Erikson's Stages Research Articles

Prediction of Improvement in Medical Treatment for Depression: Using Self-Report Measures of Erikson's sTages

Prediction of Improvement in Medical Treatment for Depression: Using Self-Report Measures of Erikson's sTages

THE FEASIBILITY OF HOME CARE WORKERS DELIVERING AN INTERVENTION TO DECREASE DEPRESSION AMONG HOME-DWELLING, OLDER WOMEN: A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS

Depression is associated with poorer functioning and may even increase the risk of dying. Home-dwelling frail older women with depression often receive inadequate treatment or no treatment at all. Therapeutic life review, an intervention based on Erikson's developmental stages, delivered by home care workers (HCWs) with three hours of training, is a cost effective way to enhance mood in these women. Nine HCWs who had implemented therapeutic life review participated in one of two focus groups and reported enhanced moods among their frail older clients.

Psychosocial Development and Female Identity in Laforet's La mujer nueva

Of Carmen Laforet's five published novels, three — Nada (1945), La isla y los demonios (1952) and La insolacion (1963) — highlight adolescent identity development as their predominant themes. With La mujer nueva, however, Laforet takes a slightly different turn by portraying an adult's search for a new identity, specifically the quest of the married protagonist, Paulina. While past critical attention has focused almost exclusively on Paulina's religious conversion to Catholicism, this study examines the protagonist's formation in La mujer nueva, using primarily Erik Erikson's stages of psychosocial development and his identity theory, an important application given the autobiographical elements of this novel. Ultimately and in spite of La mujer nueva's deceptive conclusion, this analysis also shows the protagonist's growth as a subtle call for female autonomy despite the suppressive values of the Catholic church and Francisco Franco's regime.De las cinco novelas publicadas por Carmen Laforet, tres — Nada ...

Life Review: Implementation, Theory, Research, and Therapy

A selective literature review of publications on life review generated ideas on implementation, theory, research, and therapy. The review begins by differentiating life review from reminiscence, and summarizing ways to conduct a life review. A dozen theories that have been influenced by the life review technique are presented, with a focus placed on Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development. Erikson's theory has not only been influenced by the life review, it has had a major impact on life review research. Three research topics are discussed: Erikson's ego integrity versus despair in old age, demographical differences in the practice of life reviews, and the impact of conducting life reviews on staff in institutional settings. Most practitioners of life reviews are institutional staff, university students, and family members, many of whom have had limited prior training. The prospect of a certified life review training program is discussed.

Lessons from Erikson

The purpose of this paper is to examine issues related to autonomy across the life span and to draw comparisons between a young child's search for autonomy and an older adult's efforts to maintain autonomy. The paper includes an introduction of the challenges for young children and older adults as related to autonomy. A definition of autonomy and an explanation of Erik Erikson's stages of psychosocial development are included. Each of Erikson's stages is reviewed with consideration given to traits, characteristics, and needs of the young child and older adult. Similarities and differences between young children and older adults in their search for autonomy are examined. The paper concludes with implications for caregivers regarding their practices with young children and older adults.

Developmental Recapitulation in Adaptation to Vision Loss Among Middle-Age and Older Adults

Abstract Previous research has suggested that a recapitulation of developmental stages occurs during periods of readjustment in situations involving significant contextual or environmental change. The purpose of this paper is to examine if evidence exists for developmental recapitulation among middle-age and older adults adapting to recent vision impairment. Psychosocial development was operationalized in accordance with Erikson's stage theory (Erikson, 1963, 1980) and measured using the Inventory of Psychosocial Balance (Domino & Affonso, 1990). Data were obtained from 99 middle-age and 96 older adult vision rehabilitation service applicants and compared with normative scale data for these age groups. Results found significantly lower Trust, Initiative, Industry, and Intimacy scores for middle-age adults and lower Initiative and Industry scores for older adults. Unexpectedly, middle-age adults who were visually impaired had significantly higher Integrity scores compared to the normative group. Findings p...

