Psychology Assignment psychology

Erikson Interview Paper

The purpose of this essay is to apply what you have learned about Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development. Select one person above the age of seventy to interview. Your paper should cover all the following:

1. Please use a pseudonym to protect your subject’s identity. Begin your paper by introducing your subject: age, gender, ethnic or cultural heritage, family, and current living situation. Include anything else that you think would be important to mention (i.e., this person recently emigrated from a nonwestern [collectivist] country) Identify which of Erikson’s stages of life this person is currently experiencing. Remember that once a person has left childhood the age brackets for Erikson’s stages are a bit fuzzy. For example, the transition from stage seven to eight can begin in the sixties or eighties. You will not be able to determine this until you have completed the interview.

2. An important part of Erikson’s theory is that how well a person functions in each stage is built from how well the issues at the earlier stages were resolved. In your interview you should ask questions about your subject’s childhood to determine the degree to which a “virtue” or “malignancy” may have been added to the personality.

3. Erikson believed that the most important stage was stage five. You should focus on how your subject experienced and resolved this stage. Think about the different paths—identity diffusion, foreclosure, moratorium, achievement—that a person might experience in stage five. Did your subject experience any of them?

4. Erikson did not believe that all of the issues of childhood were ever completely resolved. All of us continue to work through trust, autonomy, initiative and so forth as we move through our life. A major life trauma at any point could put the spotlight back on to one of these earlier issues. For example, a bad relationship break-up at any age could reignite stage one or stage two issues. A career crisis in middle age could send a person back to stages three, four, or five.

5. In your paper you should express to me that you clearly understand the issues that, according to Erikson, should be preoccupying your subject at their current age. Based on your interview, do your finding support Erikson’s theory?

6. Here is an idea for how your paper might be organized:

✔ 1st paragraph: Introduction (see point #1 above)

✔ 2nd-8th (?) paragraphs: Summarize your subject’s experiences in stages 1 through 4 and express that you understand what Erikson believed were the important issues (see points #2 and #3 above.) Each stage should consume about one paragraph. Of course, no one remembers anything from stage 1, and probably very little from stages 2 and 3. Nonetheless, most people have an understanding of what their living situation was like and who was taking care of them. Memories are a bit clearer with stage 4. Think about some of the issues we talked about with children at this age—self-efficacy and self-concept, popularity, … Can you apply any of these issues to your subject’s life?

✔ (9th)-10th (?) paragraphs: Write about the current stage (see #5 above.)

✔ Last paragraph: Summarize and sign-off with some concluding thoughts about the project.

✔ The paper should be a minimum of 1000 words—about 4 pages. 7. Points to remember when writing your paper:

✔ This is a formal essay (i.e., paragraphs). I do not want to read the transcript of your interview—summarize!

✔ The paper should be Times New Roman, 12 font, double-spaced.

✔ The paper will be turned in electronically (upload the file through Canvas) and will be scanned by Turnitin.com

Due December 4th / Ten points deducted for each day late.

Grading Rubric Total

Introduction 0-5 points

The introduction is clear and interesting with excellent information and appeal

Discussion of subject at stage 1 0-5 points

Understand the focus of this stage and whether or not it was successfully resolved.

Discussion of subject at stage 2 0-5 points

Understand the focus of this stage and whether or not it was successfully resolved. Were there any traumas that could have sent the subject back to an earlier stage of development?

Discussion of subject at stage 3 0-5 points

Understand the focus of this stage and whether or not it was successfully resolved. Were there any traumas that could have sent the subject back to an earlier stage of development?

Discussion of subject at stage 4 0-5 points

Understand the focus of this stage and whether or not it was successfully resolved. Were there any traumas that could have sent the subject back to an earlier stage of development?

Thorough discussion of stage 5 0-20 points

Understand the focus of this stage and whether or not it was successfully resolved. James Marcia’s Theory addressed? Were there any traumas that could have sent the subject back to an earlier stage of development?

Thorough discussion of stage 6 0-15 points

Understand the focus of this stage and whether or not it was successfully resolved. Were there any traumas that could have sent the subject back to an earlier stage of development?

Thorough analysis of subject’s current stage—either 7 or 8 0-20 points

There is effective analysis and it addresses all aspects of the theory. Were there any traumas that could have sent the subject back to an earlier stage of development? If your subject is in stage 7, are they preparing for stage 8?

Conclusion 0-10 points

The conclusion leaves the reader with some final interesting thoughts about the interview and Erikson’s theory.

Organization 0-5 points

Paragraphs are well structured. Essay has a logical flow and a clear progression of ideas.

Mechanics 0-5 points

There are little to no errors (spelling, punctuation, etc.) Paper is double spaced in Times New Roman, 12 font.