stage, Industry vs. Inferiority, occurs between six years and puberty. This is the period in which the child wants to enter the larger world of knowledge and work. One of the great events of this