Empowering Spirituality and Generativity Through Intergenerational Connections

SUMMARY Intergenerational programming has received much attention and has been heralded as beneficial for both children and older adults. However, little has been reported in the literature concerning adult reactions to and benefits of intergenerational activities. A report on the first two years of an ongoing intergenerational project involving a preschool and a retirement community is presented. Four adults who participated regularly were interviewed in depth and findings are reported. All categories from the interviews represented aspects of Erikson's Generativity stage, and indicated that spirituality was enhanced through intergenerational contacts. Opportunities to interact with young children engendered a sense of relatedness to others and hope for the future for the older adult interviewees. Implications of this program that strengthened links to younger generations, and fostered positive affect, well-being, and spirituality in the aging process are discussed.

Dementia: involving patients in storytelling – a caring intervention. A pilot study

The aim of this study was to explore the potential therapeutic role of storytelling in patients with dementia and, if so, to formulate pedagogic implications for the field of nursing with the focus on dementia care. The present study is part of a larger project, Drama-Ger (Lepp et al. 2003: Journal of Clinical Nursing 12, 873-881), consisting of a cultural drama programme designed for patients with dementia and their caregivers. The programme consisted of two groups (A and B). Group A focused on dance, rhythm and songs, group B focused on storytelling and conversations. The present pilot study deals with group B. The study was an intervention study. Six strategically selected patients, five women and one man, with intermediate and severe dementia, and their three female paid caregivers participated in the programme. They met on six occasions for 1.5 hours once a week for two months. The leader of the group, a Registered Nurse, who was also trained as a symbol pedagogue/teacher, told stories that were related to Erikson's development theory. She continuously kept a reflective diary which was qualitatively analysed. This pilot study clearly indicates that storytelling invited the patients to take part in associative conversations. The storytelling appeared to help them to remember and make associations with situations they had previously experienced in their lives. Erikson's stages of development could be traced in the conversations. The patients interacted with each other, their caregivers and the leader. A drama programme using storytelling appears to stimulate patients with dementia to communicate and interact with other people. Ten implications four statements about storytelling as a pedagogic tool and six statements to facilitate a pedagogic approach have been drawn from this study. The implications can be used as a guide when using storytelling for caring intervention with the focus on dementia care.

The Relation Between Self-Continuity and Measures of Identity

Conceptualizations of Erikson's (1968) fifth psychosocial stage, identity formation, have been criticized for failing to be inclusive of an individual's sense of self-continuity. However, recent research has shown that identity commitment is significantly correlated to measures of continuity. This study further examined the relation among measures of identity, including identity commitment and continuity. The results suggest that many of the current measures of identity do indeed share a significant amount of variance with continuity. The specific results concerning identity commitment and continuity add to the growing evidence that these constructs are reliably related.

The Decades of Life: Relocating Erikson's Stages

Erik H. Erikson's life cycle schema consists of eight stages. Three are located in infancy and early childhood (ages 1–5), one in childhood (5–12), one in adolescence, and three in adulthood. This essay proposes a relocation of the stages in terms of decades. The eight psychosocial crises in Erikson's model are retained, but each crisis and its resolution is the central theme of a decade of life. This relocation of Erikson's stages orients the life cycle schema more toward adulthood than to early childhood, as six of the stages now occur in the adult years. It also reflects Erikson's theoretical shift in emphasis from the “ego” to “the sense of I” in his later writings. A proposal for how the ninth and tenth decades fit into the schema is also offered.

Conceptions of Gay Male Life-Span Development

Four of Erikson's eight psychosocial crises were used in this qualitative, exploratory study as an organizing framework. Using a semi-structured questionnaire, seven men were interviewed with the goal of understanding how they have navigated Erikson's life stages. Significant results included: an early sense of being different and a period of time between “coming out to self” and “coming out to another person,” both complicating Erikson's sense of “social trust.” The men also described finding non-biological ways of achieving generativity as well as the development of a strong internal sense of authority or locus of control. Other strengths gained included: achieving a broad base of social support or a “family of choice,” and becoming role models themselves in response to a clear absence of positive role models during their own adolescence, which many identified as delaying their coming out. Finally, AIDS was discussed by many as a critical factor affecting how these men navigate each of Erikson's stages. Implications of these tentative findings are suggested for research, teaching, practice, and for psychosocial theory itself.

