Human growth and Development

1. Discussion

Directions:

Theories describe and explain what happens during development. Theories also offer a way of trying to predict behavior. Often theories can be used to understand the people with whom we are closest. For example, Erikson’s 8 Stages might help you understand why your teenage son cares more about his friend’s opinion than your perspective.

For this discussion, think about different development theories and select one:

· Piaget's 4 Stages of Cognitive Development

· Erikson's 8 Stages of Psychosocial Development

· Behaviorism

· Social Learning Theory

· Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory

· Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory

Initial Post (1 page with references)

In your initial posting:

· State the specific theory you have chosen by its proper name.

· Provide an example from your life.

· Explain how an aspect or concept from the theory helps you understand the provided example.

Response Post ( 1 page with reference)

Reply to one peer who has an example that helps your understanding of a theory. Give an example of how their post helped you understand the theory

Below is my peer discussion that requires a response.

I have chosen Erikson’s 8 stages of Psychosocial Development for my discussion. In my teenage years, I had a tough time trying to figure out my identity and struggled with low self-esteem. I kept comparing myself to others and felt like I did not fit in with any group. 

The fifth stage of Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development, which happens in adolescence, proposes that people experience conflict between identity and role confusion (Orenstein & Lewis, 2021). Erikson believes that it is during this stage that teenagers start exploring who they are and what they want to do with their lives (Orenstein & Lewis, 2021). They may experiment with various identities and struggle to find a sense of self. 

According to this theory, the inability to create a sense of identity in society can lead to confusion and a poor sense of self. Also, this failure can result in insecurity and unsureness of ourselves, where we fit, and our future. Success in this stage leads to fidelity, a sense of being aligned with the expectations and standards of the social groups to which people belong. In the end, identity provides us with an integrated sense of self that last throughout one's life, guiding them on what to believe and how we behave. 

In my case, Erikson’s theory helps me to understand my teenage experience. I can now make sense of how my struggles with self-esteem and identity were a normal part of the development process. The theory also helps me understand that my experiences were not different and that many teens undergo the same struggles. These insights offer me a sense of comfort and allow me to be more empathetic towards others who may be experiencing similar s challenges. 

Reference

Orenstein, G. A., & Lewis, L. (2021). Erikson stages of psychosocial development. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing.