Week Two Blog Post By Miles O'Brien
Week Two Blog Post By Miles O'Brien
The reading for Chapter
Two: Theories of Development outlined different positions on how lifespan
development is interpreted. The psychoanalytic theory as described on page 29,
is the foundation for which modern psychology is based. Figure 2.1 lays out the
Freudian Stages of Development. This chart explains different pleasures that humans
develop based on wants and needs. He argues that “The location of the pleasure center
changes with development, and unless this pleasure center is satisfied, a
person cannot resolve the inner conflict” (pg 30). Freuds theories also
describe structural developments in the mind that are fueled by libido. The Id, Ego,
and Superego. The Id is the basic instinct that we are all
born with that has the soul purpose to secure pleasure. On the opposite side of
the spectrum is the Superego that determine
things from right and wrong. To balance both sides is the Ego. When I reflect on this, I image the scenario when someone has
a devil and angel on their shoulders. The devil is going to be the Id, trying to persuade you to make the
wrong decision for whatever pleasurable choice you want to make. The person them
self is the Superego, determining what is right and wrong. The angle,
hypothetically, is the Ego that is
trying to “compromise between these two powerful forces” (pg 31). Erikson is also
believed to be a leading contributor to how the human develops through time. He
believes that life progresses through a series of 8 stages. These stages range
form infancy to old age and from the type of crisis to strengths. Each stage is
marked by a life crisis as described on page 32. The crisis must be resolved so
the person can move on to the next stage in life. An identity crisis typically
happens in the earlier years of someone’s life that causes them to make major choices
about who they really are. I, myself can relate to this on an intrapersonal
level, like most other humans can. It is during the high school years of my
life that I really had to find out who I was based on the amount of exposure I
had to different social groups that I was apart of. Choices I made and people I
chose to spend my time with shaped who I am to be. Peers can be considered the
biggest environmental factor for the adolescent stage of development. Piaget argued
that the ability to grow cognitively happened in four stages. These stages differed
from those of Vygotsky. Piaget took more of a scientific and educational point
of view for how the brain develops whereas Vygotsky took a social interactive
approach. Figure 2.3 explains and argues how ecological theories effect the
development of the human which can be used as a Segway to Maslow’s Hierarchy of
needs. These needs are emphasized in a pyramid formation for the way humans
require such things to live and develop.
Miles,
ReplyDeleteThough I feel like Freud's work doesn't hold up well today, for the most part, I do agree with his theories on the Id, Ego and Superego. As for the other researchers covered in chapter 2, I feel like their theories hold up pretty well today, like the theories of Erikson and Vygotsky.
I understand your point that Freud laid the foundation for developmental theories. I did have a hard time with the "pleasure center" concept. I kept rethinking his theories and could support the id, ego and superego as we all seem to have those thoughts and battles and resolutions in our minds. Again I found the different theories and perspectives interesting and how each of us interpreted and applied them to our own lives and careers.
ReplyDeleteMiles,
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting how Chapter 2 outlines how much Freud's theories influence our day to day. We don't stop to consider the psychology involved in daily events. Chapter 2 really made me think about how I can apply psychology to even the smallest of daily circumstances and happenings.
Did you find that you agree more with Piaget's viewpoints of Vygotsky's viewpoints? I believe that, today especially, our social interactions with others and influences in the media affect our development, demeanor, and learning abilities. I agree with your point that: "Peers can be considered the biggest environmental factor for the adolescent stage of development." I see this every day working in a high school.
The most interesting that I learned from your blog posting and our reading of chapter 2 is how much of a role crisis plays in our development. I often hear the term "midlife crisis", which formed my assumption that crisis is something that comes later in life. it makes sense, however, that crisis is necessary to develop from one stage of life to another. Learning from crisis is how we develop as individuals. One major crisis that I have faced is what I want to pursue as a career. In high school we are taught to choose a career path and stick to it. I wanted to be an artist. After wasting money and time on this path, I realized that it was not the path for me. This developmental plateau contributed to a major crisis. What am I supposed to do with my life when what I wanted to do with my life didn't work out? What a daunting crisis provoking question. In the mean time, I got a job working in a special needs classroom and realized that teaching was my new true call. Now, I am pursuing a degree at Trinity to answer this call.