The Concept Analysis of Ego-integrity in the Elderly

Ego-integrity in Erikson's stage theory is used frequently among health team members related to the care of the elderly and has specific meanings within the context of quality of life in later life. However, the concept of ego-integrity in the elderly has not been well articulated in the literature. This study was conducted clarify and conceptualize the phenomena of ego-integrity in the elderly. A Hybrid Model of concept development was applied to develop a concept of ego-integrity, which included a field study carried out in Seoul, South Korea using in-depth interviews with old adults who were admitted as a right person for research subject according to attributes of ego-integrity analysed in the theoretical phase. The concept of ego-integrity emerged as a complex phenomenon having meanings in several different dimensions which encompassed several attributes. Ego-integrity is a concept having needs that should be treated in a specific way and it is possible to enrich the meaning and methods to manage ego-integrity in nursing interventions for promoting quality of life so that its application may have effects that have positive impacts on the elderly's well being.

Psychosocial development in the elderly: An investigation into Erikson's ninth stage

This study investigated Joan Erikson's suggestion [Erikson, E. H. (1998). The life cycle completed. Extended version with new chapters on the ninth stage by Joan M. Erikson. New York: Norton] that there is a ninth stage to Erik Erikson's [Erikson, E. H. (1963). Childhood and society (2nd ed.). New York: Norton.] Theory of Psychosocial Development to address the challenges of extreme later life. Questionnaires to measure resolution of Stages 8 and 9, compiled from original descriptions, were completed by 32 women aged in their 80s or 90s, and 32 women aged in their 60s. Results showed there to be a significant correlation between age and resolution of Stage 9 ( P=.01), but not for Stage 8, and a significant difference between the mean scores of the two age groups for Stage 9 ( P=.03), but not for Stage 8. Recognition that there could be a stage of psycho-social development applicable to people aged in their 80s and 90s, would be a source of comfort to aging individuals themselves, as well as invaluable to friends, relatives, and carers.

Generativity versus stagnation: An elaboration of Erikson's adult stage of human development.

Erik Erikson's theory of human development posits 8 stages of life. This paper gives special attention to the adult stage of generativity vs. stagnation. A review of recent research provides new concepts that can be added to Erikson's chart of development in the form of 7 psychosocial conflicts that give breadth to the central crisis of generativity vs. stagnation. They are inclusivity vs. exclusivity, pride vs. embarrassment, responsibility vs. ambivalence, career productivity vs. inadequacy, parenthood vs. self-absorption, being needed vs. alienation, and honesty vs. denial. Each conflict is connected to one of Erikson's other stages of development. Given this framework, case studies of leaders could provide further knowledge about generativity as the intersection of society and the human life cycle.

The Mortal Stage of late life.

A Mortal Stage of later life may be considered as a subdivision of Erik Erikson's eighth stage of life which he called Mature Age, characterized by issues of integrity versus disgust, despair. Mortality poses the optimal task of Realization (in many positive coping and existential senses) versus Denial (or other non-recognition or emotional paralysis) or Fear (or apprehension or even terror). Premorbid awareness of illness may contribute to or challenge Realization. Literary examples also suggest a reviewing of one's life and works, possible regressions from genitality to anal preoccupations, little social withdrawal, and a compassionate interest in the next generation. In dying the self is not given up, but rather the alternate universe of further interpersonal relations had one lived on.

Gay Male Adult Development

This paper is a qualitative investigation into developmental stage issues, using a sample of older gay males. Twenty Ohio informants were obtained through convenience sampling for unstructured oral interviews. Erik Erikson's developmental stage model serves as representing traditional stage theory. The traditional view portrays life course in heterosexual terms. While the developmental issues addressed across the life course are likely the same or similar, the traditional schedules of these issues are not apt for gays. Gay life paths start at different ages, based on when identity-acceptance begins. Only then can a gay person undertake successful adult development. Findings indicate that as closeted homosexuals, gay men may experience a false development, resulting from living a double-life. With the acceptance of one's homosexuality, developmental regression occurs in an effort to address gay identity issues previously denied or ignored. Many of the developmental issues arise not from being gay, per se, but from discovering how to assimilate being gay into one's life pattern. This paper thus shows an imperfection in traditional stage models.

A conceptual model for the development of professional behaviours in occupational therapists.

The ever-changing, dynamic practice environment coupled with increased consumer needs and awareness create an atmosphere that requires optimal professionalism from occupational therapists. Professionalism requires specific knowledge, attitudes, and values--all manifested by professional behaviours. The authors assume that professional behaviours mature through a natural developmental process; a process that requires careful nurturing on the part of educators and clinical supervisors. Based on this assumption, the authors propose this conceptual model based on Erikson's life cycle stages. The model implies that occupational therapy professional behaviours develop sequentially through stages that begin during the educational process of occupational therapists, and progress throughout their career. The purpose of this model is to provide a framework for educators and supervisors to nurture professional behaviours in students and novice clinicians, and to continue their own professional growth.

Ego development in the face of death: How being HIV positive affects movement through Erikson's adult stages of development

Erikson's epigenetic model of psychosocial development posits that each of eight stages unfolds in a particular sequence, and each becomes the primary issue of concern at specified times in the life cycle. Erikson does not address, nor could any empirical studies be located, exploring how the emergence of these eight stages might be affected by a diagnosis of terminal illness. The purpose of this study was to understand how an HIV-positive diagnosis affected movement through Erikson's stages of development. In-depth interviews were conducted with a sample of 18 HIV-positive men and women under 45 years of age. Analysis of the qualitative data revealed three findings regarding Erikson's stages: (1) The fifth stage of idenitity versus role confusion was revisted and the sense of self is redefined; (2) the three adulthood stages of intimacy versus isolation, generativity versus stagnation, and ego integrity versus depair were dealt with simulataneously and, in most cases, resolved favorably; and (3) intimacy and generativity enabled and supported the resolution of the tasks of identity and ego integrity.

Sense of coherence among the elderly in relation to their perceived life history in an Eriksonian perspective

The concept of 'sense of coherence' has been shown to be an important factor influencing wellbeing and health. In addition, remembrance of the past affects the wellbeing of the elderly. The present study investigated the relationship between sense of coherence and the perceived life history of elderly persons. We hypothesized that the manner in which the past is recalled and evaluated is influenced by, and in turn influences, the sense of coherence. Fifty-eight elderly individuals reported and evaluated their personal life stories, according to Erik H. Erikson's psychosocial stages of development. The sense of coherence was assessed using a Swedish translation of Antonovsky's original scale. Results indicated that the more positive the evaluation of the life history, the stronger the sense of coherence. Four of the Eriksonian developmental stages were found to be significantly correlated with sense of coherence: the conflicts about trust/mistrust, autonomy/shame, identity/identity diffusion, and intimacy/isolation. The sense of coherence factors for meaningfulness, manageability and comprehensibility were related to specific stages in the life history. Using a process perspective, three life span profiles were distinguished. One showed a generally low life-stage evaluation, and had significantly lower scores on the sense of manageability. This indicates that there are specific associations between the remembered past and sense of coherence.

Bitter Harvest: the Implications of Continuing War-related Stress on Reminiscence Theory and Practice

This paper, after reporting some research indicating the long-term effects of the experience of the Second World War, looks at how such a traumatic event and its sequelae should be understood in terms of the theoretical framework supporting the use of reminiscence work, most especially Erikson's life stages. Traumatic memories of the war are rarely reported in published accounts of reminiscence work. It is pointed out that this may be partly due to people with painful memories not volunteering for reminiscence groups, and that Coleman's (1986) research data would support this conclusion. Coleman's work has not been sufficiently ‘heard’ because of the much stronger framing of reminiscence as stimulation by such authors as Norris (1986). The paper looks at interpersonal difficulties of servicemen and civilians in communicating about the war; and why they might well find it easier to utilise the emotionally simpler and less unpleasant accounts offered by the media, especially film. The leaders of reminiscence groups, often having had little training, operate without awareness of such issues, and within a framework where ‘reminiscence as stimulation’ has been transmuted into the trivialising ‘reminiscence as fun’. It is suggested that mental health workers should offer regular supervision and training to reminiscence group leaders. The need for clinical awareness of the importance of the war in shaping people's lives both before and after the war is highlighted, as is the need for readily available and sympathetic psychotherapeutic services for this cohort.